Liberal arts studies provide students with a well-rounded education instead of one with a specific course requirement leading to a chosen career. This means students study a wide range of topics that give them a foundation. According to the College Board, liberal arts studies offer a curriculum that give students a general knowledge on a range of subjects instead of a specific field. However, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says the term liberal arts can be specific and include areas such as economics, social sciences and humanities.
Since liberal arts studies provide a general foundation, it is a good choice for students preparing to continue on to more specific careers that do not have an undergraduate major, such as law or medicine. In addition to being a stepping stone to other careers, liberal arts studies allow students to enter many desirable career fields, such as policy analysis, market research and archaeology.
Undergraduate liberal arts studies include many different courses for students to complete. Students may be required to take philosophy, history and literature courses. They also may take psychology or sociology if they are required to take social sciences classes, and anthropology or biology if they are required to take natural sciences classes. Students pursuing a master's degree in liberal arts studies focus on critical thinking, research and writing. Thus, liberal arts studies graduate students have more flexibility when choosing their courses.
Besides providing students with a diverse and broad education, liberal arts studies also provide students with no pressure concerning their future. This means that students can focus on earning a degree without having to immediate plans on their careers and goals.