Liberal Education: Why is it important in todays workforce? Essay

Why do college students need courses in the liberal arts? Is it beneficial or just a waste of time? Will it make them or influence them to become better workers once they graduate or will it just go down the drain and be useless? Student loans are increasing every year, and each student just wants to finish their degrees at a lesser price and a quicker pace, so they can start working and pay for those debts. In today’s society where some to most students are very much career – driven, they decide to specialize early on their degrees which means taking all the classes that are required in their respective majors. Students are only required to take minimal courses or subjects in the liberal arts such as humanities, philosophy, communication, etc. Also, students are more keen to focus on what they think or believe can offer high salary base pays professions especially in this current state of our economy. Even though students specialize early in the degree that they have chosen has its advantages, college students would benefit more if they are required to take core classes in the liberal arts to develop not only a well – rounded education but also prepare them for the real world. By taking subjects in the liberal arts along with their field of specialty, students will develop strong critical thinking skills that will be beneficial in problem solving once they have a job. They will also have competent oral and written communication skills that are necessary in any organization, and their creativity and innovation will be enhanced. Now, let us define liberal arts or liberal education. According to Michael Lind, liberal arts should be understood in its original sense as â€Å"elite skills† (54). We all know that liberal arts include cour... ...ergraduates Specialize?† The Chronicle of Higher Education. 2006. Rpt. in Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. 555-557. Print. Jones, Roberts T. "Liberal Education For The Twenty-First Century." Liberal Education 91.2 (2005): 32. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 24 May 2012. Lemann, Nicholas. "Liberal Education & Professionals." Liberal Education 90.2 (2004): 12. MasterFILE Complete. Web. 24 May 2012. Lind, Michael. "The Global Race for Knowledge: Why the Liberal Arts Still Matter." Wilson Quarterly Vol. XXX, No. 4. Autumn 2006: 52-58. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 24 May 2012. Menand, Louis. â€Å"Re-imagining Liberal Education.† Education and Democracy. 1997. Rpt. in Current Issues and Enduring Questions. Sylvan Barnet and Hugo Bedau. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s , 2011. 571-574. Print.