Articulating the Value of a Liberal Arts Education

"What Can I Do With a Liberal Arts Degree?"

Since your major is liberal arts, you may have puzzled over this question before. It can be challenging to explain how a degree in, say, humanities or social/behavioral sciences will lead to a career.

However, if you ask most people what their major in college was and what they do for a living now, more times than not, they will say that their college major has no relation to their career. For instance, you might find humanity majors who work as business managers and business majors who work for non-profit organizations.

There are actually more options than you realize, even if your career choices are not as apparent as for students studying nursing or engineering. Liberal arts majors have skills that are in demand-and they can quality for many different kinds of jobs.

Your Liberal Arts degree provides you with a broad set of skills and a holistic perspective that many employers value. It has prepared you not only for your first job but for a meaningful and contributive life.

We often hear from hiring employers, specifically looking to connect with Soka students and graduates because of the skills and experience gained through Soka's rigorous liberal arts curriculum. For example, a recent email to the CDO said:

"Dear SUA Career Development Office: I'm reaching out because many of our leading employer partners – such as Verizon, Target, MongoDB – have expressed that they are particularly interested in connecting with liberal arts students given their well-rounded skill sets and critical thinking skills."  ~Kate B., Recruiting Executive

COMPETENCIES CULTIVATED AT SOKA UNIVERSITY

Through a rigorous four-year education at Soka University of America, our graduates leave with a well-rounded foundation of knowledge, critical skills, and core values that are highly marketable in today’s complex and diverse job market. Here are some of the key skills our liberal arts graduates acquire:

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Our curriculum encourages students to think critically, question assumptions, and solve complex problems. This provides our graduates with the ability to confront challenges with an open and analytical mind.

Communication Skills: Liberal arts students develop excellent written and verbal communication skills. They learn to articulate their thoughts clearly, persuasively, and succinctly, in various contexts.

Global Citizenship: Aligned with our mission to foster global citizens, our students not only understand the interdependence of societies and cultures, they have spent four years living, working and developing relationships with people from all over the world. This equips them to operate effectively in diverse, multicultural environments.

Emotional Intelligence and Empathy: Through exploring a wide range of human experiences and perspectives, our students develop empathy and emotional intelligence, key to navigating interpersonal relationships in any professional setting.

Adaptability and Flexibility: The broad and varied liberal arts curriculum fosters adaptability and flexibility, enabling our graduates to thrive in various roles and industries.

Creative Thinking: Our free and open dialogue encourages innovative and creative thinking, producing graduates who can bring fresh ideas and unique perspectives to their professions.

Ethical Leadership: Guided by Buddhist principles, our students learn the importance of ethical decision-making, human rights, and peace. This creates compassionate leaders who contribute positively to their workplaces and communities.