What is the advantage to learning liberal arts in college instead of mastering a trade?
This is simple in that it is mostly a question of brawn vs. brain. Would you rather use your hands (and body) more than using your brain? I had a friend who went to college and got his Construction Management degree. Well, as it turned out, he didn't like the office routine, and preferred being outdoors, and doing something physical, so he "reverted" to being a carpenter. I've done my share of construction and repair work, and I looked at as a type of exercise--sometimes--walking around, hammering or screwing things together, and lifting, fixing, whatever. However, I prefer drawing pretty pictures, or designing something...furniture, house, cabinets...and help building them...It is a kind of Zen for me.
Are there any advantages to studying engineering at a liberal arts college?
Thank you for A2A. There’s one particular advantage that comes to mind. Liberal Arts colleges provide a broader understanding of engineering fundamentals as they incorporate studies like problem solving, logical thinking, working in teams etc. in addition to more liberal arts courses. Most of the time, students get B.S. in Engineering. However, these students are not specialists in any particular area of engineering. This gives them the opportunity to try engineering out and try to specialize while they work after graduation and then, decide which field of engineering they want to dedicate their lives to. Then, most of the time, they proceed to graduate studies in a particular specialty of engineering. In contrast, students at universities getting engineering degrees have to decide their specialty early on during their undergrad studies and plan their courses accordingly. Then, graduate with B.S. in Engineering with a particular area of expertise.The first option (Liberal Arts College) is suitable for students who do not know anything about engineering but still want to pursue this craft. It will waste some time and the job hunt is not always easy due to lack of specialty.The second option (university engineering track) is suitable for students who are pretty sure of which field of engineering they want to work in from the get go or at least, they think they can decide within a year of their undergraduate degree.If you have a particular field of engineering in mind already, then liberal arts college engineering degree is not the best option. If engineering in general is new to you and you have no idea which area to take on as your future career, then liberal arts college is a better option.
What are the advantages of attending a liberal arts college?
That depends on who you are, and what you want from life. I am very glad that I went to a liberal arts college, and I basically was a liberal arts major. I like the fact that I know a little about a lot of things. (There is a great deal I certainly do not know, but I can always find out).I really enjoy the fact that when I go out and I meet a great many interesting people, I can usually find something to talk to them about. Rarely am I an expert, but I can hold my own in many topics of conversation, and I like that about myself.I wish at times I had majored in business, or physics, or something that would ultimately be better for my wallet, but I most likely would not enjoy taking nothing but business courses, and taking lots of math and science just wasn’t and isn’t my forte. I realize that I may never be rich, unless Lady Luck smiles upon me, but I am happy, and I continue to learn things at my own pace.In summing up, a Liberal Arts college education isn’t for everyone, but it suited my needs.
What can i do with a associates degree in liberal arts?
ok i am still uncertain with what i want to do with my life. i am 13 credits away from an associates degree in liberal arts. i don't know what i could do with this degree but any suggestions would be great. here are also a few things about me that could help you make a suggestion. i am out going , love being out and about ( never be in an office ), great people person , out Dorsey , and works well with others.any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
What are the disadvantages of majoring in liberal arts?
This is actually a confusing question.Almost nobody majors in something as broad as the liberal arts per se. What they do is attend a liberal arts college and major in one or two of the liberal arts, which, at most schools in the USA, can include anything from studio arts to the STEM and business disciplines.Having taught international business in a liberal arts program for a quarter century, I can think of almost no disadvantages of majoring in one or two of the liberal arts disciplines. Sometimes the key is creating a multi-dimensional major-minor emphasis. Some of my more successful advisees have combined, for instance, a business or economics major with a minor in something like Spanish or psychology. That combination opens up opportunities for either further studies in graduate school or for occupations that combine multiple fields, particularly in this era of globalization.The only real problem that emerges is when one graduates with a major that is extremely niche-oriented but has no supporting field: women’s studies, German literature, Asian studies might be examples. But even graduates in these fields often build very successful careers after graduate programs.
What are the disadvantages and the advantages of studying a degree in liberal arts?
Disadvantage or advantage compared to what?Compared to doing nothing: Advantage: you will have a fancy piece of paper that may impress some employers. Other employers won’t care. You will have had fun for four years. Disadvantage: you will have foregone four years of salaries while being a student. Disadvantage: You will likely have tens of thousands of dollars of student debt.Compared to self-studying the same material: Advantage: you will have a fancy piece of paper that may impress some employers. Other employers won’t care. You will be debt-free. Disadvantage: you will not have a fancy piece of paper.Compared to a degree in a field that has jobs: Advantage: none. disadvantage: you will not have any useful skills, and will likely have tens of thousands of dollars of student debt.There is a myth that a liberal arts education teaches critical thinking. This is NOT TRUE. At some colleges, you can learn critical thinking while taking classes in liberal arts, STEM fields, or even physical education. But this is rare. At most colleges, information is presented in a non-critical-thinking manner.You can, however, learn critical thinking without ever stepping foot inside a college. Read and analyze on your own. Take free on-line classes. Listen to TED talks. All of this costs nothing and will prepare you much better for the world (and the workplace) than a liberal arts education. Start with your public library and Open Courseware, a consortium of respected universities offering their critical-thinking classes free online to everyone. For example, http://ocw.mit.edu
Do I have to go to college to become an artist?
It depends what kind of artist you want to be. There is a huge range of jobs within art and illustration. Do you want a steady job or to freelance? If you want a good steady job (for example a concept artist in any field, or in the animation or games industry, or in comics... etc) employers are more likely to look for you to have a college degree and you'll have much better promotion prospects if you do. If you want to be a freelance illustrator, it's not as necessary, though a degree is a nice bonus and a reassurance to clients that you are well trained. However, the greatest advantage of a good art school is not the piece of paper you get at the end but the training. If you want to be a skilled artist you really do need the best art training you can get - your success as an artist will depend upon your skill and the successful artist who is self-taught (high school art classes don't count, as they rarely actually teach you to draw the way art school does) is unusual. You can develop a great portfolio there which will set you off on your career, whatever it may be, so if you can go to a good college, I would really recommend that you do so. Good luck. :)
Is there an advantage of a BFA over an BA?
It depends on what you are looking to specialize in. My BFA had a concentration in studio arts. So I had taken ceramics, painting, drawing, sculpture. I thought I was an okay artist. I also had an associates degree in graphic design, which I did like but what I learned for my BFA, I learned about hands -on creation of art without using computer programs and found that I liked it much better. I gained a lot of confidence in creating art and learned so much from my drawing, painting, ceramic sculpture professors. They were all experts in their fields. I have to add that I returned to school when I was 56. I thought that I wouldn't fit in but I found that we were all in the same boat learning and producing art. I learned from everyone there and never regretted getting my BFA (except for the student loans that are going to outlive me!)