When international students begin researching US universities, they encounter the phrase “liberal arts.” Most US schools, except for a few schools that specialize in STEM or Visual Arts, say they have a liberal arts ethos. In the UK, liberal arts courses are a general studies degree. However, at US universities the liberal arts ethos is an approach to learning for all students at the school. It means students will be required to take a range of courses across disciplines as well as complete their requirements their specific major.

US universities celebrate the liberal arts ethos for a variety of reasons. One, US schools believe that a broader curriculum helps students be more engaged with the complex world around them. Rather than just focus on one subject in the pursuit of pre-professional training, a US university is about becoming a responsible and responsive citizen.

Two, studies have shown that a liberal arts education is the best foundation for future careers. Narrowly focused courses that focus on current career trajectories cannot prepare students for an ever-changing future. Rather, it is the ability to think broadly and be flexible when grappling with unforeseeable events is most valuable in a career. Also, the ability to make connections between seemingly disparate areas of knowledge will be a necessary skill no matter what changes happen in the future.

The liberal arts ethos also gives students the chance to explore various subjects before committing to a specific academic area. When students speak with Vela Education advisors about why they are interested in US universities, it is because they are not ready to commit to a single course of study. The liberal arts approach encourages students to take classes in subjects they have yet to encounter, thus discovering new passions and developing goals they could not have previously imagined. If you are interested in US universities and want to learn more about the liberal arts approach, please consider scheduling a strategic consultation. We are here to help.