Published
January 22, 2013
This article discusses important factors to consider when evaluating and choosing a liberal arts college.A liberal arts college is a four-year higher-learning institution, usually found in the United States. These colleges emphasize a broad undergraduate education. This means that students often take a number of classes which may not directly relate to the student's career goals. By taking a wide variety of classes, students at liberal arts colleges aim to receive a well-rounded education. While there are professional training programs available at some of these colleges, specialized programs are usually not emphasized.
Understanding The Philosophy Of A Liberal Arts Education
To better understand what a liberal arts college is, you have to understand the meaning of the word liberal when used to describe education and you also need to understand the history of liberal study. The word liberal in the term liberal college is derived from the Latin word liberalis. When the word liberalis is used to describe something, it is referring to something that is appropriate for free men.
Historically, liberal arts studies consisted of both trivium and quadrivium subjects. The trivium liberal arts studies included grammar, logic and rhetoric. The quadrivium liberal arts studies included music, astronomy, arithmetic and geometry.
During the early part of the history of the United States, Americans became interested in developing institutions of higher learning dedicated to liberal arts studies. The first liberal arts colleges were established in New England more than 300 years ago as a result of this increased desire for formal education.
The liberal arts colleges that were founded at this time served the educational needs of those...
