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Higher education

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Original poster

Liberal Arts Degree - who why where and how?

99 replies

Dunlurking · 22/05/2015 12:05

Does anyone know much about these degrees? Who they are best for, what they do for you as a person and a career basis, where would be good to try in terms of university and how to get in - how competitive they are?

Ds a bit undecided about History, his best subject, as his first degree, loves drama and is a good mathematician, (and doesn't want to throw a language into the mix, which some seem to have). ASs being taken are History, Maths, Theatre Studies and Physics (which he is determined to drop). Is a Liberal Arts degree a reasonable option to explore?

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Original poster
Dunlurking · 22/05/2015 12:06

Sorry that request sounds a bit abrupt and to the point - would love any thoughts please, and thank you in advance!

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Leeds2 · 22/05/2015 14:20

Love to hear the replies, as that is what my DD is interested in! I could tell you a lot about doing such a degree in the US, where they are very well received and accepted, but not so much in the UK. DD is going to look at Bristol, as she seems to think they offer something on these lines although not sure, exactly, what the degree is called. Seems to be one of those degrees that is "growing" at the moment, in terms of number of places offering it.

lljkk · 22/05/2015 14:51

The degree is mocked like crazy in the USA, it's the original 'Airhead' degree that means nothing (butt of many jokes).

I know someone in UK teaching on a LA course, he's passionate about his job so must think highly of it. He's got a combined science-techie with music/arts background. I suppose it's about developing refined aesthetics and critical discrimination skills for him, with some elements of critical analysis skills.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 22/05/2015 15:37

Thanks lljk for that. I don't suppose you can reveal where your friend teaches? Passion for a course from the teacher is a good recommendation in my eyes..
Leeds2 glad to hear we're not alone. Ds is struck by possibilities at Exeter. We will check out Bristol. I think he will struggle to find 5 Liberal Arts courses/places that he likes that don't include a language (oh and he doesn't want anything in London!) If you put some single honours courses on the form as well then what do you put in your personal statement?

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wigglybeezer · 22/05/2015 15:44

You could try a Scottish university, the four year structure allows a lot of flexibility about subjects studied.

Leeds2 · 22/05/2015 16:39

I am hoping a language isn't required too, Dunlurking!

Original poster
Dunlurking · 22/05/2015 18:39

I'm glad we're in agreement over that Leeds2. Ds is interested in Classical Civilisations as well, but won't even consider learning Latin.

Thanks wigglybeezer, I'll look some up. We had vaguely thought about Edinburgh when he was going through a Maths phase as he could do it without Further Maths on a 4 year course so we should have the prospectus for there already.

As you can see, we are looking at many options......

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Canyouforgiveher · 22/05/2015 18:47

The degree is mocked like crazy in the USA, it's the original 'Airhead' degree that means nothing (butt of many jokes).

I disagree with this and it certainly isn't my experience in the US. there are liberal arts colleges which are incredibly well-regarded and a liberal arts degree, whether your major is english lit, classics, literature, languages, whatever, is highly regarded. If you go to Harvard, you are as likely to come out with a liberal arts degree and no one considers it an airhead degree. If fact if anything there is a slight feeling that if you specialise in college in a more vocational subject, e.g business, marketing, you are missing the point of a college education.

There are old jokes about people who have degrees in English literature (do you want fries with that yada yada). Doesn't devalue the degree though.

lljkk · 22/05/2015 19:27

Think what you like. I certainly didn't make this up.

At least in UK the degree reputation is starting from scratch.

Liberal Arts Degree - who why where and how?
PurpleHebe1 · 22/05/2015 21:27

I know someone from the UK studying liberal arts at university in the Netherlands. Certainly not an easy course as they seem to have more work than UK student friends (even those doing science courses) and much longer terms. Cheap though but a different experience to uk universities.

eatyourveg · 22/05/2015 21:37

Have you thought of Ireland? University College Dublin do a joint honours where you have your two main subjects and choose a 3rd and sometimes 4thsubject for the first year. No tuition fees but you would have to fund living expenses. Looks like they offer a History/Maths/Classics (Greek and Roman civilisations) combination

Whyjustwhy · 22/05/2015 22:12

Quick google shoes Warwick and Surrey also offer liberal arts degrees.
Given that the course is being offered by "good" universities, suggests they believe it's definitely of value.

Canyouforgiveher · 22/05/2015 22:28

yeah there are jokes about it in the US - but it is actually the most popular degree that most people get. It's not like if you say to people your child is off to do a liberal arts degree in Harvard (or Middlebury or University of Vermont), people will sneer or make a joke. In fact most people don't ask what you are studying in college - more what college you are going to.

In US, there isn't really an expectation that 18 year olds are ready to commit to law/medicine/whatever so they do a liberal arts degree or maybe a basic science or math degree.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 23/05/2015 00:41

A few of my friends did Liberal Arts in the US - one raves about it, two have issues with it, and the rest are at neither extreme. All currently either postdoc or permanent academic staff, which is what they wanted, so I think it is reasonably academic. The criticism I've heard is that it can be a bit 'jack of all trades' and frustrating in that respect.

I do think it'd be different in a UK context, though.

What about the subjects you don't study at A Level (or he doesn't)? Would be like sociology, or social and political sciences? Or philosophy? There are lots of degrees that use similar skills to history or maths (esp. in terms of logic).

JasperDamerel · 23/05/2015 00:51

If I were him, I might consider philosophy, which, in most UK universities is pretty mathematically based, possibly as a joint honours degree with either maths or history.

SenecaFalls · 23/05/2015 00:54

The degree is mocked like crazy in the USA, it's the original 'Airhead' degree that means nothing (butt of many jokes).

I think this is a ridiculous comment. I'd be curious to know what you consider to be the non-airhead degrees.

SenecaFalls · 23/05/2015 00:57

People who make those Starbucks jokes come across as anti-intellectual and narrow minded.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 23/05/2015 01:00

There will always be degrees that some people feel clever mocking. It's depressing.

TheWordFactory · 23/05/2015 08:10

My experience of tertiary education and graduates in the states, is that it's all about where you study, not what you study.

lljkk · 23/05/2015 08:24

It's funny that I didn't even know that 'liberal arts' was a degree name all by itself. Not until friend (in UK) started teaching on it. I thought "Liberal Arts" was just a TV Sitcom joke thing. A trait of female bimbo-esque foxes.

Mind, in the USA, liberal arts is sometimes not used as a degree name but as umbrella term for whole range of other specific degrees, including 'English literature'.

I'm thinking about my 14 relatives & many friends) who have college degrees and not one degree is in Liberal Arts (or from 'top universities'; only some went to colleges you even heard of). Maybe they're just being very quiet about it...

TheWordFactory · 23/05/2015 08:26

It's funny because here everyone asks about what was studied, but americans less so. Perhaps because degrees there are much more individualistic? with every student kind of tailor making their own?

Original poster
Dunlurking · 23/05/2015 08:29

Ooh there are some interesting perspectives on here. Thank you all. I shall interrogate chat to my American s-in-l when she and my brother fly in from Chicago on monday and get her thoughts on Liberal Arts degrees over there.

The Dublin course looks perfect on paper eatyourveg but seems to still attract a student contribution fee of £3000 even for "free fees" students. It awards a BA International - does anyone know how that is regarded in the UK, compared to a BA Hons?

Not sure ds would consider studying in the Netherlands PurpleH but he was talking about wanting a course that is more timetabled than the average Arts/Humanities degree so well worth looking at, thanks.

Whyjustwhy we will definitely check out the Warwick and Surrey courses at their open days, thx.

JeanneD and JasperD thanks for the philosophy jt hons suggesstions. Ds might well like the idea. Anyone recommend particular philosophy departments to look at?

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AtiaoftheJulii · 23/05/2015 08:51

I've looked at the Dutch universities and thought their liberal arts courses looked very interesting - taught in English btw!

You can apply for classical studies at many universities, language not compulsory.

I was going to suggest looking at the Scottish unis - my dd applied for classics at Glasgow - you start off picking three subjects to do, so lots of breadth. Or Leeds have loads of joint honours (think they said 70% of their students are doing joint honours), and the chance to take modules from other departments.

Original poster
Dunlurking · 23/05/2015 09:27

Thanks Atiao Glasgow and Leeds looking very promising. Glasgow would let him do some Theatre Studies on it, as would Warwick, and I think Exeter. I think he needs to start a spread sheet...

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Original poster
Dunlurking · 23/05/2015 09:31

Seems to be quite difficult to get Maths into the equation. Dublin does well there - Statistics or Maths possible (he's obsessed with good at statistics).

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