Are liberal arts degrees inherently less valuable than math, science, and technology majors?

[LiberalSquirrel]

What are your views on the subject? Is a civil engineer more valuable to society than a philosophy major?

Hehe. As someone who studied Civil Engineering for 3 years before switching to an English major... I feel I am rather justified in having an opinion on this.

Personally- I don't think there is any degree that is "inherently less valuable" than any other degree. All knowledge is valuable, whether it is knowledge about painting a picture or knowledge about building a bridge. And, on a personal level, I find my English studies more "valuable" to me than my engineering ones simply because I enjoy them more. Is one degree more likely to get you a job than another? Perhaps. Perhaps not. I know people who are struggling to get jobs with their engineering degrees, just as much as my English-major friends are. But the job market's bad for just about anyone right now. And even if it were true, I don't believe that "value" can be assigned just by "likelihood to get a job."

 

[RyuujinZERO]

Well, I agree with him. Psychology, anthropology, arts - I see those majors come up a LOT, and yes we do need psychologists (less so anthropologists, and... uh, yeah... art... um... you guys tell me if we need them xD)

But we don't need a huge amount to keep the world turning. Conversely, progressive fields like science and mathematics have no real upper limit beyond funding, more brains you throw at a problem, the sooner you get something useful out of it that advances society (See example: Moon landings, as an example of throwing brains and money at the wall 'til it sticks)


What's wrong with warning students "Hey, I know you like [Insert easy and over-subscribed field] but, you ever considered taking [Insert difficult, but important field]"?

I might just be biased though, I'm studying analytical and synthetic chemistry >_>

 

[Danzaivar]

Everyone I know who did my course (Computer Science) got a good, related job within 2 months of graduating. Two people I know did philosophy, one's a waiter and the other one got rejected at Lidl (Think cheaper than Walmart), guy I know who did English graduated a year before us and is still unemployed. One person who did psychology spent 2 years unemployed before becoming a housewife and another did History and is looking at pretty low grade office work.

Thinking about it, I don't know anyone with an Arts degree who doesn't regret it (Or resent those with more employable degrees...)

So yeah, I'd say Art degrees aren't really worth as much. My friends with Arts degrees would also agree.

 

[cjspyres]

Seriously, when it comes to your job, you need to do what you love. If you're stuck doing something you hate, then you're going to hate your life.

 

[Kaytastrophe]

yeah because jobs requiring math and science have never been outsourced to India. Liberal arts degrees are useful. I am working towards a master's degree in history and honestly there are lots of uses. I have developed strong research skills; the kind that would be useful in journalism and other related careers. Liberal arts degrees also teach students how to articulate ideas and engage in critical thought; much like government officials and other leadership roles do. How to effectively communicate knowledge to one's peers is also a skill taught within the Liberal Arts that might make for great teachers.Liberal Arts degrees are for the most part useful because, while they may not have direct benefits as the sciences and mathematics do, they provide skills that (regretfully) have become scarce but useful in a variety of jobs.

 

[Drake666]

Everyone I know who did my course (Computer Science) got a good, related job within 2 months of graduating. Two people I know did philosophy, one's a waiter and the other one got rejected at Lidl (Think cheaper than Walmart), guy I know who did English graduated a year before us and is still unemployed. One person who did psychology spent 2 years unemployed before becoming a housewife and another did History and is looking at pretty low grade office work.

Thinking about it, I don't know anyone with an Arts degree who doesn't regret it (Or resent those with more employable degrees...)

So yeah, I'd say Art degrees aren't really worth as much. My friends with Arts degrees would also agree.

In case of computer science and computer engineering, it doesn't count
It's easy, in the current socio-economic situation, for us to fund any job! Probably not the same for a mechanical engineer, for example.

 

[SckizoBoy]

That said, Rick Scott is a complete hypocrite - he left university with degrees in business and law. Neither of these is a mathematics, science or technology degree.

To be fair to the man, it does give him an official qualification in how to lie/bullshit...

OT: If you asked me a few years ago, I'd've instinctively answered with a resounding 'yes'. But now, I'm unsure. Practical value, science degrees win hands down (for the most part), because modern society has drilled it into us that we require a bit of paper to be able to have a successful career (at least it has in the UK). Since science graduates tend to have the employers looking at them, they get the jobs, hence one could deduce that a science degree has more value.

But here lies the problem. The sheer number of degrees that are being churned out by universities these days has rather deadened the value of a degree full stop. What got you a job with a BSc forty years ago, you need a PhD to get now.

Fundamentally, though, to the individual, regardless of predilections and motivations, a liberal arts degree has neither higher nor lower inherent value than a science degree. To mankind, each brings value of its own so even then, the same can be said. But ultimately, it depends on what you want to do with the degree.

 

[SckizoBoy]

In other words, it's a loose-loose situation, which is why a wide range of degrees are offered at most universities, including the most famous research universities (Berkeley, MIT, Harvard, Cambridge, etc).

I thought MIT was pure science/technology... To that end, I wonder how places like MIT and Imperial College (essentially the British version of MIT) would persist without private funding, because they're both heavy research institutions... and life science research is easily the most expensive kind... so, most of the professors I know spend half their time shaking a can at industry...

 

[DarkRyter]

I don't know, I didn't go to college.

 

[PaganFury]

Yah thats it... Its those damn european art historians dragging down the economy.

 

[Twilight_guy]

America has a deficiency of science and math majors. That means having one of these degrees makes you a valuable asset to companies. Other then that, its just a matter of examining labor statistics to see on average how much each degree is worth.

 

[Chemical Alia]

snip

You've taken the slightly bizarre assumption that everyone does what their degree title says they should do. Philosophy graduates work pretty much everywhere, they are not compelled to go and sit on a hill thinking.

True that. I know two philosophy graduates, and both of them work at id Software. One's a level designer and the the other is a producer. I know other game devs who came from law, culinary, secondary education and aeronautical engineering backgrounds. I have my undergraduate degree in fine art (drawing), and I'm a 3d modeler now. While some of those people may or may not put their educational training to use, I know I do everyday, despite the very different nature of my job.

 

[poppabaggins]

snip

Democracy, Communism, Capitalism, Morals, Logical thinking in general. just a few to name

Edit: Personally, I'm religious, but from an atheistic point of view, Religion has one hell of a monopoly on the world

Political science and economics are still sciency (... a combination of philosophy and science?). I would argue that logical thinking is a part of formal mathematics. Morals are easily decided by the individual and the community.

I'm studying Computer Science and Math because I don't like starving, but I probably would have gone into English or philosophy if I came from a rich family. Roughly speaking, people are willing to pay for something proportionally to how much it benefits them, and people who know math/science/engineering, in general, get more money than philosophers, et al.

Again, I'm not saying these fields aren't useful, but I would certainly rather take five minutes of my time to think about my personal philosophy and morals rather than listen to some pretentious PhD in philosophy tell me what I should think.

I don't need a literature student to tell me what's going on in a book; I can do that myself (unless I'm reading James Joyce). I don't need to know every latest competing theory on what really happened during the Salem Witch trials -- the chances of that improving my lot in life are minimal. I would prefer it if politicians ended all of their little games and theories. In fact, pretty much everything in the liberal arts realm would mean more to me if I thought about it for myself.

If liberal arts is about teaching people how to think, why should people major in liberal arts and try to get jobs telling other people what to think? That sounds kind of hypocritical (or manipulative, if you're into conspiracies). So yeah, philosophy et. al. are great, but, aside from teachers/professors, we really don't need people who dedicate their lives to these topics to make the world better-- science conducted by people with a general idea of liberal arts can do that.

--Edit: I should note that I speak/write in hyperbole. Yes, I like the fact that we have movies, games, books, etc. No, my life isn't just non-stop science studying. However, I still think that people should consider majors in STEM areas (I don't think the world needs as many Psychology majors as come out of my school alone).

 

[Gigano]

Well, degrees in business, law, marketing, communication etc. all seem pretty relevant for society and its economy.

And the others have plenty to offer too, just not much to the economy. So if that was the sole rhyme and reason to existence, then they'd be less interesting.

 

[Random berk]

No, of course not. There's quite a demand for completely rhetorical questions that any smartass scientist worth his salt can snap off a practical answer to.

 

[Averant]

There's really not much point in paying $10,000 a year for college if you're discouraged from choosing the major you want. General, useful education is what grade school is for--college is just for expanding your mind and studying what interests you, which is why it's optional and there are hundreds to choose from.

Governor Scott should be concerned with the failing state of elementary and high school education, not nitpicking over how legal adults choose to study in a supposedly free country. Although it doesn't surprise me all that much. I'd love to meet a conservative philosophy major, just so I know they exist.

My sister is conservative, and she's going for a major in theology. Does that count?

OT: So Governor Scott thinks that my future BA in Art is useless, hm?

Tell Governor Scott to go fuck himself, please.

 

[GiantRaven]

I'd rather learn something considered 'worthless' that I enjoy, than study something I utterly loathe in order to get a good job.