What Is Liberal Arts? (and What It Is Not)

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“Liberal arts” is a phrase used by colleges in two common ways. First, it describes a type of curriculum that can be used at any college or university. Second, it is used to describe a group of small, private institutions that each follow a liberal arts curriculum.

The phrase “liberal arts” has Latin roots and dates back to Ancient Greece. In Latin, artes liberales means “the arts of a free person”. It was believed that a “free” person needed a broad academic education to think, speak, and act effectively in public life. Despite its name, liberal arts doesn’t have anything to do with politics and isn’t exclusively for artistic students. In fact, it often incorporates a balanced study of arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Some colleges and universities will offer Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees, even in the natural sciences.

What is a Liberal Arts Curriculum?

The phrase often used to describe the duality of a liberal arts curriculum is “breadth and depth.” Breadth (broad) is achieved through proficiency in diverse subjects, while depth (deep) is achieved through mastery of a subject of focus. The goal of a liberal arts education is competency in skills, regardless of the subject you choose to study. This is often achieved by requiring each student to choose a major and to complete distribution requirements, which can each be satisfied by more than one class, so the student has flexibility to choose what interests them. 

For example, I majored in French, even knowing I’d never pursue teaching or translation, the two most linear professional paths for a language major. I spoke the language and enjoyed taking courses about literature, culture, writing, art history, film, translation, and history in French, but I haven’t used the language in my professional life. In addition to my major, I took courses to fulfill requirements in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and diversity of thought. I dabbled in chemistry, psychology, English, comparative literature, astronomy, dance, women’s studies, math, and ultimately took enough philosophy courses to complete a minor. 

By studying in different departments, and with a variety of faculty, I learned about multiple topics, but I also encountered many teaching styles and types of assessment. I listened to lectures, participated in debates and discussions, conducted lab experiments, took exams in large auditoriums, presented to my peers in small classrooms and collaborated on group projects. The result of studying a variety of subjects is the development of skills like critical thinking, problem solving, written communication, public speaking, analytical reasoning, decision making, synthesizing information, adaptability and so many more. This can be achieved regardless of the major you choose. French was the lens through which I received my liberal arts education, and I still use the skills I honed in college every day.

It’s important to note that the skills developed as a liberal arts student are sought by employers when hiring college graduates. Employers will teach you how to do your specific job, and you’ll be a highly desirable employee if you’re teachable and adaptable. A liberal arts curriculum, sometimes summed up as teaching students “how to learn”, will set you up for success. Additionally, many of the jobs students will pursue over the course of their careers will not exist in the same form as when they began college, particularly in technology-driven fields that evolve rapidly. Liberal arts graduates are equipped to take on a wide range of roles rather than a single fixed vocation, and they are well prepared to adapt and pivot throughout their careers.

The beauty of a liberal arts curriculum for so many students is the ability to explore many subjects before deciding on a major, and for others, it’s a great excuse to continue dabbling in other subjects even after committing to a major because those requirements are built into the curriculum for everyone. 

What is a Liberal Arts College?

While there are lots of institutions who use liberal arts curricula, there are also dozens of colleges with common characteristics that are referred to as “liberal arts colleges”. These institutions are typically small, often enrolling fewer than 2,000 students, and primarily serve undergraduate populations. Liberal arts colleges are usually private institutions with residential campuses, most often in suburban areas or small towns. It may be surprising to learn that many of them are extremely strong in the sciences and research, giving undergraduates access to funding, technology and mentorship to pursue their own research projects. Small colleges often have big budgets and lots of opportunities! 

In the United States, there are roughly 200 liberal arts colleges, though the exact number varies based on how they are defined. If you’re interested in learning more, here are some great schools to start with, ones that College Spy students have explored and attended.

Northeast and New York: Bowdoin College, Bates College, Colby College, Williams College, Amherst College, Wellesley College, Middlebury College, Trinity College, Connecticut College, Vassar College, Hamilton College, Colgate University, Skidmore College, Union College, Sarah Lawrence College

Mid Atlantic and Pennsylvania: Swarthmore College, Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, Lafayette College, Dickinson College, Franklin & Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Goucher College

Southeast: Davidson College, Washington and Lee University, Rhodes College, Davidson College, Furman University, Wofford College, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Agnes Scott College

Midwest: Carleton College, Macalester College, Grinnell College, Knox College, Beloit College, Denison University, Oberlin College, Hope College, Kenyon College

Colorado and the West: Colorado College, Whitman College, Lewis and Clark College, Reed College, Pomona College, Scripps College, Occidental College

If you would like to explore liberal arts colleges with The College Spy, consider our List Building Package. We would love to help you build a college list that meets your needs!

Frequently Asked Questions:

  • No! The phrase “liberal arts” has Latin roots and doesn’t include only arts subjects or only politically liberal students. A liberal arts curriculum is about balance, diversity of ideas and building important skills regardless of the subject a student chooses to major in.

  • Yes! Liberal arts graduates are experts in their major fields, but also knowledgeable about many subjects. Perhaps even more importantly, they’ve honed skills like critical thinking, communication, problem solving, analytical reasoning, and adaptability—all skills employers seek when hiring.

  • Yes! Institutions offering liberal arts degrees rarely have vocational programs leading to specific jobs, but they often have more variety than you may expect. There are plenty of colleges where a student interested in a business or STEM career path can double major, explore outside their major,and pursue academic research.