In today’s society, “Stem” (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is often given more importance than liberal arts. The need for experts in the Stem fields has grown significantly due to the rapid growth in technology and the increasing digitization of society.
Due to the perception that liberal arts degrees are less practical and rewarding than Stem degrees, students are often influenced by parents and relatives to adopt a similar viewpoint. However, liberal arts education is also extremely significant and valuable. As William Deresiewicz stated in his book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, “The purpose of a liberal education is to make you an individual, a unique being -- a person with a mind of your own."
There is a common belief that students pursuing a liberal arts education are unskilled and will struggle to find respectable employment in the future. Nevertheless, a closer examination of liberal arts programs and course materials makes it clear just how beneficial it is to have an arts degree.
Not only does it develop the brain to think creatively and analytically, it also broadens one's mind, which benefits them throughout their entire life. An arts student can focus largely on one area of study, but they are also required to take courses in other fields as well, which help them expand their knowledge and polish their writing and communication skills. In effect, these students graduate with a variety of skills, including excellent research, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving abilities, all of which are extremely valued by different companies and industries.
It is also important to note that the current education system fails to foster adequate levels of soft skills and mostly emphasizes exams and practical considerations, which promotes a fear-based survival attitude. According to a survey conducted by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in 2022, soft skills were considered the most important factor by the majority of employers, followed by hard skills and the number of years of experience.
Interdisciplinary learning teaches students different methods of acquiring knowledge and helps them view things from different perspectives
While science majors usually possess sufficient hard skills, they often lack important soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. This can affect their job prospects and hold them back from reaching their full potential. In this context, a liberal arts education considerably helps in the development of these skills.
Not to mention, a background in liberal arts can instill soft skills in a person and help them further in their career regardless of the path they choose. For instance, a student intending to become a doctor in the future could attend a liberal arts college to major in sociology or psychology before getting into medical school. Courses in psychology would help them better understand a patients' mental health and behaviour, while sociology courses would enable them to empathize with patients from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, the writing and analytical abilities acquired from courses would be beneficial for future publications and research.
Moreover, according to a World Economic Forum study titled “The Future of Jobs,” about 65% of elementary school children will work in occupations that do not even exist right now. Interdisciplinary learning teaches students different methods of acquiring knowledge and helps them view things from different perspectives. This indicates that students with liberal arts backgrounds will likely have the skills necessary for these professions.
Beyond that, in order to help a student become more qualified, liberal arts education requires students to take courses from diverse disciplines, such as history, math, literature, and foreign languages. This also fosters critical and creative thinking in the students. Hence, graduates with a liberal arts education not only have an advantage in the labour market right now, but they will also most likely be well-prepared for careers in the future.
As we move further into the 21st century, it is extremely important that people learn to broaden their horizons and recognize the value that lies in liberal arts education. Liberal arts education has the power to profoundly change our society as it empowers students to think creatively, to push boundaries, and to make important contributions to the arts, social justice, and education.
Fariha Afrin is a student at BRAC University and an intern at Dhaka Tribune.
