Over the past years, liberal art majors have decreased, while career oriented majors have skyrocketed. Budget conscientious families and hard economic times have limited the scope of a student's study plan. Liberal art students prepare by gaining exposure, so they may remain flexible in their career pathway. On the other hand, career-oriented majors prepare students for employment in a specific field of study. Students should have a career oriented major supplemented by a liberal art minor.
Students and parents are not paying for an education, but rather investing in employable skills. The global economy is becoming increasingly more competitive, and in order to give people the best chance for a well-paying job is by having a career oriented major. A prospective college student might be tempted to look at data on earnings of college graduates and believe that …show more content…
It is important to remember the significant amount of opportunity available for college students to learn various topics. The “number of academic programs at colleges and universities has grown by 21 percent” (Selingo par. 4). University by definition means a large and diverse institution of higher learning created to educate for life. Having only a career oriented major limits this idea.
Liberal arts majors provide a solid foundation for long-term employment and career success. According to Ari Pinkus, “student pursuing college majors with a broad liberal art education, increase their likelihood of attaining long term professions” (Pinkus par. 1). Employers hiring based on a degree also look for things that are more marketable. “They like workers who are creative, are adaptable, and have the ability to communicate and think critically”, which according to Selingo are “all telltale signs of a classic liberal education” (Selingo par. 10).
People who insist on only pursuing a liberal