What Is a Liberal Arts College?

In the U.S., it is common to refer to all institutions of higher learning as "colleges." However, in terms of size, academic structure, and offerings, colleges are different from universities. One type of college is a liberal arts college, which can be as competitive and prestigious as universities.

What is the educational emphasis at liberal arts colleges?

Liberal arts colleges tend to focus exclusively on undergraduate education: the sequence of classes required for an essay writer to earn a bachelor's (or "four year") degree. Unlike universities, which may offer graduate programs in which students may earn a master's degree, Ph.D., or professional degree, liberal arts colleges offer few, if any, graduate programs. This means that campus programs and funding are focused on undergraduate education. Faculty at liberal arts colleges can devote more time to teaching undergraduates and assisting them with research opportunities.

What is the curriculum like at a liberal arts college?

Liberal arts colleges operate on the belief that if students are taught critical thinking and communications skills, they will be able to apply them to any field of study or profession. A liberal arts curriculum begins with a foundation in literature, philosophy, language, history, mathematics, and science. A liberal arts curriculum allows essay writer service to develop their intellectual abilities, rather than study for a single professional or vocational program. Most liberal arts colleges in the U.S. offer traditional majors, but some schools offer only a liberal arts degree. Academic majors will vary, but most liberal arts colleges have strong programs in the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

How big are liberal arts colleges?

Most liberal arts colleges have 2,000 or fewer students. Classes are traditionally small, many with fewer than 20 students. The low student-to-faculty ratio allows students to work closely with their professors from essay writing service. Most students at liberal arts colleges report that their professors know them by name and are interested in their success. This close collaboration and personal interaction wouldn't be possible on a campus with tens of thousands of students.

What is the student experience like at a liberal arts college?

Liberal arts colleges seek to connect classroom learning and campus experiences to real world applications. Part of this process lies in the collaborative nature of the education at these colleges. Most liberal arts colleges are residential, most students live on campus making it easy to work on group projects or continue a discussion once class ends.

What are some common misconceptions about liberal arts colleges?

The name "liberal arts college" results in some common misconceptions. They are not art colleges, although some students may study visual or performing arts. These colleges are not community colleges or inferior to universities. In fact, many top-rated liberal arts colleges are more competitive than most universities when it comes to admissions. Finally, "liberal arts" does not mean a school and/or its free essay writer is liberal in their approach to education or political beliefs.

Because liberal arts colleges teach their students to think and communicate in a wide range of fields, their graduates have a high rate of admission to graduate and professional schools. Liberal arts colleges offer a great opportunity for students interested in smaller classes, close interaction with professors, and exposure to a broad range of subjects, including classes in the humanities and sciences.