Learning and Research-Liberal Arts and Professional Success

A classic liberal arts education has formed the cornerstone of education for centuries, virtually throughout the world. The presumption has long been that to pursue a degree in the liberal arts was to opt for a cut in pay upon graduation. However although salaries for liberal arts graduates may start out lower than those of graduates from professional programs, in as few as three years' time, the liberal arts graduate stands to fare better, not worse, than the student who has taken a degree in a more technical field. The long-range career success of these graduates is most certainly due to the broad range of skills the liberal arts graduate brings to the job market - skills that include strong written and oral communication, interpersonal skills, critical thinking and adaptability - the very skills employers are seeking. These skills help liberal arts graduates at every stage of their working life, from the interview process on; they enhance advancement potential and bring a greater quotient of job satisfaction. Work in the liberal arts prepares students to continue to learn on the job, an ability that is critical to long-term career advancement. Liberal arts graduates are ideal candidates for higher-level management positions precisely because they are generalists and not limited by a narrow specialty. The liberal arts also provide more than an avenue toward a successful career. They contribute to a way of seeing the world that is perhaps measurable in its effect on quality of life. They teach people to reflect rather than react, to negotiate instead of using force. The liberal arts make people rich in terms of life.