College is a big step. As a student, it’s not only important to choose a program that aligns with your interests but also prepares you for the future you want. Many students wonder how a liberal arts program can help their careers or prepare them for life outside of college. Rooted in the belief that a liberal arts education empowers students to participate freely in the life of society, PLNU continues this tradition today.
If you’re interested in pursuing a liberal arts education that equips you for the career you want and encourages you to contribute meaningfully to the world, PLNU has you covered. Here’s how a liberal arts education can equip you to contribute meaningfully to the world around you.
What is a Liberal Arts Education?
Liberal arts go back centuries. It was originally crafted to incorporate and emphasize the fields of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music, rhetoric, and logic. The purpose of this education was to incorporate knowledge and leadership so students could go forth as informed members of society.
Liberal arts education looks slightly different today. Its curriculum is specifically designed to incorporate a wide range of subjects while centering its general education around the humanities. When pursuing a major in the humanities, students are generally taught how to analyze, think critically and creatively, and communicate effectively in the workplace.
Present-day colleges like PLNU offer a variety of majors that train students to do just this. The School of Arts & Culture programs offer students many different studies that invite them to think critically and engage in our world in a new light. With subjects such as Visual Art, Graphic Design, Political Science, Communication Studies, Literature, Multimedia Journalism, English, Languages, Music, and more — there are plenty of opportunities for students to pursue a humanities education.
Skills You Gain Through Liberal Arts Education
With the rise of technology, it’s more important now than ever to hone in on the humanities. Liberal arts characteristics such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking are essential in a workplace that seems increasingly impersonal.
Liberal arts education puts a big emphasis on personal, human-connectivity skills. It also gives students transferable skills that can be used to excel in many fields. Understanding, analyzing, and communicating — just a few skills that the humanities develop — are crucial for a workplace environment that wants to connect with its consumers. Whether you’re a marketing specialist or human resources coordinator, the creative and critical thinking skills that this education path offers will help you develop these skills.
How Liberal Arts Education Enhances Career Readiness
Like any student looking to pursue higher education, there are questions about how this field of study will affect their career path. Will a liberal arts education help my career? It’s a fair question. A common misconception is that a degree in the humanities doesn’t pay off in the long run. Liberal arts graduates are equipped with a unique perspective and skill set that prepares them for real-life problems.
No matter your area of study, a liberal arts education can signal to future employers that you are able to analyze real-life and workplace situations and come up with creative solutions as an employee. For example, excellent communication skills are highly valued by many employers. PLNU’s Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies equips students with the career readiness skills needed to excel in a working world where communication is always changing. As a versatile major with a wide variety of career opportunities, communication studies is one of the most popular majors at PLNU for good reason.
Why Employers Value Liberal Arts Education
It’s not just Point Loma saying that there’s value to obtaining a liberal arts degree. The Harvard Business Review stated that over 80% of employers agreed that having a liberal arts foundation is essential for good workers and leaders. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) also stated that most employers rank skills such as critical thinking and communication above technical proficiency as “essential for career readiness.” One employer even highlighted that liberal arts students are less of a threat to their jobs being taken over by automated machines.
While technology advancements can potentially change how we view other professions, liberal arts programs prioritize human skills such as creativity and ethical reasoning that artificial intelligence struggles to replicate. Because the humanities cover a wide range of disciplines, experts have theorized that students will learn “a complexity of skills” that will work alongside AI.
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Who are you called to be?
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
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Begin Your Liberal Arts Education
Regardless of what your career path will be, the world needs writers, communicators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers in their industries. When students receive a well-rounded education, they’re bound to lead a life of new perspective — no matter where their career takes them. At its heart, Point Loma Nazarene University prides itself on helping students pursue their calling. As a Christian liberal arts college, it’s designed to encourage students to nurture their curiosity, creativity, and leadership skills to prepare them for life after school. Apply now and see where a holistic education will lead you!