College of Arts & Sciences

Careers in Arts & Sciences

Statistics show just how valuable such a degree can be! We as educators will tell you that you're smart to pursue a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences and employers agree too!

A degree in arts and sciences is both narrow and broad. It's narrow in the sense of training the student in the specifics of a major degree program, such as Biology or English. And it's broad in the sense of introducing the student to all the general areas of human thought and endeavor: the biology student is likely to take a course in Shakespeare; the English student a course in sociology. The result is an education enabling the student to work deeply in a chosen field while remaining sensitive to the role of that field in the broader context of human society.

History

Liberal Arts Education: Meaning and Etymology (pdf - 85.2 KB)
 
At Winthrop University, we are committed to the value of this form of education. In the College of Arts & Sciences, we especially know how liberating and empowering this form of education can be. But don't take just our word for it!  An independent study of business leaders throughout the US demonstrates that this is the education for YOU!

Advantages

It's important for today's colleges to provide a liberal education for employment.

Employers endorse the concept of a liberal education (pdf- 57 KB)

Three in four employers would recommend a liberal education to their children (pdf - 53 KB)

Education

The education that employers say that they most need is precisely the education that we offer in the College of Arts & Sciences!

• Most Employers Believe That It Takes BOTH Specific Knowledge/Skills, and Broad Knowledge/Skills to Achieve Long-Term Career Success (pdf - 112.9 KB)

• The broad abilities or "soft skills" that employers want are precisely those that we impart to our students. These include critical thinking, decision-making, creativity, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
  • Learning Outcomes That at Least Four in Five Employers Rate as Very Important (pdf - 102.3 KB)
  • Learning Outcomes That More Than Half of Employers Rate as Very Important (pdf - 103.4 KB)

• Employers Also Agree That Their Employees Should Have Some Understanding of the Culture That They Live in and Its History. Students Should Also Be Able to Interact Effectively With People From Different Walks of Life. This, Too, Is a Primary Result of Training in the Arts and Sciences (pdf - 125.3 KB)

• If Anything, Employers Would Like to See an Even Greater Emphasis in College on These "Soft Skills". When Asked to Indicate Where Colleges Should Increase Their Efforts, It Is Precisely in the Broader Knowledge and Skills Offered at the Arts and Sciences Kind of Institution (pdf - 17.4 KB)

• Employers Affirm the Value Of "High Impact" Educational Practices Typical of the College of Arts and Sciences--First- and Final-Year Seminars; Writing-Intensive Courses; Undergraduate Research; Internships; Collaborations; And More (pdf - 15.2 KB)

• Most students in the College of Arts & Sciences complete an applied or project-based learning experience as part of their studies. (pdf - 133 KB)  Employers love these.(pdf - 131 KB)

• For a summary of some of these figures, see these handy resource sheets:
  • AACU 2013 Key Findings (pdf - 145.8 KB)
  • AACU 2015 Employer Priorities (pdf - 49.1 KB)
  • AACU Charts & Sciences Handout (pdf - 107 MB)
  • AACU High Impact Handout (pdf - 114.2 KB)

Expectations

As we all know, today's job market is tough and seems to be getting tougher. Employers are well aware of this situation and they place an ever greater responsibility on their employees in an increasingly complex workplace.

Employers' expectations of employees has increased (pdf - 15 KB)

Workplace Skills

Employers recognize the need for employees with the intellectual skills to match.  

Employers believe that innovation, critical thinking, and a broad skill set are important for taking on complex challenges in the workplace (pdf - 50 KB)

How College Contributes to Workforce Success: Employer Views on What Matters Most (2021) (Link to AACU report page)

 

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Still have questions? Contact the College of Arts & Sciences via Contact Information section provided at the top right of this page.