Originally Posted by HowlerKarma
This doesn't even begin to address the problems inherent in the semantics in this-- where at some institutions "Liberal Arts" means anything that is a BA degree and includes a gen-ed core, and at others, comprises a balanced and thoughtful, intentional course of instruction. "Humanities" is "Liberal Arts" at a good number of institutions, as well.

There are TWO concepts using the word "liberal" in education, which is confusing. I'm a graduate of a liberal arts college and didn't even get the distinction until very recently.

Liberal Arts: really, a liberal arts college. This is a college (typically undergraduate or with minimal graduate programs, and smallish). The college emphasizes a broad education. At my college, this meant that you had to take at least two 300-level (junior/senior level) classes outside your major (several 300-level classes required). See the Wikipedia. The education you get is not trivial. Examples of these colleges include the Seven Sisters, the Little Ivies, and Harvey Mudd.

Liberal Studies: A bogus (IMO) "major" that can involve little more than spending four years taking introductory-level courses, putting them in a package with a nice ribbon on it, and calling it a degree. A choice for future teachers (ouch). Here's an example. My opinion is that this major is trivial because it doesn't require students to dig into something in depth.

Last edited by Val; 01/22/14 12:21 PM. Reason: Clarity