<p>
</p>
<p>Being able to understand the difference between something (like number of a given type of job) and its rate of change (like growth in the number of a given type of job) is something that can help a lot of people avoid being confused or misled, even if they do not remember how to integrate some obscure function.</p>
<p>As far as what a well rounded liberal arts education should include, the subjects that are most important in helping one learn other subjects are:</p>
<p>Reading/research/writing/communication: preferably courses using varied topics. It would be desirable for a student to be able to communicate about his/her major subject both to others in the field and to general audiences with no special knowledge of the subject.</p>
<p>Quantitative/logical thinking: calculus, statistics, logic (philosophy department course or math with proofs).</p>
<p>Of course, other subjects would also be included, but they may be more controversial. For example, if history is required, should specific history subjects (e.g. US history, European history, Asian history, modern history, ancient history, etc.) be required, and, if so, which ones? Also, a non-science major looking to take a worthwhile science course may find the current choices to be either multi-semester sequences for majors or joke courses of the “physics for poets” or “rocks for jocks” type.</p>