Before I go any further, I do want to point out that I am majoring in economics, which is a liberal art. I am not insulting the liberal arts or anyone who studies them. However, I am planning on switching my major to go into accounting.
Why am I making this decision?
Basically, I believe that most liberal arts programs are either pointless, can be self-taught and are not that in demand because of the two.
I compare the liberal arts programs to the parable of the Ivory tower. Although they often involve intellectual discussion, it is almost impossible to apply them in any practical way, because they are mostly involved in theory or in critical analysis. The focus in liberal arts is identifying the problem, but more often than not, there is no guaranteed solution.
It is true that whoever can provide solutions ends up being very successful, but can you say that every liberal arts student can do the same thing? For example, I doubt there will be another person like John Maynard Keynes who completely changed the way we think about economics.
Most liberal arts programs can be self-taught, and don't require the assistance of the University's resources. For example, if you want to perform scientific research, it often means that you need some specific equipment that you might not be able to afford. So a university helps gather all those wanting to make scientific research and gives them the equipment to do so.
I am taking a political science class, and I found that all I am really doing is reading a book and taking down notes. I read ahead of class, and I often find that the lecture content is just a dumbed down version of what I was expected to read. I can say with confidence that I can pass this class without attending a single lecture. However, I paid for the lecture, so I am going to attend it.
The point is, if I wanted to learn political sciences, all I had to do was just buy the book and read, or rent books relating to the subject from a library. In the past, it was necessary to go to a University to study history, but with the information age, I can research a topic, read books, and then discuss them in public forums like this one, which is essentially what is being done in a University. I do not need to spend four years worth of tuition to become knowledgeable in a subject that could only cost me several trips to the library and an internet connection.
My dad is an engineer, and I can arguably say that he knows a lot about political sciences and economics. He has never studied those in a University, but he just reads books.
My final point is the most common complaint about the liberal arts, that it is often hard to find a job in them. That is again, because these programs are mostly intellectual discussion, and not practical. The STEM programs (Science, technology, engineering, medicine) provide real life examples and situations shortly after learning the theory, and they are in high demand, because they focus on solving problems in real life situations. Being a political scientist, I doubt I can make North Korea a democracy or something like that.
There are a few liberal arts programs which are worthy, such as those teaching different languages. The University excels in being a place that provides an environment for learning a second language. However, majoring in a language alone pretty much does nothing. It has to be accompanied by something else, because if you wanted someone that could speak a certain language, you might as well hire a native speaker. Arguably, even languages can be learned by working in an area that speaks that language and speaking with the locals.
So these are my points. Again, this is not to offend anyone, but I am just placing my opinion on this matter. Can anyone convince me not to switch my major?
No firm worth their salt is going to prefer an accounting major to an economics major, unless you want to be their accountant and only their accountant. And even still, an economics major can get a job as an accountant without much extra work.
