<p>Can someone explain where a degree in LA's will get you? What type of jobs can you get? Is it basic all around classes that you take? New to this whole college search and we are trying to figure out what path to take. Son wants music and/or theology.</p>
<p>A degree from a liberal arts college, or LAC, will get you anywhere a similar degree from an undergraduate school situated on the campus of a research university will. A bachelor of arts or, B.A, is the same degree whether its awarded by Yale or Wesleyan or Dartmouth or Williams.</p>
<p>The only differences may be in types of students drawn to different schools. Ivies tend to draw a more pre-professional type, the kind who has been grooming him or herself since middle school to aim for "the best" -- by whatever standard that conventional wisdom may apply. </p>
<p>There is a commercial for a certain automobile (I think it's the Audi) that portrays a man in a business suit doing a power-point presentation for the benefit of one teen-aged boy dressed in a prep school jacket. The man repeats over and over (using pictures), "You will attend one of these" (holds up the letters "H","Y" and "P", or something like that), "You will become one of these" (holds up the symbols for law, medicine and business) and then, "You will drive one of these" (he holds up the symbols for Mercedes, BMW and maybe Jaguar.) The boy promptly runs screaming out of the room.</p>
<p>LACs are a time-honored alternative to the Ivy treadmill.</p>
<p>There are other differances than the types of students drawn: size, undergrad focus, etc. But yeah, the degree is the same. You still major in something, etc.</p>
<p>johnwesley-I love that commercial! It made me think of CC the first time I saw it. XD</p>
<p>The school that I'm going to in the fall used to be an LAC before it was brought into the CSU system. I believe it's the smallest CSU in the system (though I'm not 100% sure), and it's known for its Psychology department, which is where I'm going. :)</p>
<p>Pardon my ignorance, but what is the CSU sytem? Boy, do we have a lot to learn!</p>
<p>California State University, the group after the University of California group.</p>
<p>jmmom don't feel bad. Lots of CA parents are confused and if you are out of state you would really have no reason to know. But, we have three levels of post secondary public education in CA.</p>
<p>At the top in terms of state and national prestige as well as selectivity are the University of California schools-mostly large, research universities. UCLA, UCB, UC Davis etc</p>
<p>Then we have the California State University system which used to be state College System. They were historically more geared to hands on training but have become more research oriented since taking on the "U" designation. Both Cal Poly campuses are part of the CSU system. But Cal Poly SLO is far more selective than some of the UC campuses. Teacher training happens at many CSU campuses and they are generally the best bargain in the state for a four year university.</p>
<p>Finally the California Community College system which covers all of the CCs and prepares students for either vocations (dental hygiene, veterinary technician etc) or transfer into a CSU or UC after completion of an AA degree. Its a fabulous deal for the student who chooses not to afford the cost of a 4 year straight out of hs or who are looking for a directionand don't want to spend 20,000 + a year to find it.</p>
<p>^Very nicely explained, historymom. :) Couldn't have said it better myself.</p>
<p>Jmmmom -For most people, it's an outdated concept to think that an undergraduate degree will get you a career. Yes, you can get a degree in accounting and become an accountant. But if at any point in your life you decide that perhaps you don't want to do that for the next 30 years, you may find yourself with few other doors open. Most CEOs in America hold liberal arts degrees. They learned the "soft" skills of communication, reasoning, research, analysis, and then added the technical skills of the field which they entered. I guess that the answer to your original question is that a liberal arts degree (whether from a LAC or a university), unlike other degrees, can literally take you anywhere. A degree in Real Estate is likely to take you only into Real Estate.</p>
<p>I heard David McCullough (sp?) the author of 1776, John Adams and other books, speak, and he was a huge fan of liberal arts degrees. One of his points was that there was a time when a student would major in, say, history, and then would at some point become a history teacher. Now, students major in <em>education</em> and become history teachers. So they may be teaching a subject for which they have no passion, sometimes no real depth of background.</p>
<p>Of course, he was a lot more eloquent than I am, but the upshot was that he thought more people should go to liberal arts schools.</p>
<p>jude, at least in California you can only teach in an elementary or other self-contained, classroom w/ a degree in education which is broad based and at many colleges is referred to as "Liberal Studies". </p>
<p>A history teacher teaching at the middle and high school levels in a public school, would have to have completed enough course work in a variety of social studies courses and/or pass a national test in the social studies to be what is known as a "Highly Qualified Teacher." According to federal "No Child Left Behind" standards. Since NCLB is a nation-wide mandate and schools are penalized for being out of compliance, I think Mr. McCollough is misleading you. </p>
<p>Granted there are people in ALL professions who lack the passion we wish they would have, but teachers at the public secondary level are required to have both depth and background in the sujects they teach. </p>
<p>In private schools NCLB does not apply</p>
<p>At most schools if you want to teach secondary ed, you major in what you're going to teach and probably have something like a minor in education. That's what happened with all the schools I looked at, anyway.</p>
<p>LACs are typically smaller and more given to developing discussion/reading/writing skills. BIIIIIG into readings. Because of the small class sizes, professors are a lot less likely to just lecture and there are typically less TAs teaching classes (if any at all). </p>
<p>The whole "go to a LAC and you don't get a real major and will never get a job" is a pretty terrible stereotype and is completely not true. You get the same major, except with maybe some extra reading/writing skills.</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way: you don't have to take 'basic' types of classes- at all the LACs I looked at there are very few requirements and the curriculum is made so you can take classes that you want to take and explore how you want to explore. They don't necessarily have a core like Columbia.</p>
<p>jmm, Welcome. It is daunting at first, but, honestly, it gets easier. You've come to the right place for information.</p>
<p>Liberal arts refers to two related concepts: First a liberal arts degree or a liberal arts education, meaning a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of sciences, is a general approach to education as opposed to a professional degree such as business, architecture or engineering. You can get a liberal arts degree at most colleges and universities -- large, medium or small. </p>
<p>Second there are so-called liberal arts colleges or LACs. These are generally small (1000-2500 students) and generally concentrate on liberal arts educations, although some do offer professional degrees, like business, engineering or architecture.</p>
<p>If a student wished to study music and/or theology he could do so at a "full service" university or at a small liberal arts college. The choice would be determined by the type of environment he sought. Mountains of words have been expended on this topic on this board, but in general the large and medium university offers more diversity -- both social and academic. The small LAC offers a more intimate learning experience. There are plenty of good reasons to choose either one. </p>
<p>I went to a mega-large state university and my son recently graduated from a small LAC, so I'm fairly well acquainted with the pluses and minuses of both routes. I can assure you that the chance of becoming gainfully employed is just as good (or as bad) at either one. Getting a liberal arts degree in music/theology will not doom you to sleeping on your parents' sofa and getting a degree in business will not necessarily mean you will be Bill Gates (who, of course, didn't get any degree!)</p>
<p>My advice to you and your son at this point is to concentrate on the environment and teaching style that appeals to him -- size, location, personality. If he doesn't know or if he's open to suggestions, then try to do some visiting over the Summer to get a better idea of what's out there.</p>
<p>Most colleges -- large and small -- offer resources to help students along the path to a successful and fullfilling career, no matter what their majors are. This guidance can include summer and part-time jobs, internships, interview practice, resume help, workshops with alums in respective fields, visits from professionals. Visit the career counseling offices on line to see what I mean. </p>
<p>Once he has an idea of what's on his wishlist he can build a balanced list of varying selectivity. Believe me, it does get easier.</p>
<p>Historymom, I know when I went to college, usually you would get your BA in, say, history and then go on and take another year (or two?) to get an education degree so that you could be certified to teach. At least that's what all the teachers I knew did, and at one point I looked into going back to school to fulfill the requirements to be a teacher.</p>
<p>I may be warping Mr. McCulloughs words, I'm sure he's a lot more savvy about these things than I am...</p>