<p>To my knowledge, they offer classes that studies social things lik social history, etc...? Im not exactly sure what they are, is there a nutshell definition? And are they good for someone who like to learn about being an environmentalist or architecture?</p>
<p>Lastly, why arent there any conservative arts colleges? Haha</p>
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<p>Liberal Arts has nothing to do with political affiliation, and they offer quite a wide range of courses. Basically, they won’t have engineering unless they’re Harvey Mudd, but they’ll often have fairly strong sciences and maths. They’ll also offer everything from foreign languages to history and poli sci. I go to Grinnell, and you can see all the different areas you can study at Grinnell here: [Academic</a> Programs - Academics | Grinnell College](<a href=“http://www.grinnell.edu/academic]Academic”>http://www.grinnell.edu/academic)</p>
<p>Also, the definition of “liberal arts” and “liberal arts college” does not seem to be very consistent. “Liberal arts” is supposed to mean the study of academic fields in math, science, humanities, and social studies, without regard for preparing for a specific profession (although some majors are commonly recruited for certain types of jobs at graduation). “Liberal arts” is commonly misused to refer to just humanities and social studies to the exclusion of math and science.</p>
<p>However, some “liberal arts colleges” have curricula that are not strictly “liberal arts”. Some may have curricula that has a strong emphasis on fields that are questionable as to whether they are “liberal arts” (e.g. Sarah Lawrence, which emphasizes art practice and performing art (both of which are arguably professional preparation), and has very limited offerings in most other fields).</p>
<p>It may be helpful to understand a liberal arts curriculum in contrast to a professional or vocational curriculum. </p>
<p>The purposes of a liberal education are to instill a passion for learning, to illuminate connections among academic disciplines, impart the skill of viewing issues through multiple “lenses”, and some might say to prepare a student for specialization through graduate study. </p>
<p>By contrast, a professional or vocational curriculum is aimed at imparting skills that are of immediate practical and economic value to the student. They prepare students to enter into the workforce and both provide and reap value in a specific vocation, be it business, engineering, education, etc.</p>
<p>That is not to say that a professional curriculum can’t instill a passion for learning or that a liberal arts curriculum can’t deliver practical skills. The point is not that the outcomes are mutually exclusive (they aren’t), the point is that the curricula start from different values and principles.</p>
<p>Two pro-liberal arts quips I’ve hung on to over the years: