Power of the liberal arts

A "liberal arts" education prepares students for success in any career field. Hollins graduates prove time and time again that this is indeed true. The following "liberal arts" skills emphasize the value of a liberal arts education in the world of work:

• Ability to think, speak, and write with clarity
• Ability to live humanely in a technological world
• Ability to deal with problems and decisions
• Ability to understand the history of humankind

When employers are asked what skills and competencies they value most in college and university applicants, the list always includes the following skills that are acquired through a liberal arts education:

• Excellent communication skills
• Keen intelligence
• Leadership and organizational abilities
• Ability to solve problems creatively
• Analytical competencies
• Quantitative and research proficiences
• Logical decision-making abilities
• Liberal arts skills

Liberal arts skills are transferable, functional abilities that are required in many different problem-solving and task-oriented situations. This list of skills which are used in careers and other life situations was developed by Paul Breen and Urban Whitaker in consultation with students, faculty members and employers in the humanities and behavioral and social sciences.

 

Information management
Ability to:

• sort data and objects
• compile and rank information
• apply information creatively to specific problems or tasks
• synthesize facts, concepts and principles
• understand and use organizing principles
• evaluate information against appropriate standards

Valuing
Ability to:

• assess a course of action in terms of its long-range effects on the general human welfare
• make decisions that will maximize both individual and collective good
• appreciate the contributions of art, literature, science, and technology to contemporary society
• identify one's own values
• assess one's values in relation to important life decisions

Communication
Ability to:

• listen objectively and paraphrase the content of a message
• use various forms and styles of written communication
• speak effectively to individuals and groups
• use media formats to present ideas imaginatively
• express one's needs, wants, opinions and preferences without offending the sensitivities of others
• create innovative solutions to complex issues
• identify and communicate value judgments effectively
• describe objects or events with a minimum of factual errors
• convey a positive self-image to others

 

Research and investigation
Ability to:

• use a variety of sources of information
• apply a variety of methods to test the validity of data
• identify problems and needs
• design an experiment, plan, or model that systematically defines a problem
• identify information sources appropriate to special needs or problems
• formulate questions relevant to clarifying a particular problem, topic, or issue

 

Critical thinking
Ability to:

• identify quickly and accurately the critical issues when making a decision or solving a problem
• identify a general principle that explains inter-related experiences or factual data
• define the parameters of a problem
• identify reasonable criteria for assessing the value or appropriateness of an action or behavior
• adapt one's concepts and behavior to changing conventions and norms
• apply appropriate criteria to strategies and action plans
• take given premises and reasons to their conclusion