Paulette Chaffee Says Undergraduates Should Consider 4 Things Before Getting a Liberal Arts Degree
Starting college is an exciting time in any student’s life: new lifestyle, environment, people, and learning opportunities. The first year of college as an undergraduate commonly comes with a schedule filled with general requirements, leaving room for students to explore different courses before selecting a degree.
Picking a degree can be stressful, especially for students still deciding what they want to do with their lives. In this article, Paulette Chaffee, teacher and lawyer, offers advice for students considering a liberal arts degree. Before making the final selection, Chaffee says students should consider these four things:
1. Consider the Definition of a Liberal Arts Degree
What exactly is a liberal arts degree? The term ‘liberal arts degree’ serves as a broad term that classifies degrees that target skills in creativity and humanities over technical or scientific skills. Unfortunately, liberal arts degrees have gained a reputation for being less useful than other degrees in the past. However, that stigma is being broken today as more employers look for skills that align with liberal arts degrees in a world that is now driven by innovation and creativity.
2. Consider the Professional Paths a Liberal Arts Degree Can Lead To
A liberal arts degree is an umbrella for multiple degrees, from theater arts to economics. A beneficial aspect of choosing a liberal arts degree is the opportunities offered by such a focus. Common degrees offered under liberal arts include communication, English, history, psychology, and sociology. In addition, such degrees can lead to careers such as marketing manager, graphic designer, editor, public relations specialist, historian, technical writer, human resource specialist, counselor, market research analyst, social services, and more.
3. Consider How a Personal “Why” Aligns with the Skills Learned While Earning a Liberal Arts Degree
For any student in college, it is essential to define a personal “why” behind all decisions, especially when choosing a degree to pursue. Students may feel outside pressures from family, friends, or society to select a degree or career path that fits someone else’s interests more than their own. However, students who take the time to understand what motivates them, what skills they are good at, what they find joy and passion in, what activities they enjoy, and what professions truly interest them are better able to pinpoint the “why” behind their choice of degree.
Once a personal “why” has been further analyzed, it’s time to see what skills a liberal arts degree teaches and see if any of those skills align. For example, a student might enjoy writing and wants to improve critical thinking skills to one day become an editor of a magazine. In this example, the student’s “why” aligns with the critical thinking skill development a liberal arts degree can offer. Liberal arts degrees include subjects that give students general knowledge and the ability to learn any topic and think critically. Liberal arts degrees are also designed to sharpen skills in research and writing.
4. Consider if a Graduate Degree is in the Future Picture
Almost all liberal arts degrees can lead to a career in education. For students interested in going into the education sector, looking into graduate degrees such as master’s and beyond can be very helpful for increasing salary pay or job status. Wherever a student decides to aim for their studies, looking at the big picture and how much schooling is needed to get to the desired profession is vital to making effective and efficient decisions and degree selections.
