A person with a business degree says, "How can I get paid when it works?" A person with a finance degree says, "How much do you need to borrow to get it to work?" A person with a degree in science says, "How does it work?" A person with a degree in philosophy says, "Why does it work?" A person with a degree in theology says, "Who makes it work?" A person with a degree in mathematics says, "How many ways will it work?" A person with a degree in liberal arts says, "Would you like fries with that?" A person with a psychology degree says, "Why do you want fries with that?"
Liberal arts Somewhere (in the great void) I read that a liberal arts degree had great utility in business.
If an electrical engineering student has trouble with her studies, she can change her major to mechanical engineering. If a mechanical engineering student has trouble with her studies, she can change her major to liberal arts. If a liberal arts student has trouble with her studies, she can change her major to civil engineering.
I once saw an analysis of data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that indicated that those with LA degrees generally start out with much lower earnings than those with applied-program degrees (such as computer science and engineering). However, several years after graduation, those with LA degrees were generally earning more than those with applied-program degrees, according to the study. I was unable to find that study on the BLS web site because their search function isn't working properly. But here is a link to the BLS homepage: http://stats.bls.gov/home.htm
What is the difference between a civil engineer and a mechanical engineer? The mechanical engineer builds weapons and the civil engineer builds targets!
A refuge in adversity The intrinsic value of a liberal arts education is stressed over and again in Captivity: the Extreme Circumstance, which is a Navy Nonresident Training Course I recently completed. A couple of quotes: "Upon return, a newly released prisoner [of war] commented to a chaplain, "These guys that had had some liberal arts really had it." By this he meant that there were lessons to be learned from the humanities that were not available anywhere else. After all, why would someone tap a question through the wall about Hamlet, AND BE WILLING TO WAIT 30 days for the answer? "There must have been some reason, other than boredom."" Cadenhead, Julia T., CAPT CHC, USN, ed., Captivity: The extreme Circumstance, United States Navy, 2001. "Generally speaking, I think education is a tremendous defense; the broader, the better. After I was shot down, my wife, Sybil, found a clipping glued in front of my collegiate dictionary: "Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity." She certainly agrees with me on that. Most of us prisoners found that the so-called practical academic exercises in how to do things, which I'm told are proliferating, were useless. I'm not saying that we should base education on training people to be in prison, but I am saying that in stress situations, the fundamentals, the hardcore classical subjects are what serve best." Stockdale, J.B., The World Of Epictetus, The Atlantic Monthly, 1978; quoted in Cadenhead, Julia T., CAPT CHC, USN, ed., Captivity: The extreme Circumstance, United States Navy, 2001.
Despite my snotty post (which was told to me by a summer intern and yeah, I laughed) I am a firm believer in a lberal arts education in addition to a technical, scientific or practical education. I am also a firm believer in lifelong education. I believe that such an education is valuable. The snotty post was one of those put-down jokes that engineers tell each other about other branches of the engineering profession and should be taken with a big grain of salt. It was actually directed as a put down of mechanical engineers and especially civil engineers more than as a put down of liberal arts students. I know mechanical engineers have such jokes about "spark chasers"; I would be surprised civil engineers don't have a few as well. A more interesting view of civil engieering can be found in "Getting Sued and Other Tales of the Engineering Life" by Richard L. Meehan. For the record, I started out studying electrical engineering for advancement on the job; I am completing a degree out of love of the profession. Mike Goldberg Electronic Technician's Diploma, DeVRY 1984 (BSEE in December, 2002)
Oh Me or anyone else. Just what is the meaning of "Liberal Arts"??? Studies to teach one how to support and vote for Liberals? Was wondering how Clinton received a second term!
Re: Oh Me Trying not to be too snide ... oh what the heck, sure I am ... Learning why to not vote Republican (with tongue firmly in cheeck!!
Do the business and law schools of a university have a social responsibility for the university's liberal arts programs? This editorial argues that the University of Virginia's, self-sufficient, business and law schools are obligated to provide much greater financial support to the College of Arts and Sciences. http://www.washtimes.com/commentary/20020728-315550.htm
