1. A liberal arts education entails many things, including learning how to read/write, to think, and become a better citizen. Ungar states that liberal arts is the best form of education because it sets students up for any job, while Scheuer agrees that students want to get a career fast without debt, which is something that liberal arts does not offer, which I do not agree with. In the article “7 major misperceptions about the liberal arts” Ungar exclaims that “It is far wiser for students to prepare for change…than to search for a single job track that might one day become a dead end” (Ungar 1). Ungar claims that being prepared for multiple career tracks sets students up for anything. Rather than the alternative of being ready for a career that may die out in 10 years. This makes a lot of sense and feels like the smartest option for any student going to college. Scheuer on the other hand doesn’t agree that liberal arts set students up for a better future. He believes that STEM majors in liberal arts are not the same as with other colleges. Scheuer states in “Critical Thinking and Liberal Arts” that “Liberal arts colleges seem an endangered species as curricula shift toward science, technology, engineering, and math—the STEM disciplines. Students want jobs, not debt, and who can blame them” (Scheuer 1). STEM disciplines are involved in many liberal arts educations and I feel as if they create a stronger student in those fields as they learn to write and think better.
  2. The UNE liberal arts education takes on one of the most formally known conceptions in America according to Scheuer. UNE includes all types of disciplines including the STEM ones. This means that students must take classes from sciences to humanities. UNE states in the handbook, ” students will develop foundational knowledge and critical thinking skills that are necessary for understanding and assuming their roles in natural, social, humanistic, and other environments” (Handbook). This says that students will learn about a more than just their specific major in order to prepare them for more. This resembles one of Scheuers models of the liberal arts. According to Scheuer, in the article “Critical Thinking and Liberal Arts”, the liberal arts “embraces the ideal of the integrated curriculum, encompassing virtually all nonprofessional higher learning” (Scheuer 1). This shows that UNE uses this type of curriculum because there are many different higher learning subjects being taught.
  3. The liberal arts are said to bring about better citizens and a better understanding of the world. UNE’s core curriculum prepares for students to become better citizens with the ability to think more critically, as Scheuer would agree, this is a necessary component to any liberal arts education. I believe both UNE and SCheuer are right in emphasizing the understanding of the world and becoming a better citizen. In the core handbook, UNE states, “Living in the interconnected world today demands an understanding of a variety of cultures, people and the environment… Students must also be prepared to enter the world engaged as local, national and global citizens and professionals” (Handbook). UNE is acknowledging that students need to understand where they live now, but about other places on this earth, too. I have to agree that it is very important to understand how others are living so we can help situations if need be. Scheuer would agree with UNEs goal in their curriculum as he believes “The liberal arts have traditionally been defended as instrumental to two key elements of democracy: critical thinking and citizenship” (Scheuer 2). Scheuer is highlighting the importance of critical thinking and citizenship that should be withheld in any liberal arts education.