Components and Benefits of Liberal Arts Education

A liberal arts education allows a person to expand their ability to become the best version of themselves by introducing diverse and distinct ideas that provoke curiosity and expand wisdom. Since becoming a student at a liberal arts institution such as Elmhurst College, I have realized the amazing opportunities that are offered to me are unique and will distinguish me from others in the future. My decision to attend an institution with a variety of amazing opportunities is a huge leap towards becoming someone who exhilarates leadership.

As an accounting major, I would have never expected to be encouraged to venture out and try everything a liberal arts institution has to offer. It can be assumed that at most colleges, they would not offer a business major to take a music class. At Elmhurst College a situation like that is unheard of because every single student, no matter what background, is encouraged to branch out and try new things.

A crucial component of a liberal arts education is to create a well-rounded individual that allows their curiosity to guide them throughout their educational journey. When reading an article about a liberal arts education, Thomas E. Cronin outlined the positive outcomes of such education, “Liberal arts programs, at their best, offer the freedom to ask critical and fundamental questions, to grow, to fail and to excel and, perhaps most important, to cultivate the courage to imagine” (Cronin 1). To the naked eye there is a loose connection between the skills gained in a liberal arts college and an accounting major because of the nature of the job expectations. There is no strong relationship at first but as a business major the skills gained from an institution such as Elmhurst College will allow the student to have broader and more balanced skills.

Change is constantly happening in society whether it is socially or politically, and employers seek individuals who can adapt well to change. Accounting is distinct in the way that the concept is the same for everyone, but every company has their own way of recording things, which requires the employee to adapt and listen well in order to do their job correctly. An important skill that is gained as a liberal arts student is the ability to listen to others carefully, William Crono stated his viewpoint on liberal arts students as “educated people know how to pay attention—to others and to the world around them. They work hard to hear what other people say. They can follow an argument, track logical reasoning, detect illogic” (Crono 3). The ability to listen to others is only one of many qualities that Crono describes of a liberally educated person, but it has a significant impact.

As a student it is required for me to take Elmhurst College Integrated Curriculum which gives me the opportunity to take classes that help me branch out of my major and have a stronger focus on arts and humanities. My previous history with art is only what we were required to take in elementary education which is why I chose Design studio. After only a couple of weeks I can confidently say that the class has given me the opportunity to explore my creative side and discover more information about art that I would have never known if it wasn’t for my choice to enroll.

The course has allowed me to see things differently and be open to new ideas but also to have confidence in what I think is correct. By applying these two distinct ideas in all of my classes and my community it helps to positively develop my character. Humanistic skills can not exactly be taught in a classroom, but they can be developed through experiences and a liberal education makes sure that these essential skills are developed.

Business requires individuals who are very analytical and structured whether it be marketing or finance because in one way or another it eventually relates to money which is a crucial part of any company. When approaching a major so composed it is easy to lose sight of simple communication skills due to the lack of exposure, which is why adding business majors in a liberal arts college helps create and distinguish students in their job search after graduation. My major in particular would be useful in a liberal education institution because it requires a lot of rigor and time to be able to succeed. One of the distinguishable qualities that William Crono described of a liberal arts student was “They understand that knowledge serves values, and they strive to put these two—knowledge and values—into constant dialogue with each other” (Crono 4). I strongly believe that accounting brings the rigor and willingness to learn to a college because of the difficulty and the accuracy that is needed to succeed in the field. As a college student, it is expected that we bring our best foot forward when approaching academics but at a liberal arts college it is of upmost importance. Without having the aspiration to gain wisdom, the goals and skills that are desired will not be possible.

My academic area of interest is business and it helps society in a countless number of ways. Business is prevalent in our everyday lives and accounting is only a small portion of the business world. My major helps companies keep track of their expenses and income which helps society as a whole because accurate information like that is required for taxes and a stable operating company.

When all small businesses successfully track their expenses and pay their dues the economy does better than if nothing was tracked. The economy portion of helping the community relates more to the economics side of business but all majors in one way or another relate to one another. Business majors are here to help the community as a whole and the skills gained in a liberal arts institution create a combination that creates an outstanding individual.