The Value of a Liberal Arts Education
Sometimes, people ask me how I came to be a marketer when I earned my advanced degrees in Library Science and History. It’s a fair question. I mean, let’s face it, American Revolution to The Now Revolution is not exactly a straight line. Some people may assume that this was always my destiny since my family owns a marketing firm, but in fact, the universe was wide open for me to do something else, and still, I ended up working in (and loving) the world of marketing.
The funny thing is not that this is my story, but rather that most people I know have experienced similar things. A lot of people I went to college with majored in English, Theater, or History. A lot of them today are in banking or are working as lawyers. My friend Ryan, who gave me the idea for this post, went to grad school with me and earned an MA in History, and he now works in the insurance industry.
The not so funny thing is that these stories are I think influencing people to wonder whether a Liberal Arts education is the best way to go. I remember when I was working at the craft store between my senior year in high school and my freshman year in college, my old principal came in. He asked me what I was going to major in and I said History and English, and his response was that he’d see me at McDonald’s. Ouch.
The Real Problem
Of course, the real problem is not getting a Liberal Arts education. The real problem is that the job market that Liberal Arts students have traditionally turned to has undergone dramatic changes. Libraries, universities, museums, school systems – all of them share the same problem. Since Homeland Security started to siphon funds away from these types of institutions, there have been fewer jobs. The uncertainty in the world is causing people to hold on to their jobs longer. When someone does retire, their position is often not filled by someone new.
This should not defeat people who want to pursue a Liberal Arts education, though. We just need to think a little bit differently.
A Buffet of Knowledge
When I started in college, the idea was that you picked a major, stuck with it, and graduated with a degree that illustrated your focus on that topic. But by the time I was graduating, that was already starting to change. I double-majored and also double-minored. A friend of mine got a triple major, and another friend majored in music and English – two types of degrees. We were already seeing that the economy was going to require us to have a wider depth of knowledge.
Now, that’s even more true.
The world is no longer a straight shot from freshman year to graduation to job. So what can you do if you really want that Liberal Arts education? Look for supplementary activities and/or classes that can help round out your knowledge base. Instead of just taking creative writing classes, mix in some marketing or journalism classes. Instead of just taking 19th century American History classes (um, drool), mix in some Sociology or marketing classes. One thing you can say about college – you’re paying enough to be able to learn whatever you want to learn. Have at it.
Jobs are about thinking outside the box too
There is also a heavier responsibility on people today, regardless of age, to carve out their own jobs. I used my own academic background to make my position in our family’s company uniquely my own. My ability to research, the resources I learned about when I was pursuing my MLS, and other skills gave me a leg up as I learned about the world of marketing. If you want to practice law but also have an English degree under your belt, see if you can use those skills to enhance the quality of your trial briefs or your presentations before juries.
I find these kinds of brainstorming sessions much more fun than wondering if I could do all of my work in 4 hours. But that’s just me.
Anyway, it breaks my heart to think that today’s younger folks are being encouraged to stay away from the “fluff” degrees, as my History major was once called. Sure, the job market may seem tougher in those areas, but let’s be honest – most job areas are looking tough these days. We all need to think more creatively. We all need to move away from what once was and start adapting to what is.
It may be different. It may be abstract and kind of scary. That’s the 21st century for ya. But I have no regrets whatsoever about my education. I just keep looking for more ways to interweave it into where I ended up.
That’s my take. What do you think?
Image by Tiffany Szerpicki. http://www.sxc.hu/profile/igoghost
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Dear Margie –
My son graduated cum laude with a degree in PHILOSOPHY. His father was furious. Said he waqs wasting his time.
He works in the health care industry. Every one he ever interviewed with loved it.
Yeah, I think there is a lot to say for the dedication and discipline it takes to complete a degree of any kind. The research, the writing skills you need – those play well all over the job market 🙂
Margie,
I got my Degree in Public Accounting something that has been very useful from a business perspective at the other many things I have done. I guess running an IT solutions company is not where I picture myself to be with my degree.
If I dig deeper I can clearly see that I was taking that route especially when I was paying for my degree building websites and doing a series of other jobs more related to technology.
I agree with you completely not sure why a career is such an important thing since it is a word that is difficult to define now days. I try to call it personal and professional development which should go in line with what you are passionate about.
Neat Post glad to know I am not alone!
I think you’ve hit an interesting nugget there, my friend. Personal and professional development might just be what we are evolving towards, which would be pretty interesting. I’ll have to think more about that! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Whatever happened to being known as a Renaissance person who has varied knowledge? It used to be that employers wanted well rounded individuals no matter their degree. Hopefully every person desires to continue to learn through life and not just in the halls of academia. I say get whichever degree you want, as long as you are happy with it.
I like that approach as well, Grace. That was a thorn in my side when I was in grade school and high school though. Why did I need Phys Ed credits again? 🙂
I got my degree in English and hoped to teach High School English. I’ve since gone into corporate training, computer software development and even medical sales where I sold exercise bikes to paralyzed people (true story, can’t make that stuff up!)
All this social media stuff is fertile ground for a liberal arts education, especially those of us who can turn a phrase easily. My son (who has a BFA) reminds me that the greatest reward of a liberal arts education is the ability to extract humor out of the most banal surroundings. He may be right.
And for those who ask me, “What will you ever do with an English degree?” my answer is usually “anything I want.”
And now to prove my son right, read this: http://www.dogwalkblog.com/what-the-hell-will-you-ever-use-an-english-degree-for.html extra points if you noticed I ended the headline with a preposition. More points if it really bugs you and a gazillion points if it makes you so angry you have to reply to this comment 🙂
Hah, I think I’m the only English major in the world who shrugs off prepositional endings. Those words are darned useful and sometimes they make perfect endings to sentences. What do we need rules for? 🙂
There, that’ll make ya itch!
I agree with you though – if we really are entering an era when content is king, being able to create succinct and well-written content seems like it would be pretty important. I’ve been wrong before though, so……
When it comes to choosing a degree, I believe people should think about return on investment. Simply put, will this degree help you get a good paying job that allows you to dig out of the hole you’re most likely in upon contact with the real world. I’m talking about student loan debt. Debt dictates decisions and alters your life. So many students are graduating ten of thousands of dollars in debt and coming out of the gate carrying stress, panic and hopelessness with them. These are not the traits most employers look for in potential employees. Margie, I know idea about your financial situation. Regardless, from what I do know, you are a solid example of someone who used ingenuity, intelligence and drive to make your way. Degrees aren’t everything but you’d never that from the amount of money people are spending on them today without a long-term plan to shed the debt, so they can actually get momentum and achieve their dreams. All and all, the decision on a degree path is not one to take lightly and should be accompanied with a long-term plan.
You raise a huge point, Joel. The structure of our student loan programs right now is really putting people at a huge disadvantage. Saying that you will get your first bill 6 months after you graduate means you pretty much need to have some income coming in 6 months after you graduate. Who can find their dream job right out of college or grad school or high school or anything else in 6 months these days? This is why there is more shifting around of jobs, more frustration, more “under-employed” people, and the list goes on.
For a Liberal Arts major waiting to see if anyone retires and if that open space ends up remaining open, the likelihood that the first payment will come due before the job is highly likely.
It’s a sad state of affairs.
It is indeed a sad state of affairs. My wife and I are working hard to position ourselves to avoid forcing our future kids into relying on student loans to pay for college. We don’t want them to be behind when they’re just getting started. It’s hard enough as it is. Thanks for another thought-provoking post. You’re my new fave blogger. =)
Great post. I got my MA and BA in English and double-minored in secondary education and writing. I taught high school English for a while, and then decided that writing, which has always been one of my passions, was what I really wanted to pursue. I’m actually finding that my English degrees are far more useful right now than my teaching certification. They’ve opened up more opportunities than if I had only given myself the option to teach.
I went to school orginally to get my degree in Hotel Management. I had this dream (still kinda do) of owning a B&B and getting to combine my 2 greatest passions: cooking and hotel management. But..I ended up changing my major – o like 5 times – before an Intro to Marketing professor blew me away so here I am in marketing with my BA in Marketing. My parents always told me not to worry about what major I chose because a majority of people dont end up doing what they orginally sought to do – am sure you can relate! But I ended up really liking marketing so I am lucky I guess. I do tell people that when they are considering their MBA to think of something less focused and choose a path like International Business or Entreprenuership which I think is the same idea you are suggesting here. Kinda makes you wonder what you would do if you had the chance to do it all over again…
[…] back on those classes as the most valuable part of my education. @margieclayman shared her views onthe value of a liberal arts education and is the Aim Above The Mark post of the […]
Margie,
Thank you so much for this post. I loved college, but it took me a long time to figure out why. Years later I rarely think about the courses that I took as part of my major (education). What I dwell on and am thankful for are the many liberal arts courses that I “had to take.”
What scares me is that we are seeing less of a focus on this type of education in our middle and high schools. The other day I visited by dentist’s office and there was a 17 year old intern who was in the middle of a high school dentistry internship helping out during my check up. Really? How many 16-18 year olds know what they want to be? Do I really want our school system helping guide my child’s decisions about what to do with the rest of her life at such an impressionable age?
You are a blessing to the social media world,
@jwsokol