[seeker1950]

I saw a blip interviewing Suze Orman...can't recall the exact program, maybe Larry King Live, in which the 4 year college liberal arts degree was discussed, as being worthless in today's employment economy. I have actually felt this way most of my adult life. I know, having had it myself, that the basic liberal arts degree, educational experience, is wonderful for broadening one's horizons. At the same time, in today's environment, such a degree is pretty much worthless when competing to bring home a paycheck. Kind of sad.
Patty

[lenjan]

I've never understood why people would waste the time and money basically to major in "nothing" (which is what "bachelor of general studies/liberal arts/whatever" generally are). You can become just as well-rounded at your local library for free.

Honestly, I think college is oversold these days. Plumbers aren't ever going to be short of work, and all they do is tech school and apprentice. You can even get health care degrees in 2 years at a tech college, and those are folks who won't ever be out of work either.

I regret all the time that I bought into the "more education is always better" crap, myself. (Bet you couldn't tell. )

[Niall_McBreen]

Hi Patty

I know what you mean, but then life is about more than paychecks. I did an arts degree too, and although it won't help me directly to get a job, any college degree looks good on a CV as it shows evidence of an enquiring mind and a good general level of education. Also many of the skills you get on such a degree are transferable - logically arguing your point, critical and lateral thinking, presentation and communication skills, not to mention the social skills college students gain.

There are ways of making your liberal arts degree work for you, although granted it does have to be backed up with work experience or further training.

On the worst days of my depression, music, art and literature can speak to me in ways that I couldn't have appreciated without 4 years studying at college.

OK so other degrees would be better suited to getting you into the work market. But you did things differently, it's part of the life path you took, and all life experience can help us in some way.

And I am a firm believer that education is a mainstay in overcoming social and health problems. In the UK the government wants kids to forget less "practical" subjects at school like literature and art, and take courses in "contact centre studies" and the like. What message is that hard vocational approach giving out to kids?

Just a few thoughts, it's a big debate

[splitimage]

Personally I find the de-emphasis on the liberal arts sad. My BA is a double honours in English & Philosophy, and I loved every minute of it. My parents encouraged me to study what I wanted, and it gave me excellent communication and critical thinking skills. I had no trouble finding a job on graduation, and that was in the middle of the 80-81 recession, largely because of all the extra curricular activities I was part of on campus. But having a degree, it didn't matter what subject was a criteria for getting hired.

I've since gone back to school part time to do more practical degrees (MBA and my accounting designation) that have served me well career wise. But when I was job hunting last year, I found my liberal arts BA was actually was a competitive advantage, as it differentiated me from other accountants and proved that I could communicate.

--splitimage

[Brian37]

candybear wrote:
I've never understood why people would waste the time and money basically to major in "nothing" (which is what "bachelor of general studies/liberal arts/whatever" generally are). You can become just as well-rounded at your local library for free.

sorry to vent, but that is the most insulting and naive thing i have ever seen posted on this forum..

you obviously have no respect for people who seek knowledge beyond the scope of our public education system...I have a Liberal Studies degree and have no regrets for spending time with good people and instructors while obtaining a college degree and being CEO of my own company

Brian

[recremj]

I dont have a liberal arts degree per se, but I have a communications degree. Same thing, its worth nothing.

[Brian37]

gee...a college degree worth nothing?

im sure the guy with the G.E.D. working at the paper bag factory making 7.98$ an hour would disagree...

[lenjan]

Um...hi. I have a master's degree. I also taught at a well-respected private university for a number of years. It's done me little to no good in terms of getting a well-paying job, despite my years of experience and my talent for what I do. The guy with the GED bagging groceries for $7.98 an hour at least has a job, which puts him ahead of me right now.

Always a good idea to get ALL the facts about someone before going off on them....

[kittykins9]

hey Patty,
I'm of two minds about that. I have one of those worthless degrees in English lit. I am a writer (for internet stuff) and so I can see the degree did train me to find a way to employ myself. A lot of people walk out with those degrees and are in teacher programs too.
I do think there are practical things that make a lot of sense too, but I would hate to see the pursuit of the liberals arts go completely either.

It's an interesting thread.

kittykins9

[AdamAW]

Isn't the really crucial thing whether you appreciate the degree course.

You guys should read the article by Charles Murray on this subject, which is really very good. (I'll post again to provide a link). I don't wish to imply that I agree with everything this man says, some of the things he says are highly objectionable, but I thought that his coverage of this subject was really very good.

Like he says, if you appreciate and enjoy the material you are covering, then all well and good. If you don't appreciate and enjoy what you are doing that would seem regretable, and arguably a waste of your and everybody else's time.

If a high proportion of people aren't enjoying their degree course then perhaps society should look into different ways of educating people that are more vocational, for those who don't enjoy academic study at this level.

It is crucial to understand that people are different. Murray says that many professions don't require three year degree-level training, and he specifies social work as one of them. I really enjoy the academic side to my social work course, which includes the study of sociology and social policy, but I know that for many of my fellow students this is probably and exercise in jumping through hoops. It is for me to the extent that I have to meet requirements.

Remember the wise words of Mark Twain:

For every complex question there is a simple answer.... and it is wrong!

We should appreciate that there are many factors to consider in any situtation.

[AdamAW]

The article can be found at:

http://www.american.com/archive/2008...ing-to-college

[EnglishMajor]

This is certainly a positive and encouraging thread. I'll be graduating in May with an apparently worthless MA in English. Stupid is me.