By Vicki Salemi
"To be or not to be, that is the question," mused William
Shakespeare. He wasn't talking about being or not being a
liberal arts major, but if you've ever wondered how a work
of literature like Hamlet, art history, and music theory can
help you on the job, you're not alone.
But guess what? Besides making you really great at trivia
and random conversation, experts and successful
professionals are attribTech Schoolng a well-rounded background in
liberal arts to the successful development of integral
business skills like critical thinking, writing, and oral
presentation.
"Anecdotal evidence suggests CEOs often prefer well-rounded
individuals in their work force and in leadership
positions," says Joseph J. Wydeven, Ph.D. and dean of
Bellevue University's College of Arts and Sciences
(Bellevue, NE), which recently launched a cluster of online
courses featuring classic literature and great thinkers.
A similar background energizes Paul Battista. This Dickinson
College alumni (Carlisle, Penn.) is a film producer and
founding partner of MindFusion Law, an entertainment law
firm. The former economics major attests the rigorous
Dickinson curriculum forced him out of a comfort zone to
challenge established points of views, as well as his own
preconceived notions. It's that very strategy that's given
him an edge when dealing with clients.
"Two primary skills my liberal arts education has fostered
is the ability to listen and the ability to understand the
subtle means of communication. the classic ability to listen
between the lines," he explains.
Arthur Rothkopf, president of Lafayette College (Easton,
PA), agrees. An alum of Lafayette himself, Rothkopf
explains, "In both good and difficult economic times,
organizations that hire Lafayette graduates place the
highest value on critical-thinking, communication, and
teamwork skills. The hallmark of a liberal arts education is
helping students develop these abilities."
While discussing Shakespeare or impressionist paintings
doesn't purport to give you hands-on knowledge like
professional training will, experts say the appeal of
liberal arts skills is their transferability across subjects
and ultimately across various careers. According to Robert
Manuel, associate dean of New York University's School of
Continuing and Professional Studies, taking diverse courses
is key to developing a well-rounded education.
"These courses broaden students' awareness of the world and
provide environments in which real and far-reaching logical
reasoning and critical thinking can be explored," he
explains. In recognizing the demand for such coursework, NYU
Online is launching a B.A. in social sciences this fall.
Still aren't buying it (after all, academes will always tout
the usefulness of an education, right?)? Perhaps Catherine
Herrick, associate producer of 60 Minutes and Middlebury
College alumna (Middlebury, VT), will convince you.
"When we report a story, we must be able to shape it in an
interesting and creative way while always sticking to the
facts," she says. As the story develops, Catherine explains
how she relies on critical thinking skills to deliver clear,
concise, and creative writing into a polished presentation
to millions of viewers.
"Journalism is really an extension of a liberal arts
education where we went from Art History to American
Politics with the same curiosity, energy, and passion. Now I
go from story to story with those same things driving me."
It's such on-the-job application of cultural literacy
knowledge that put liberal arts majors at an advantage,
explains Jennifer A. Horowitz, creator of the series, What
Can You Do with a Major in. (Wiley Publishing, 2005). "If
your major required you to do a lot of writing, you can
bring those skills to all kinds of jobs, even if you end up
dealing with fuel consumption or computer sales instead of
medieval art or child psychology."
Kevin King, another Middlebury alumnus, Tech Schoollizes his
transferable skills on a daily basis. As legislative
assistant to Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio, Kevin recalls
negotiations between the House and Senate regarding a
firefighting bill. During the meeting, staffers articulated
their points in a quick, persuasive manner. "The environment
was strikingly similar to classroom discussions; it was nice
to have had some practice," he explains.
Lafayette alumna and attorney Wynne Whitman applies her
undergraduate experience not only inside the conference
room, but outside as well. Wynne notes having a well-versed
background parlays into the art of conversation at various
functions such as corporate fundraisers. Wynne earned an MBA
in corporate finance and LLM in tax yet frequently taps into
her undergraduate education where she double-majored in
economics and art history.
Whitman puts it plain and simple: "A liberal arts education
opens your mind to different aspects of life and society and
how they weave together."
Or, as Hamlet would say, "Therein lies the rub."
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