In the essay, “ 7 Major Misperceptions About the Liberal Arts” Sanford J. Ungar discusses the “misperceptions” related to a liberal arts education. In total, Ungar lists seven reasons as to why a liberal arts education is an appropriate choice despite the onset of the American recession. In order to inform his audience and prove why these misconceptions are in fact not accurate; he develops his argument by sharing supporting details on the popular opinions people have regarding this matter. Some of the misconceptions he clarifies to his audience is the fallacy of focusing strictly on career, educational opportunities, the inability of finding adequate jobs with a liberal arts degree, and vocational training being the standard way of securing…
In the article “The New Liberal Arts,” by Sanford J. Ungar he lists seven common misconceptions about liberal arts. The first misconception that Ungar states is that vocational training is a better substitute than liberal arts. He explains how students only focus on one thing now of days hoping they will get a job in that field, but don’t realize having more knowledge and experience will benefit them more. He also disputes that college graduates with a liberal arts degree will have a tougher time finding a job. Third misconception he says is that less prosperous people have no benefit form a liberal arts degree and should seek other fields of education.…
Liberal-arts degrees are a very controversial topic. Economists and many others tend to urge people to avoid getting a degree in the liberal-arts field based on numerous misconceptions. Ungar refutes the misconceptions in his essay “The New Liberal Arts”. A typical misconception would be that a liberal-arts degree is a luxury that only the rich can afford. Along with the misconception comes the “career education” desired by many of the rising college bound students.…
In order to analyze the value of liberal arts, one should define value as something objectively important, such as work. Both Ungar and Reich correlate the value of liberal arts with the job market. For example, Ungar explains why employers seek to hire liberal arts students for their abilities to think deeply, critically, and creatively compared to other students. Furthermore, because this topic is often discussed, Ungar includes logos to solidify his argument. He emphasizes, “A 2009 survey for the Association Colleges and Universities actually found that more than three-quarters of our nation’s employers recommend that collegebound students pursue a ‘liberal education’” (192).…
The article also gives a better understanding of what should be taken into account before choosing whether or not to study the liberal arts. By understanding what Stanford Ungar is saying in, “The New Liberal Arts,” readers are able to make decision on future plans based on fact rather than belief alone. By knowing that studying liberal arts is not irrelevant, or impractical for any background a reader is shown that race or income is not as important as earning a degree which allows student to think critically, and communicate effectively no matter the career…
He said that they would catch up fast and their background shouldn’t dictate and/ or discourage them to get a liberal arts degree. The fourth misperception, one should not in this day and age study only arts. Ungar’s disputed that the liberal arts degree has a variety of classes that not only arts such as math and science. The fifth misperception, Ungar’s argued that a liberal Democrat has nothing to do with a liberal arts education and liberal arts are a conservative approach. The sixth misperception America is a country that…
Education today is often criticized for conforming all students to the same ideas and not letting them truly expand their minds and be creative. Students are held back by curriculum that intends to broaden their intellectual ability while it really narrows it and shuts out a lot of different outlets that are just waiting to be taken advantage of by these students. In Sanford J. Ungar’s The New Liberal Arts he addresses the many misperceptions made by Americans about Liberal Arts degrees and why they are no longer useful in the modern world. Many Americans believe that because of the current economic situation that an added expense of a liberal arts degree is wasteful, they also assume that employers no longer are looking for liberal arts degrees…
The second and third misconceptions in relation to the first one are that people are finding it hard to earn good jobs with a liberal arts degree and that it is also practically irrelevant or useless to low-income and first-generation students. People would be surprised by the number of companies and organizations that actually looks for and requires a liberal arts degree in order to join them. Although it may seem irrelevant to first-generation students that would rather find more practical and easy majors, Sanford believes that because they are first-generation students are more inventive and creative in finding new and original ideas. The next several misconceptions concerning the liberal arts blame its liberal Democrats as the cause of America 's trouble and that the cost of America’s higher education is increasing thus decreasing productivity and finding different ways of innovation. Despite these common misconceptions Ungar believes that the solution lies…
In an era of ever-increasing costs of college expenses, concerned parents and stressed high school students face one crucial decision with important trade-offs to consider. Many worry that the intellectual and personal benefits of a collegiate liberal arts education are substantially outweighed by the overarching social stigma that such a degree is obsolete. Furthermore, they must consider the financial burden and student loans that they will likely incur as a result of this type of education as opposed to more affordable public universities. For these families, their minds spinning with unanswered questions, author Fareed Zakaria takes the complicated matter and confronts it head-on, arguing that a liberal arts-educated population is a necessity…
In the first article, “ The New Liberal Arts” Sanford J. Ungar emphasizes a liberal arts college experience for each individual no matter their current economic status. To share his points Ungar explains seven different misconceptions that are commonly placed on a liberal-arts college today. The first misconception that he explains is that some people believe that a liberal arts degree is something only certain families are able to pay for. He reassures readers that a liberal-arts degree during this time will lead an individual down the right career path for their future. A liberal-arts degree provides a wide range of opportunities and knowledge for an individual to thrive in the workplace.…
Ungar was the president of Goucher College, an author of several books and has worked in broadcast journalism. In his article, he expresses how a liberal arts education is necessary and important. He writes, “It is far wiser for people to prepare for change and the multiple careers they are likely to have than to search for a single job track that might one day become a dead end.” To have an education in liberal arts will give you knowledge not only in one particular field but in many multiple areas. A person will be well prepared for many different challenges and demands in a work field.…
Progressive Learning in the Liberal Arts World As an undergraduate attending a liberal-arts college, I noticed that I am taking classes that appear not have any purpose to my major and I am also being challenged to be a stronger individual. My skill set is progressing and I am developing into a well-balanced human being. There has been several controversies about liberal-arts universities and what they can do for students. Some individuals say graduating from a liberal-arts college will stimulate students to be well-rounded and ahead of the pack, but others say attending a liberal-arts college is a misuse of time and money.…
In his arguments, Ungar points out that while many believe a “liberal-arts degree is a luxury,” it is not (227). It may indeed be true that pursuing such a degree is more expensive and that families are struggling financially, but Ungar argues that it “a better investment” as it teaches the students how to communicate in an effective way and how to be critical thinkers which allows for them to be “innovative and creative” (227-228). He then supports this by making a claim based off a survey in 2009 that the majority of the employers are indeed looking for those with a liberal arts education instead due to them possessing the abilities already mentioned. Another argument he makes is that one should not just focus on the STEM fields and that one should expand and diversify their learning, which is what a liberal arts education can provide (229). While Ungar admits that while it is possible to gain such an education through a larger university, it does not provide “a close interaction between faculty members and students” and that there isn’t a “sens of community” (232).…
In today's society, students often question a liberal arts education, not realizing the knowledge, wisdom, or virtue it could provide. Many believe a liberal arts education gives you more economic freedom, unlike a degree engineered toward their specific future careers and endeavors. Because of these practices, liberal arts education offers more than just a degree. In fact, the term liberal means freedom; complemented by noble, well-rounded, or moral open-minded character. A liberal arts education gives you the ability to ponder, reason, unravel problems, to connect with people on a greater scale.…
From kindergarten to eighth grade, we were given a set of classes focused on teaching us what was considered to be basic knowledge: math, science, english, and art. When high school began, that focus was shifted onto what students needed to know for college. If or when a high school graduate decided to go to college, the next most important - and sometimes difficult - step was choosing a major. The major you chose would also determine your degree, which still causes controversy when it comes to which degrees are worth your time and money, and the relevancy of the liberal - arts in the education system today. Liberal education is so ancient that it can’t possibly still be a necessary skill with all the technology we deal with today, can it?…