Dynamic Careers and Liberal Arts

Presented by: Sloane Thompson Director of Career Development IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI 317-274-8304; [email protected]

School of Liberal Arts Students

• Graduates of the School of Liberal Arts should exemplify the ideals of a liberal arts education. They should be

broadly educated across the disciplines and well trained in a particular major

. • They should have: (1) proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking skills; (2) competence in quantitative, language, and analytic skills; (3) a broadly based experience in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences; and (4) a major area of study. • Although faculty and counselors are available to help students acquire these proficiencies and attitudes,

learning must be self-motivated.

• To be taught, one must first be

interested in learning

. A liberal arts education, therefore, is the responsibility of the individual student.

From: 2008-10 IUPUI Bulletin

Liberal Arts Skills & Characteristics

By graduation, students in the School of Liberal Arts should have developed: 1. appreciation of the personal and public value of knowledge; 2. ability to acquire and use knowledge; 3. awareness of their own values and commitments and an understanding of different values held by others; 4. adequate mastery of the skills of both interpersonal and public communication; 5. concern for and responsiveness to contemporary events, issues, and problems, as seen and interpreted through the perspectives of the humanities and social sciences; 6. qualifications for meaningful employment and ability to master the specific skills required by that employment; 7. appreciation of the cultural significance of science and technology and their impact on our natural and social environment.

Thereby, they become discerning and responsible citizens of this nation and the world.

Liberal Arts Majors:

• Take

initiative

by creating their own degree plan , rather than have it prescribed for them (as in business school or engineering college, for example), so they can study the topics and major(s) they feel most

passionate

about; • Hone and refine their

communication skills

through the language and writing requirements as well as the wide variety of course papers and projects that they must fulfill; • Are some of the most

creative problem-solvers

in college today because a liberal arts education introduces them to a wide variety of subjects and the opportunity to develop multiple perspectives about them; • Must demonstrate competency in a variety of math and science courses, and many also engage in research studies with faculty assist in developing

critical thinking and analysis.

• In addition, we support our students in pursuing internships, study abroad and service learning experiences that help them better understand the needs of others and what they can offer the world.

From http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/get-started/employers/why-hire

Benefits to Employers

You already know -- and the employer surveys we examine confirm -- that

effective communication skills, taking initiative, creative problem solving, critical thinking and analytical abilities

are some of the most important competencies of today’s employees.

And that “ passion ” is an attribute that’s also hugely important to bottom line success. That’s why students who have completed a liberal arts education can be so valuable to your organization .

From http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/get-started/employers/why-hire

You Majored In What?

• Liberal arts students are often asked, "What are you going to do with that major?" But that's the wrong question. The question to ask is, "

What do you want to do? And how can you show through your degree and your experiences that you can do it?“

• A liberal arts degree is

timeless and eternally useful

. Students don't have to worry about trends and try to speculate about the "best" preparation for their next 30 years or more in the workplace. A liberal arts degree will provide them with the basic skills and knowledge they need to develop their career.

From http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/get-started/parents

Liberal Arts Grads’ Career Choices

• You might be surprised to know that the #1 career choice for liberal arts majors is business. • About 1/3 of our graduates go directly to graduate, law, or medical school after graduation , but of those students who go directly to the workplace, 37% select a career in business and management. The career fields include finance and banking, consulting, publishing, advertising, and marketing & sales. • Twenty-five percent go into government or law-related careers , 22% go into education (from preschool to higher education to teaching English as a second language abroad), 6% work in nonprofit settings , and 5% choose other options such as entrepreneurial ventures.

From http://www.utexas.edu/cola/lacs/get-started/parents

Our Goal: Liberal Arts Graduates with Skills for Success in Dynamic, Ever-Changing Economy • Effective Communicators

– Writing, Speaking, Interpersonal, Collaboration

• Great Problem-Solvers

– “Out-of-the-Box” Thinkers – Multiple Perspectives Considered for Solutions

• Leaders in all Fields

– Innovative, creative, adaptable to change – Historical, cultural considerations along with forward-thinking