Students with a degree in things like philosophy or women’s studies wonder what jobs could possibly apply to their field of study post-graduation. Coming up with a unique way to market your resume can be tough in such a competitive applicant pool. A degree in a specialized or applied field ““ something like finance or marketing, neither of which UCLA offers ““ is attractive to students who want assurance of employment after they graduate.
The specialized skills taught in these majors are more marketable to a future employer, but only directly after graduation. But the liberal arts education UCLA offers gives students a wider variety of knowledge that could pertain to a number of career paths. Students should value this system of higher education that has brought prestige to American universities. Broader degrees do not limit students to particular fields that these applied majors ““ like finance ““ often do. A liberal arts degree will ultimately create more opportunities for students and broaden their perspective to new types of knowledge that an applied degree would not.
Some of the merits of a liberal arts education are explained on UC Berkeley’s Web site: “A liberal arts education frees your mind and helps you connect dots you never noticed before, so you can put your own field of study into a broader context. It enables you to form opinions and judgments, rather than defer to an outside authority.” This philosophy has taken hold of the University of California and affects what kinds of majors are available to us.
Students with specific, applied degrees often become trapped in that field, even if their interests shift as their career progresses. Conversely, obtaining a liberal arts undergraduate degree gives graduates more flexibility and a broader perspective of knowledge from which they can tackle challenges in their career.
A student might enter college as a marketing major and then decide they are also interested in finance. Graduating with a degree in economics would better serve their overall interests. Once they experience both types of careers, they could go on to graduate school in a specialized field. Funneling students into restrictive fields as soon as they get to college does not promote a well-rounded academic experience.
“A solid liberal arts education is an important foundation that one should establish during undergraduate years, also allowing for a greater exploration of interests,” said Claire Abu-Hakima, a third-year linguistics and computer science student.
Countless students in recent years have demonstrated their frustration toward this philosophy at UCLA. In the past, students have discussed lobbying for a finance minor, but to no avail.Bearing in mind next year’s budget cuts, the outlook is grim for students who want to continue this fight.
Groups such as Bruin Finance have tried to compensate for a lack of applied majors and minors by forming an organization that incorporates skills applicable to finance. Students in Bruin Finance have the opportunity to network and learn more about investment banking. This organization proactively works to develop the skills students could be gaining through specialized academic programs, such as a finance minor, rather than futilely pushing for an expansion of the already strained academic programs at UCLA.
A lot of the skills that students develop in specialized programs are skills that could be developed on the job, while the types of information acquired through a liberal arts education will not be readily available outside a university. Also, pursuing broad knowledge post-college is encouraged by a liberal arts education.
“Practical majors aren’t really appropriate for a research university like UCLA. The intended purpose of a research university is to foster innovation, not to be rendered a vocational school,” said Yasi Rahmani, a third-year history student.
Pursuing an interest in specialized fields is best achieved through student organizations at a research university such as UCLA that values a liberal arts degree. It is important to establish a solid base of academic exposure while attending an institution of higher education.
Students should take time to enjoy special-interest classes, rather than training specifically for a particular career. If a student does not enjoy academics, then maybe finding a university with applied majors would have been a more meaningful choice.
But for those who enjoy learning about diverse topics, UCLA is the right place. Students can always opt to attend graduate school to further specialize their education. No matter what your plans are for after graduation, having a background of a broad liberal arts degree will give you flexibility in the work force, and allow you to develop the analytical skills needed to handle a variety of career-related problems. The type of education UCLA offers gives students a deeper perspective on knowledge and learning, and does not box students into a specific career path.
Enjoying your 19th-century Polynesian history class? Then e-mail Mier at smier@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.