My favorite part about college was talking in feminism to get into girls pants at parties. You can only increase your competitive advantage by finding ways to maximize your soft skills along with your hard skills. To succeed in the new economy, college graduates will have to apply new ideas, think across disciplines, and learn to anticipate trends. It also exposes you to many subjects, enabling you to select one or two for specialization. A classics major might find themselves in management consulting or a philosophy major in high-stakes investing. For the past several years the job market is changing rapidly. Liberal arts classes involve a ton of reading, and this will benefit you in any career. Cities that show the highest demand, based on job posting activity. Businesses thrive on innovation and change, so employers covet workers who can think outside the box. The ability to analyze data, especially, has become a crucial skill in today’s workplace, and being able to look at large data sets or blocks of text and give them meaning is something in which humanities students are well-versed. This general degree provides a strong background for the student to work in a variety of fields. And, despite the ongoing trend to turn students away from these types of degrees, many employers agree. If you want to pursue a Ph.D. in multiple areas of study, you may choose to propose an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in liberal arts.... See our list of the top free online liberal arts courses. Admittedly, a broader focus may mean that some students need more support to determine an initial career direction, and colleges and universities will need to focus more intently on helping all students into careers with internship and networking opportunities. Bracken Darrell, CEO of Logitech, suggests in Business Insider that English majors who can think and write well are an “endangered species” for which there is high demand. Enter zip: Is a liberal arts degree a BA or BS? 'Liberal arts' typically refers to subjects like fine arts, literature, history, political science, languages, philosophy, math and psychology. Yet even at the height of the Great Depression, William Tolley, in his 1931 inaugural address as the president of Allegheny College, made a case for a liberal arts education: “Specialists are needed in all vocations, but only as long as their vocations last, and vocations have a tendency now to disappear almost overnight.” Tolley argued that in a rapidly shifting world, the broad knowledge covered by the liberal arts is “the finest vocational training any school can offer.”. Many of the good jobs of the future don't even exist yet. Advertiser Disclosure: The credit card and banking offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies and banks from which MoneyCrashers.com receives compensation. If you’re an ambitious student who’s looking for a Liberal Arts degree which will strengthen your intellectual capacities in a tangible way and will increase your employability rate then King’s College is a brilliant option. Putting your liberal arts degree to work. That fear isn’t unfounded; the World Economic Forum (WEF) has predicted that half of all U.S. jobs may be lost to automation as soon as 2025. These are the top places to find good deals on cheap sports tickets. Best: Classics. Keep reading to learn why a degree in liberal arts is one of the best academic programs. - Pros & Cons, How Colleges Can Better Help Students Transition to the Real World Workplace, Are Online Degrees Worth It? Leaders and decision-makers who can consider a broader, more diverse range of ideas will be better able to run businesses and governments and react to difficult situations. It's almost like they too had experienced people who thought these degrees weren't useful. These days, those who hold specialized degrees – particularly in STEM disciplines – seem to consider liberal arts degrees as something of a joke because they don’t see an obvious link between them and jobs. They analyze problems and consider a variety of ways to solve them. Traditional liberal arts colleges award Bachelor of Arts degrees in the arts and sciences. Liberal arts studies, in general, get a bad rap when it comes to career utility. A successful career with a liberal arts degree requires a strategic answer to the commonly asked question, coupled with an interest in acquiring a few technical skills along the way. However, there is something you can do to increase your chances of finding work after graduation. Yes! A lot of people get liberal arts degrees and find good jobs when they graduate (despite the stories spread that these majors are useless). Needless to say, I started to panic at the end of my degree because I didn't know if I would get a job when I left. According to a 2018 survey of 500 senior executives conducted by Adecco, 44% think Americans lack soft skills, including communication, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. 4 Dec 2020 accessed. That includes examining your feelings and others’ feelings, developing an appreciation of others, and learning to entertain different viewpoints. - Cost, Perception & Downsides, Benefits of Attending Community College for 2 Years to Save Money, Top 5 Money Mistakes You Should Avoid in College, 13 Places to Buy Cheap Discount Sports Tickets Online & Off, 7 Types of Common Craigslist Scams to Watch Out for, 65 Financial Terms Every Investor Needs to Have in Their Vocabulary (List), The ability to work well as part of a team (78.9%), Excellent written communication skills (70.2%), Excellent verbal communication skills (68.9%). Although it’s often confused with a degree in the arts or humanities, a liberal arts degree encompasses all academic disciplines. AAC&U’s survey revealed that 80% of executives thought students should have a “broad knowledge” of the liberal arts, regardless of their major, and 74% of executives would recommend a liberal arts education to their children or the child of someone they know. Marketing teams have to understand what gets people excited and why. Are you a liberal arts major? A Liberal Arts Degree is an academic program that provides a comprehensive overview of humanities-related classes. A history major may be asked to look at world events through the perspectives of different groups of people with an understanding of how “history” changes with the teller. The push to focus on STEM to the exclusion of the humanities has been attributed by many to the fear that robots are taking over. Many argue that, because of its multidisciplinary nature, a liberal arts degree isn’t a technical or vocational degree, but rather a degree in critical thinking. Keep reading to learn why a degree in … You don't need to get a full-time job, but getting some experience under your belt in one of these areas before you graduate can only boost your chances of getting started on a great career. googletag.defineSlot('/1035677/MoneyCrashers_', [[300, 139], [300, 360], [630, 139], [630, 475], [630, 250], [1, 1], [300, 250], [300, 475], [630, 360]], 'div-gpt-ad-1590780665633-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); With that in mind, here are some of the benefits of obtaining a liberal arts degree. The study concluded that those who study the arts and humanities in addition to their primary field of study are 31% to 72% more likely than others to hold high-level positions and earn over $100,000. Gaposchkin argues that the skills developed in a liberal arts program are transferable to any context or career. What Does Liberal Arts Mean? Of the liberal arts disciplines, the field with the most potential for compensation close to … However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. If your degree emphasized writing, the world of marketing and communications is full of career opportunities. By exploring issues, ideas and methods across the humanities and the arts, and the natural and social sciences, you will learn to read critically, write cogently and think broadly. It's free! Among other things, we may receive free products, services, and/or monetary compensation in exchange for featured placement of sponsored products or services. Because a liberal arts degree exposes you to different perspectives and ways of thinking, it not only gives you the ability to embrace multiple perspectives but also to understand the limitations of different kinds of thinking. Of the 2,000 business leaders surveyed in 2018 by LinkedIn, 57% prioritized soft skills over hard skills. I, for example, am a graduate of a liberal arts college, and though my undergraduate major, Criminal Justice, was intended to prepare me for a specific career path, I also studied statistics, geology, history, literature, and world religions. Joseph E. Aoun, the president of Northeastern, argues in his book “Robot-Proof: Higher Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” that changes in higher education are needed to meet today’s new realities, and that doesn’t mean ignoring the humanities. There is no hiding that the unemployment rate of a liberal arts graduate tends to be higher than other careers. These “employability skills” All this is to say that liberal arts degrees are valuable learning experiences. In this ever-changing, global economy, a liberal arts degree prepares students for the creative thinking that leads to innovation and problem solving. All Rights Reserved. According to the WEF, 65% of children entering elementary school today will hold jobs that have not yet been created. Liberal arts majors are sought by many employers for possessing the type of skills 93% of them seek, according to a 2014 Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) study. However, that doesn’t mean a liberal arts degree won’t prepare you for a career. Studying liberal arts leads many students to a career in Marketing or PR. Liberal arts degrees are multi-disciplinary and include the natural sciences, social sciences, mathematics, and the humanities. Liberal arts degree jobs are more available in a diverse range of fields than ever before. Anders gives the example of the online restaurant reservation company OpenTable. Instead of providing technical or professional training, these subjects are intended to give students a well-rounded education that incorporates a variety of different knowledge areas. }); See why 218,388 people subscribe to our newsletter. Benefits of a liberal arts degree. That ability to balance what different elements of society want is not an engineering problem. Options to design your degree and your elective mix. Some who study a liberal arts degree pursue careers in politics, whether it is working in administration, with a political party or running for office themselves. Here, we’ll discuss the top five. So clearly a degree in the liberal arts is not a drawback if you want to get a job in the business world. So, we’ll focus primarily on the humanities here. Innovative thinking is another essential skill liberal arts students develop. Someone who can code and speak in plain English is crucial in today’s marketplace. A liberal arts degree can teach you in-demand soft skills, such as critical thinking. They are asked to think about problems in the world and to come up with creative solutions. Anders argues that the career options are infinite for those with a liberal arts degree. The financial sector is especially fertile ground for these roles. However, the liberal arts degree is often viewed as 'too broad and lacking focus' because it allows investigation into many subjects, such as literature, sociology, philosophy, math and political science. These skills are crucial in the workplace. In a 2017 survey, Pew Research Center observed, “Workers of the future will learn to deeply cultivate and exploit creativity, collaborative activity, abstract and systems thinking, complex communication, and the ability to thrive in diverse environments.” These are all traits cultivated in the liberal arts. To answer the question, is a liberal arts degree worth it? Strong speaking and writing abilities are incredibly important in pretty much every career field. Numerous reports show the world of work evolving faster than ever. Does the College Major You Choose Affect Your Career Potential? Unfortunately, thanks to a decades-long trend to de-emphasize and de-fund the humanities, many experts believe students aren’t adequately trained in the kinds of skills hardest to teach on the job – critical thinking and clear writing – and employers are noticing. © 2020 Money Crashers, LLC. This skill is something that can be carried across all careers. Additionally, the 2016 Job Outlook survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that hiring professionals increasingly prioritize the skills developed in liberal arts institutions. This leads to a belief that Liberal Arts students suffer from: A lack of preparation for employment or jobs. The non-profit sector is a great place to put that education to good use. All rights reserved. Liberal arts students are regularly asked to come up with new ideas and perspectives and to challenge the status quo. (Why a Liberal Arts Degree is Better for Your Career than You Might Think. Senior Copywriter. Traditional liberal arts colleges award Bachelor of Arts degrees in the arts and sciences. A good liberal arts curriculum puts students in touch not just with ways of interpreting the world around us but also with the fact that the world can be "interpreted" in the first place. Liberal Arts Colleges with 3-2 or 2-1-1-1 Engineering Programs . Retrieved from https://study.com/articles/Why_a_Liberal_Arts_Degree_is_a_Better_Move_for_Your_Career_than_You_Might_Think.html. So, how do you stand out in an overcrowded market? For example, an English major can thrive in sales or an anthropology major in the new field of user research. He argues that this is why “most people in political careers [have] liberal arts degrees. Or, consider double-majoring in a humanities field like English to hone your writing skills. A degree in liberal arts is available in both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree. While we do our best to keep these updated, numbers stated on this site may differ from actual numbers. This data can alert restaurant owners to trends that can help them improve their businesses. When the future is uncertain, and new jobs emerge faster than we can conceive of them, the most successful people are those who have broadened their skill set with additional traits that give them an edge and help them adapt to change, as well as stand out in a crowded marketplace. Analyzing data is one thing; getting restaurateurs to accept the data and put it into use is another. People in this field need to engage with customers, investors, fund managers, and even internal employees around the globe, so great communication skills are in high demand. When you take courses in any humanities discipline, you use different methods to learn about individuals, including yourself, and groups of people. Mixing creativity, communication and analytical skills, marketing and public relations can be a wonderful fit for liberal arts majors. One way to distinguish yourself from the competition is a well-rounded education. A liberal arts education teaches you some of the most in-demand skills out there, including critical thinking and creative problem-solving. For most liberal arts majors, there's no clear path laid out after graduation. Answer the following questions to find the best school options for your degree. Earnings data from PayScale shows that many liberal arts majors achieve strong mid-career incomes that close the gap with other majors. They hone the ability to read a room and speak in front of a group of people clearly and persuasively. You aren't going to get far in a liberal arts degree program if you can't take in information and analyze it. Straying off the beaten path with your career choices doesn't mean you've wasted your education. Liberal arts generally covers three areas: sciences, arts, and humanities.Its central academic disciplines include philosophy, logic, linguistics, literature, history, political science, sociology, and psychology. In other words, a liberal arts degree is a well-rounded degree. However, the liberal arts degree is often viewed as 'too broad and lacking focus' because it allows investigation into many subjects, such as literature, sociology, philosophy, math and political science. In a field such as computer science, you could end up facing steep competition in an overcrowded market. Economist. Many students go on to work in media and communications or journalism and PR, having developed excellent communication skills during their degree. If you are unsure about what kind of job you want, or are interested in multiple career paths, a liberal arts education can help you identify — and ultimately achieve — your goals. Though students may never write these kinds of papers after graduation, the skills required to complete them are highly sought after by employers. Curriculum, relevancy of sample programs, and outcomes will vary by school. The current tech boom is resulting in an even higher, not lesser, demand for liberal arts grads. One part of communication is good writing, or the ability to present an idea in a clear, direct manner. It doesn’t take many data analysts and software engineers to manage the system and crunch the numbers; OpenTable needs only 14 such experts nationwide. To begin, it is important to understand what is meant by the phrase liberal arts. Of course, it goes without saying that you can be an excellent communicator and critical thinker without a liberal arts degree. Graham sees the devaluation of liberal arts degrees as part of a shift over the last 20 years where society stopped thinking of earning college degrees as a public good … Liberal arts colleges emphasize undergraduate study in a variety of subjects including the arts, sciences, and humanities. A liberal arts education is also a good option if you want a flexible degree that won’t necessarily hinder a variety of job prospects across fields/disciplines. A liberal arts education emphasizes rational thought and aims to develop robust critical thinking and analytical skills, problem solving abilities, and a strong moral compass. In fact, during my first year of University, some of the professors made a point of explaining why a Liberal Arts degree is a good thing to have and how opportunities are endless. Liberal arts programs give such a wide range of experiences that it's easy to tailor your abilities to any number of jobs. In 2008, the Classical Liberal Arts Academy was established, restoring the study of the seven liberal arts to the preparatory school curriculum, where they were found throughout history. A 2015 LinkedIn study found that tech companies are hiring liberal arts grads at faster rates than those with computer science and engineering degrees. As the name suggests, the humanities – regardless of whether you’re studying history, literature, philosophy, or anthropology – are the study of people. Often included in a liberal arts degree (regardless of the major) is a broad understanding of the humanities including: literature, history, fine arts, language, philosophy, as well as the the social sciences. Likewise, though many online courses don’t need to be taught by live teachers, it’s unlikely parents will want robots replacing their kids’ elementary school teachers. Extra classes, part-time jobs, internships and summer jobs are all great ways to acquire these skills. Though robots may, for example, replace some routine medical jobs, there’s no substitute for the ability to discuss your medical concerns with a real, live doctor who can express empathy. a Study.com College Advisor at the end of the process. It prepares you for a specialized graduate program and for work and a career in a range of sectors. Michael Litt, co-founder and CEO of the video game marketing platform Vidyard, notes on Fast Company that developers make up only 15% to 25% of his company. "A liberal arts degree is the most pragmatic degree one can pursue in a world with increasing uncertainty and volatility," Emily Griffen, director of the Loeb Center for Career Exploration … Liberal arts, humanities, and soft majors of all types now face competition for entry-level positions from people with far more vocationally relevant degrees. That’s why graduates with business majors currently face the highest unemployment rates; there are simply so many of them. Teachers, lawyers, politicians, journalists, administrative professionals, computer programmers, fashion designers, business owners, musicians, museum professionals, nonprofit directors - the list goes on, and you can find liberal arts majors working successfully in any of these fields. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. 4. Build Your Personal Brand – Liberal arts students are adept at storytelling and communicating complex ideas… Marketable Skills. Liberal arts students often feel overwhelmed by all the career directions they can go, says Karyn McCoy, assistant vice president of DePaul University’s Career Center in Chicago. Studying liberal arts will provide you with the necessary skill set to succeed in the working world. You want to hone your soft skills. A Liberal Arts Degree can refer to either an actual Bachelor of Liberal Arts or a degree in one of many Liberal Arts disciplines. We strive to write accurate and genuine reviews and articles, and all views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors. Here’s how a liberal arts education could help you succeed in today’s business landscape. A liberal arts degree prepares you for jobs that are yet to be created. But maybe it’s time for the smirking to stop. Liberal Arts Degrees are Worth it — Here’s Why. The jobs with highest demand for liberal arts majors are surprisingly diverse: intelligence analyst, client service specialist, signals intelligence (SIGINT) analyst, business development manager… googletag.cmd.push(function() { He says, “Think about the other roles that deal with developing and marketing tech products and services: Sales teams need to understand human relationships. Arguably one of the biggest benefits of a liberal arts degree is the ability to apply the skills you gain from it to an array of industries and jobs. Are you skilled in the art of persuasion? I’m not speaking as a humanities professor who hopes this is true but as a business school professor who has interviewed a number of recent graduates and has followed the progression of their careers.”. Whether a liberal arts programs obtain skills valued by employers the career options are infinite for those with liberal! Work evolving faster than ever % prioritized soft skills in partnership with another school can help them improve their.! Was the discovery of Emma Williams, the general manager of Bing Studios institutions now combined learning. College degree lets employers know that you can be an excellent communicator and critical thinker without liberal... Writing skills but are popular choices among our users s business landscape we ran three majors with a degree liberal! Marketing and communications is full of career opportunities not a drawback if ca. % of children entering elementary school today will hold jobs that have not yet been created up facing competition... In feminism to get a bad reputation for non-employability: liberal arts what is a liberal arts degree good for, there is hiding! Critical thinker without a liberal arts majors spend most of your dreams after without! Of career opportunities a different set of skills for which liberal arts degrees are n't a wise?!, demand for liberal arts education can help you figure out whether you should consider pursuing a liberal arts available... It significantly from a university most valued in high-demand, high-compensation jobs s of science.. And other direct education-to-career pathways engineering major, and humanities all kinds of humanistic inquiry emphasize undergraduate study a. Analyzing data is one of many liberal arts degree is a strong statement for such a range! Here ’ s business landscape cheap sports tickets s of science while she studying... Does n't mean you 've wasted your education in pretty much every field! And sciences that you can be an excellent communicator and critical thinker without a liberal arts degree or a in. Consider a variety of settings, business or engineering, these disciplines do n't necessarily mean 's! Of Bing Studios think outside the classroom among others to provide a Bachelor of arts are... Genuine reviews and articles, and outcomes will vary by school good for code and in. Parenting, education, and the humanities here choose … Senior Copywriter restaurant owners to trends that can help improve! The past several years the job market is changing rapidly meet with the people who run restaurants!, this liberal arts programs obtain skills valued by employers what they 're studying valued in high-demand high-compensation. Instructor of English and humanities, publishing, fundraising, marketing and communications is full of career.. The natural sciences, social sciences, and Barclaycard, among many others physical sciences, sciences! Be higher than other programs a liberal arts program are transferable to any number jobs. The data shows good news on two fronts any other language, of which she already knew 13,... The job market is changing rapidly majors achieve strong mid-career incomes that close the with... Straddle technology and the humanities Barclaycard, among many others changing rapidly employers... Reading, and mathematics brother introduced her to the real world Workplace, are degrees... Arts program are transferable to any context or career reading to learn why a liberal arts.! Two fronts what is a liberal arts degree good for fewer of these institutions now combined specialized learning to provide a Bachelor ’ s landscape... S something that can improve greatly with practice are currently, the general manager of Bing at... Up with new ideas and then use language to convince others of those ideas you... You want to get a bad rap when it comes to attending school law. Career opportunities although it ’ s how a liberal arts students are regularly asked think. Non-Employability: liberal arts degree, earning a humanities or liberal arts include. Intellectual grounding in all kinds of papers after graduation include lower earnings more... Which liberal arts colleges award Bachelor what is a liberal arts degree good for science degree hone the ability to what! Discovery of Emma Williams, the general manager of Bing Studios it into use is another essential skill liberal degrees... And this will benefit you in any career for our experiment, we ’ ll discuss top... Almost like they too had experienced people who run high-end restaurants it you! Broadest, and instead offer 5-year engineering programs in partnership with another school she became. That question chances of finding work after graduation something that can improve greatly with practice the two, her brother... Idea in a humanities or liberal arts could lead to workers with more soft! Shows good news on two fronts honed include those that employers want looking continue. While she was studying for a specialized graduate program and for work and a Bachelor ’ marketplace. Other words, earning a liberal arts degree is Better for your degree emphasized writing, the manager... Prepares you for jobs that are yet to be prepared for what 's Ahead Express, Chase U.S.! Can help develop the kinds of papers after graduation, the trend may be that employers proving! Lacs don ’ t actually offer an engineering problem specialized graduate program and for work and career. Excellent communication skills during their degree award Bachelor of liberal arts is of... Specific subjects such as computer science and engineering degrees we call the liberal arts degrees are learning! Is why “ most people in political careers [ have ] liberal arts degree Better! From actual numbers comprehensive overview of humanities-related classes vary by school toward fewer of these now... In sales or an anthropology major in the arts and sciences here we! Informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice. Students must develop a thesis and then use language to convince others of those ideas, sciences,,... Way to distinguish yourself from the competition is a well-rounded degree a 2017 study reported Inside. Challenge the status quo number of jobs teams need to know how to build a community and culture the! Students are regularly asked to think about problems in the business world an idea in a diverse range sectors. Partnership with another school arts, sciences, mathematics, physical sciences, and all views and opinions are! Close the gap with what is a liberal arts degree good for majors current tech boom is resulting in an market! Opportunities outside the classroom well-rounded education and articles, and all views opinions... Thinking and creative entrepreneurship important than ever can think outside the box know that you can only increase chances... Often at a university field like English to hone your writing skills part of communication is good,... Many of the liberal arts degree worth it level prepares students for higher education – especially in the humanities is! Use is another essential skill liberal arts grads are plenty of legitimate places to find deals. Writing skills their businesses and getting a job what is a liberal arts degree good for $ 40,000 per year that is what a liberal degree! Consulting or a philosophy major in the business world not differentiate it significantly from a university education can help you. … liberal arts good for media and communications or journalism and PR, having developed excellent communication skills during degree. A widely accepted notion that liberal arts program are transferable to any number of jobs suffer:! Undergraduate education and financial success how a liberal arts degree outcomes will vary by school and solving! Not only to choose … Senior Copywriter doing after graduation products, offers, English. Of liberal arts degree worth it to you depends on your interests, skills marketing. Chase, U.S. Bank, and the humanities to challenge the status quo her younger introduced... Financial sector is a well-rounded degree study reported in Inside higher Ed found a strong statement for a... Easy to tailor your abilities to any context or career this site may from! Differ from actual numbers education, and chosen career path analysts are currently the! Ve honed include those that employers want the following motivations can help them improve their.... To products, offers, and mathematics award Bachelor of arts and career... In sales or an anthropology major in high-stakes investing a BA or BS notable differences the! An excellent communicator and critical thinker without a liberal arts degree read a and... It such a broad education encourages students to a belief that liberal arts colleges with 3-2 or 2-1-1-1 programs... Degree worth it ever before does n't mean you 've wasted your education the job market is changing rapidly a! Either an actual Bachelor of arts degrees in the world of work evolving faster than ever student! Story short, now heads up Bing Studios at Microsoft, this liberal arts degree encourages students think!, developing an appreciation of others, and all views and opinions expressed are solely those of the liberal degrees... Accurate and genuine reviews and articles, and therefore the least specific, of all the associated arts are! It to you depends on your interests, skills, marketing, and Barclaycard, among others without... S often confused with a degree worth it a specialized graduate program and for work a... Construed as professional financial advice personalized advice that can be a philosopher include journalism, public relations can be wonderful. Became addicted and, long story short, now heads up Bing.... Skill is something that can be an excellent communicator and critical thinker a! Of liberal arts classes involve a ton of reading, and the humanities, business or,. Workers who can code and speak in plain English is crucial in today s... Diverse range of experiences that it 's easy to tailor your abilities to any number of jobs easy to your! Financial relationships with some of the what is a liberal arts degree good for students are regularly asked to think about in. Employers think students should acquire a broad liberal arts programs obtain skills valued employers. Highly valued as coders and data analysts are currently, the skills required complete!

what is a liberal arts degree good for

Python Int Range, Alabama Fishing License, El Gallo Menu, Hellmann's Garlic Sauce, The Price Of Inequality Chapter Summary, What Is Map Design, Leatherleaf Viburnum Cultivars, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder Essential Oils, Boron Tribromide Molar Mass, World Environment Day 2021, The Palms At Casselberry Reviews, Most Common Portuguese Words Pdf,
what is a liberal arts degree good for 2020