What is meant by the liberal arts?

This informal CPD article ‘What is meant by the liberal arts?’ was provided by UES Education, specialists in international university and school admissions, working with top schools across the UK and Europe to provide a bespoke service for those who want the best possible application support in the UK.

If you’re working with students applying to US universities, you’ve probably heard the phrase ‘liberal arts.’ What are the liberal arts, and what is a liberal arts college?

Understanding Liberal Arts

The term liberal arts is used in two main contexts, and the first is to refer to a specific style of learning that is popular at US universities. Unlike students in the UK, who apply to specific courses on which they focus throughout university, students in the US follow a broader curriculum, known as a liberal arts curriculum. This involves a wide range of academic courses—from maths to music to history to philosophy—that allow students to first build a broad foundation of knowledge and then specialise in their chosen course later on (usually the second year of university or after). Even at specialised technical colleges, which focus on preparing students for careers within STEM fields, students will be required to take a broader curriculum to expand their perspective. US colleges are four-year institutions, giving students extra time to explore myriad courses.

Liberal Arts Colleges

The second context in which liberal arts is used is to refer to specific types of US universities: liberal arts colleges. Although most US colleges will follow a liberal arts curriculum in some way, a liberal arts college is a specific type of institution, providing a particular type of educational experience (1). A liberal arts college is a four-year undergraduate college that approaches education broadly, focusing on arts, sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Liberal arts colleges don’t prepare their students for specific careers: instead, they encourage them to explore their interests, build critical thinking skills, and appreciate a range of subjects.

The first two years of the degree will be spent working through various general education requirements within the aforementioned subjects. After that, students will declare a ‘major’ (main course of study) and focus more closely on that academic track, although they will likely still take a few courses from a broad range of options. They also tend to be smaller and focused on the undergraduate experience, fostering close-knit communities and strong bonds with professors in a way that larger research institutions sometimes cannot.

Ensuring a Liberal Arts College is suitable

As you can see, liberal arts colleges provide a quite niche educational experience. Although they offer an excellent, broad education that fosters close connections and intellectual exploration, they are not the right fit for all students. As advisors, be sure that students are aware of the particularities of liberal arts colleges and encourage them to be sure they are the right fit for such an institution before they apply.

The type of student who fits well at a liberal arts college tends to be one who doesn’t know exactly what they want to study and who wants to explore lots of different subjects. Students who know exactly what professional path they want to take, or students who are very strong in one or two subjects and much weaker in others may thrive at other institutions where they can focus on their chosen academic path early. Liberal arts colleges are also a good fit for students who want to get to know their peers and professors, feel part of a strong group and community, and would do well in a situation where it’s impossible to blend into the background in class, as they would be able to in large lectures at other types of colleges.

Final thoughts

Today, students and families can be particularly aware of the cost of attending university and keen to receive a return on investment when it comes to entering the work force. They may wonder whether attending a liberal arts college is a smart move and a wise investment in education. But you can reassure them that liberal arts colleges instruct students in skills that will enable them to pursue a range of different professional paths.

The authentic connections that students could make with professors can set them up for future professional opportunities, especially in academia. Employers respect liberal arts graduates because they have developed strong critical thinking skills, which are key in all types of careers. Liberal arts colleges often have strong careers programmes as well, which help students find work aligned with their strengths and passions.

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