College Degree Importance

We often hear about the importance of a college degree. To be more specific, we have heard about the importance of a degree in something “useful”. But to be honest, what exactly is a “useful” college degree. In many cases, people do not see a degree in the liberal arts as beneficial as other degrees. In “The New Liberal Arts” by Sanford J. Ungar, Ungar gives his view on the common misconceptions that one may have when they think about a degree in the liberal arts.
I am pursuing my very own education in the arts. As a broadcasting major, I have found myself in situations where I plead my case on why I am choosing to study something in the arts. The first misconception that resonated with me is “[A] “career education” is what we need to focus on. . . . the “career education” bandwagon seems to suggest that shortcuts are available to students that led directly to high-paying jobs…”(227). This resonated with me so strongly because I believe that looking at education as just a way to get the high paying job is very dull. By doing this you close off a lot of things you can learn. Studying in the arts make students like myself equipped for any career that may come instead of preparing myself to be skilled in one profession for my whole life (227).
Another misconception Ungar brings forth to our attention is about “low income and first-generation students” (228). Ungar disagrees with the critics who say “The liberal arts are particularly irrelevant for low-income and first- generation college students” (228). I agree with Ungar when he states “It is condescending to imply that those who have less cannot understand and appreciate the finer elements of knowledge” (228). As a first generation student, I think that the arts is probably the best thing students like myself should study. No one can put a limit on what I can study and what I want to study.
Everyone can agree that the cost of a post high school education is outrageous. The alarming cost of a college education brings critics to a rash conclusion: “liberal arts are becoming irrelevant because they are unable to register gains in productivity to to find innovative ways of doing things” (Ungar 231). Ungar acknowledges the alarming cost of a college education but he gives a method to cut these cost down. He advocates that students should attend “small, residential liberal-arts colleges” (Ungar 232). The overall cost will be significantly cheaper than a larger school. I can agree with Ungar that going to a smaller college will cut cost, but I know I am not alone when I say that I’m not fond of the small college setting. There should be a better way to have the best of both worlds.
To conclude, I think that ranking education in terms of importance is a dangerous thing to do.
There is no such knowledge as irrelevant knowledge. Sanford J. Ungar proves this in “The New Liberal Arts”. He clearly points out the flaws in the common false impressions people have about liberal arts. Any student questioning if they studying the arts should read this piece before listening to the cynics. As Sanford J. Ungar says “Through immersion in liberal arts, students learn not just to make a living, but also to live a life rich in values and character.” In other words, Ungar believes that a degree in the arts will do more than just help you get a job. A degree in the arts benefits the understanding of the world we live
in.