Value of an ArtSci education
"Principles for the Development of a Complete Mind: Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses—especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else ."
- Leonardo da Vinci
What are employers looking for? That is a very important question and, the answer is, they are looking for the skills taught in our college. Employers consistently report the type of person they want to hire has the ability to:
- think critically, logically and independently
- effective and clear communication
- analyze and interpret data
- frame difficult questions and find answers
- assess values
- approach others with understanding and compassion
- learn how to learn
When you receive an Arts and Sciences education, those are the skills you can develop and enhance, which makes you valuable. Don't take our word for it. The articles below speak to the value of these skills. So, take some time to think through just how valuable you can be to an organization. The possibilities are limitless.
We don’t need more STEM majors. We need more STEM majors with liberal arts training.Many in government and business publicly question the value of such an education. Yet employers in every sector continue to scoop up my students because of their ability to apply cross-disciplinary thinking to an incredibly complex world. They like my chemistry grads because not only can they find their way around a laboratory, but they’re also nimble thinkers who know to consider chemistry’s impact on society and the environment. |
A Liberal Arts Degree Is More Valuable Than Learning Any Trade"If you teach students one trade, that skill might be obsolete in a few years. But if you teach people how to think and look at lots of information and connect dots – all skills that a classic liberal education gives you – you will thrive." |
Scientists Agree, We All Need The Humanities"Science's inherently reductive approach and its acute attention to the finest details have yielded great benefits. But the scope of science is changing. In addition to practicing the traditional craft, today's scientists need to be prepared to tackle complex challenges in a globalized (and multidisciplinary) world, to think critically about how we solve problems, and to communicate persuasively with diverse audiences." |
Who Knew? Arts Education Fuels the Economy"In public-policy battles over arts education, you might hear that it is closely linked to greater academic achievement, social and civic engagement, and even job success later in life. But what about the economic value of an arts education? Here even the field’s most eloquent champions have been at a loss for words, or rather numbers. Until now." |
Why Liberal Arts Matter"A well-rounded education gave graduates more tools with which to solve problems, broader perspectives through which to see opportunities and a deeper capacity to build a more humane society." |
Why the Liberal Arts Need the Sciences (and Vice Versa)"In our environmentally and economically challenged, highly technological world, it is crucial that we improve our ability to understand and critically evaluate scientific evidence and arguments. One way to do so is through partnerships between faculty in the natural sciences and faculty from disciplines like journalism, economics, sociology, political science, and philosophy. Together they can develop ways to communicate knowledge about technology and the sciences in an accessible and compelling manner, and to explain the broader relevance of scientific discovery to society." |
How Liberal Arts Majors Fare Over the Long Haul"The liberal arts and sciences have traditionally been seen as laying “a foundation for future learning in the professions and in scholarly work,” said Ms. Schneider. The report, she said, shows that to be true." |