Liberal Arts

[AggieDave 6]

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at no place anywhere have I seen students worked harder than the engineers or medical students. Liberal arts students have it very easy by comparison.

Well, I've only been at one University, however, anyone who thinks there's an easy degree here is sadly mistaken.

Kallend, I have the nice point of view of having been an Engineering major (Computer Science) for 2 1/2 years before I ended up a History major. Why aren't I still a Computer Science major, is History easier? Hell no, its just as hard, harder in some respects, but it is different. I walked away from Computer Science, for a number of reasons. For one, I hate high-end math, but I love computers, thus computer science. So that portion of my degree and I didn't get along so well. All of my electives and quite a few hours that wouldn't apply to my degree were all history classes I took for "fun." Still very hard classes, I just took them due to my love of history. Thus when the time came, I realized how far along I was on a History degree and went with that.

You know, I guess I'm a strange person, making a lot of money has never really been a goal of mine. My goal is to have a happy family, make enough money that I can provide for them what they need and still be able to get some of things they want. The otherside of my goals in life has to do with a very deep sense of honor and service to my community/nation. Thus, since I was a little boy, I wanted to go into the Military, when that became a non-option, law enforcement became a really good choice. Sure, both choices don't make much money, they do have good benifits (which is very important with a family), but both choices, I know, are exactly what would make my life complete.

So basically, if your goal is to make as much money as you can, go for it, be that guy. For me, my future family is more important to me then just that!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Luv2Fall 0]

Understood.......my wife doesn't have a degree but yet trains those who hold MBA's and is well compensated for the same...........that gal makes better money than many degreed individuals.

[freeflir29 0]

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that gal makes better money than many degreed individuals.

I do too......but it's been a LONG road. Almost 10 years in the Air Force. 2 years afterwards.....and I have spent probably $10,000 or more in school bills. I may not have a degree but I DO have an education. I just happen to have an unusual skill set that in post 9/11 times is in HIGH demand. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time.

[AggieDave 6]

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I just happen to have an unusual skill set that in post 9/11 times is in HIGH demand.

Damn those Scottish Sheep and their plots of terrorism...good thing we've got Clay!

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[Luv2Fall 0]

Understood.

[samhussey 0]

As much as it pains me to say it, our society needs people to study the arts. Arts are a vital part of our culture, and we can't let them die out. On the other hand, I've met arts students.

[freefallfreak 0]

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For me, my future family is more important to me then just that!

Thank you and well said, dude. (Even though "then" should have been spelled "than", lol.)

FFF

"Upon seeing the shadow of a pigeon, one must resist the urge to look up."

[flyhi 24]

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I'm a liberal arts major, I have a degree in Canadian Studies, from a Canadian University.

Drink beer, play hockey? I did that in college, too.

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I relate better to management and to our clients.

What do you call an engineer who looks at your shoes when he talks to you and not his own?

An extrovert.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[lawrocket 3]

If I hadda do it all over again, I would have.

I started off as a biology major in college, with hopes of being a pharmacist. But I messed around too much, didn't study hard, and had to take some time off from school while I figured out what I really wanted. I also, at the time, thought I was simply no good at math. So I explored and found out that I was a kick ass political scientist.

I managed to graduate in two years from with the political science degree after switching from biology. SUre, I took an insane course load, but I just wanted to finish college before my Army scholarship ran out, and get my commission.

Then I got Reserves. Nope, no steady job for me with Uncle Sam. So I went to law school because there was nothing else to do. Why be a college educated 8 dollar and hour employee?

I should have applied myself harder and been an engineer. I should have applied myself harder and gotten a hard science degree. It is more difficult, but not as hard as law school. Had I studied in undergrad like I did in law school, I'd have been a Rhodes scholar.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[craichead 0]

I whole-heartedly agree with everything you said. The arts and humanities, along with math and science, are needed for a complete education. However, I have to train flaky, idiotic art students all the time because I work in a museum that hires "work-studies" from the Art Institute of Chicago and other area art schools. While they may be good at creating nifty-looking visual works, the schools teach them nothing about how the real world works. Pure arts or pure science isn't the answer...a well-rounded education, whether it be attained through formal educational institutions or self-learning is a better way, IMHO.

BTW, I have a BA (major in psych, minor in studio art), have almost completed an MA in Arts Administration (someone needs to kick my ass to finish it), and I chose to go into a museum profession because of my love for the arts. Being a child of Asian immigrant parents, I was expected to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, accountant, etc. I really could have done any of these, as I have demonstrated the aptitude for all of the disciplines, but I'm happiest being involved in what I enjoy--photography and an institution that promotes life-learning and discovery. Boy, do I sound cheesy.

_Pm

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"Scared of love, love and aeroplanes...falling out, I said takes no brains." -- Andy Partridge (XTC)

[racer42 0]

I majored in European Studies and minored in Art History. I have been in the Performing Arts business for over 20 years, both as a technician and an Administrator. My wife is a costume designer by training and is now a Special Ed teacher.
A liberal arts education can open doors you wouldn't think about going through.
If technology or a strictly business degree is your bag, go for it. But don't short change yourself. Everyone should be exposed to and study the liberal arts. It makes for a more complete human being.

Besides, I know all the capitals of every country and what the major export is. Good for parties and lively arguments.

Kev

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[rehmwa 2]

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Everyone should be exposed to and study the liberal arts. It makes for a more complete human being.

Oh, that's where all the supermen came from . All it takes is a diploma to be 'complete'. I thought that was the scarecrow from the wizard of oz.

Pretty tough on all those subhumans out there without Lib arts training. But if they don't know what they're missing, they can't miss it. You can always pity them and try to take care of them.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Luv2Fall 0]

Damn, all this time I thought the University of Hard Knocks made for a more complete person.

[kallend 2,142]

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Especially since 9 times out of 10 on DZ.com, I don't take the time to proof read what I write, so quite a few times, my spelling is off, as well as some grammer.

Meh, shit happens.

Open the door and someone will walk in.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[rehmwa 2]

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Damn, all this time I thought the University of Hard Knocks made for a more complete person.

Of course you'd think that if you don't have a degree in Liberal Arts. But how were you to know?

Us submeguloids without L.A. diplomas need to be sterilized for sake of humanity's future. But it's worth it once you think of the utopia to follow.

(reminds me of the Simpson's episode [spoof on a Douglas Adams segment] where the Earth was ending and one set of space ships had the scientists and engineers and doctors. The second space ship has all the actors and etc (read Liberal Arts types) and Homer - they sent the second ship into the sun, but Homer and Bart got out anyway because they couldn't stand to be in with those people for the extra few seconds to wait for a burning solar death. Now that's a funny use of stereotyping and extrapoloation.)

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Luv2Fall 0]

I'm not worthy.

[kallend 2,142]

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Everyone should be exposed to and study the liberal arts. It makes for a more complete human being.

Oh, that's where all the supermen came from . All it takes is a diploma to be 'complete'. I thought that was the scarecrow from the wizard of oz.

Pretty tough on all those subhumans out there without Lib arts training. But if they don't know what they're missing, they can't miss it. You can always pity them and try to take care of them.

Our engineering and science students have to take a whole lot more credit hours of humanities and social sciences courses than our liberal arts students have to take of math and science. IMO its the liberal arts students who aren't well rounded.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[rehmwa 2]

It's a nice reply, John. But I still doubt that something as simple as total credit hours is causal at all to the completeness (well roundedness) of the individual.

Correlation is a different thing.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[Zenister 0]

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Everyone should be exposed to and study the liberal arts. It makes for a more complete human being.

Oh, that's where all the supermen came from . All it takes is a diploma to be 'complete'. I thought that was the scarecrow from the wizard of oz.

Pretty tough on all those subhumans out there without arts training. But if they don't know what they're missing, they can't miss it. You can always pity them and try to take care of them.

Now who is sounding bitter and self-congratulatory?

"Pretty tough on all those subhumans out there without arts training.”

Ps. that isn’t a proper sentence. should we mock your lack of grammar as well?

Get over it. The advantage of a liberal arts education is that it will force you to study some areas you would never investigate otherwise. That can lead to significant changes in your life path and take you places you'd never imagined vs the cubical you might be destined for after you finish that business degree on the way to the ‘well paying job’ you thought you desired in high school. Again how much you learn from any program is up to you. [I] you should meet the number of people with worthless computer science degrees I have to work with everyday, all that theory and they still lack basic networking skills.[/I]

There are just as many equally ignorant people walking the planet with 'hard science' degrees, as there are flaky art students. The diploma means nothing if you did not apply yourself while getting it.

____________________________________
Those who fail to learn from the past are simply Doomed.

[Jib 0]

I was fortunate in that I had a liberal arts background from high school. I also had to take liberal arts classes as a core for business school (jr/sr years). I think the breadth of knowledge is valuable in and of itself. However, the criticism of the lack of communication skills was heard more than a decade ago. I was good at prose (told to write down to my peers level in college ), but I could not effectively communicate until law school and was scared to death of public speaking. We even had a business communications class in the business school, which they did away with upon my graduation. Perhaps, the problem with communicating is that we're too busy taking other classes to learn how to do it! Except for drama majors.

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the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[racer42 0]

Yeah, you'll have to excuse me but I came in late ...was it my turn to open the can of worms today??

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[rehmwa 2]

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Now who is sounding bitter and self-congratulatory?

There are just as many equally ignorant people walking the planet with 'hard science' degrees, as there are flaky art students. The diploma means nothing if you did not apply yourself while getting it.

First bit - I had moved into direct mockery at that point. It was getting funny to hear some of the junk being spewed. (and possibly I do think the submeguloids should be sterilized, they're killing the rose bushes). No bitterness, no self-congratulatorinessiness, just mockery.

Your last paragraph - That's my whole point. And not just "applying" yourself in the classroom, but just experiencing life while on your own has more impact than the degree program. So if you feel that way, then you can't say the degree gives you more 'advantage' than any other - it's just background noise on the effect. So which is it? Thanks for agreeing (I think).

Lastly, I am hoping that even though you write it, you aren't advocating to "force people to study certain areas". Who's going to make that list? Big Brother I suppose. Are you a closet supremacist? {{[[of course not]]}}

Edit: Please mock my grammar. Without mockery, we really don't have any fun.

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[rehmwa 2]

Oh, one more though.

Kallend might just support you here. He states that the hard science types (at his school) have more work and harder work. In my mind, that locks them up longer studying.

Thus losing what I consider precious time to join clubs and be social and experience more life.

That's a better argument, but then you'd have to take the assumption that those are much more difficult (or at least time consuming) degrees. Who's ego can handle that?

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Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

[kallend 2,142]

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Oh, one more though.

Kallend might just support you here. He states that the hard science types (at his school) have more work and harder work. In my mind, that locks them up longer studying.

Thus losing what I consider precious time to join clubs and be social and experience more life.

That's a better argument, but then you'd have to take the assumption that those are much more difficult (or at least time consuming) degrees. Who's ego can handle that?

That is true - the clubs are mostly run by liberal arts students.

But then again, if you want engineers to design bridges that stay up, power grids that work, and airplanes that fly, then the engineering students have to do a lot of studying. What do you suggest should be dropped from an engineering curriculum to accommodate the clubs? Thermo? Fluid dynamics? Solid mechanics?

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[sdgregory 0]

Hmm actually, I am an honors ME student at OSU and I am Treasurer of the Skydiving club and a Member of Future Truck, and an active member of Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honors Society) and I raise a family.

In fact three of the four Executive Committee slots in our club are filled by Engineering majors in at least their second year.

This crap that only liberal arts majors are well rounded, well adjusted social people is just that. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap.