I’m a Communication Studies major, and while that isn’t quite as risky as, say, Philosophy or Art History, it doesn’t provide the same straight-forward and applicable career track as majors like Accounting, Computer Programming and Education do (not that there’s anything wrong with those majors, either!). My education doesn’t teach me how to adult, but like all the majors here at Saint Mary’s, a liberal arts school, it does teach me how to learn.
In my classes, I have to think critically and discuss sensitive topics about the current state of the world- from feminism to racism. I have a large workload, and since classes are small, assignments are turned in and attendance is both expected and tracked. I do extensive research and compare findings for all my papers, most of which are 10+ pages. And this isn’t just Communication Studies- all majors at Saint Mary’s require this much effort, critical thinking, and time management.
When you’re on a small campus that encourages diversity and dialogue, and you’re required to take an extensive amount of gen ed classes not in your major, it’s like the learning never stops. You learn how to have a respectful and meaningful debate, connect with students you wouldn’t normally talk to, constantly see connections between one class and another (integrated learning!!!), and start to see the world in a new light.
So, I may not be learning what I’ll be doing day-to-day in my future job, but I am learning how to solve problems, draw conclusions from many ideas, manage a heavy workload, and remain responsible for myself. When I do enter the workforce, I think these skills help me learn quickly how to perform my job. I can learn how to enter data and other daily duties in a one-hour training session, but skills like problem solving and compromising over issues? Those take years to build up, and I believe my SMC liberal arts education has built them up well. When I apply for jobs, I will proudly say that thanks to my liberal arts education, I’m ready to tackle whatever the world throws at me.