Synonymous with a liberal arts degree, general studies programs provide a liberal arts education that focuses on many areas of study. Whether you seek a liberal arts undergraduate or graduate degree, students can expect to learn everything from English and history to mathematics and philosophy. Coursework in social sciences and creative arts is also a common requirement. The result is simple but effective. Rather than offering specialized training, these programs provide a general education that lends itself to many post-graduate careers.
Both online and campus programs share an underlying principal: they teach students how to learn new material and how to effectively communicate – two very important skills in the workplace.
If a flexible schedule or more affordable tuition is important, you may want to consider an online program. Today, most higher education institutions provide a large catalog of online liberal arts courses. So, whether you’re just furthering your education, trying on this degree for fit, or wanting to attend a liberal arts college online, you have choices. But with so many options available, it’s most important to choose the program that best satisfies your education needs.
In some instances, you may discover that a traditional, campus-based college offering a liberal arts program is what you require for success. When evaluating liberal arts training programs or general studies certificate programs, the biggest benefit a traditional classroom format presents is the personal attention students will receive. Resources are another important consideration for students enrolled in creative arts courses. Students studying at a campus may have access to more resources than those available in an online program.
There’s a misconception that liberal arts graduates are less employable than their more specialized counterparts. While it’s true that some professions require a specific degree, the job market indicates a healthy amount of employment opportunities for these students. In fact, when Forbes set out to explore this misconception, they reported that “The jobs with highest demand for liberal arts majors are surprisingly diverse: intelligence analyst, client service specialist, signals intelligence (SIGINT) analyst, business development manager, and project manager—compelling, high-demand careers.”
Work environments can be just as different as program coursework. While most college graduates share an element of administrative work in their job functions, there are opportunities to work in offices, warehouses, remotely, and more. When it comes down to it, the work environment you find yourself in is often the product of the one you seek.
With there being such a broad spectrum of employment opportunities available to liberal arts graduates, it’s not easy to quantify the average earnings for individuals with this education. Even so, the Bureau of Labor Statistics provided an earnings snapshot that demonstrates an average salary range for these professionals working in 2015. Consequently, the data indicated a median salary that ranged from $35,000 to $55,000, depending on the occupation.