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If you are wondering what Liberal Arts and Sciences are, let us help you find out the answer to this thought.

If you too are planning to pursue a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree abroad then this article is going to help you figure out everything that you need to know from the types of subjects to choose from to the top universities and career options after successful completion of this degree.

Starting from the root of it, let’s see what the Liberal Arts and Sciences mean. So, in simplest terms, the Liberal Arts and Sciences is an amalgamation of subject matters within the stream of Humanities, Social Sciences along with Natural Sciences and Formal Sciences. This discipline sets itself apart from a typical liberal arts or fine arts degree and it is an interdisciplinary course. For centuries, Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees have been the foundation of a college education. It is that course of study which delivers its students with general knowledge along with reasoning and critical-thinking abilities. Today, the demand for subjects as such is rising among knowledge seekers and employers as well. 

A lot of people want to pursue a degree in this field. So, if you too are someone who’s interested, keep reading because this article is going to answer all of your questions concerning this area of study.

While most degrees you pursue will prepare you for a career ahead, in this regard a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree stands out because a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree prepares a student for life in totality and not just a particular career. This degree emphasizes you accumulating skills like creative thinking, communication, problem-solving, self-expression, innovative research, and lifelong learning. It will teach you that learning is more than what’s taught inside four walls. It teaches anyone pursuing it that education goes on for life and more often even without the presence of books. All the skills that a Liberal Arts degree instills in its students are central to leading a great career and an even greater life ahead. 

Some popular liberal Arts and Sciences Majors include

HUMANITIES

  1. Communication
  2. Philosophy
  3. History
  4. Psychology
  5. Literature
  6. Linguistics
  7. Foreign Languages

SOCIAL SCIENCES

  1. Economics
  2. Geography
  3. Political science
  4. Sociology
  5. Cultural Studies
  6. Gender Studies
  7. Law
  8. Anthropology 

CREATIVE LIBERAL ARTS

  1. Fine Arts
  2. Theatre
  3. Music
  4. Creative Writing
  5. Vocational courses

NATURAL SCIENCE/LIFE SCIENCE

  1. Biology
  2. Neuroscience
  3. Ecology
  4. Environmental Science
  5. Zoology
  6. Geology

PHYSICAL  SCIENCES

  1. Physics
  2. Chemistry
  3. Astronomy 

FORMAL SCIENCES

  1. Mathematics
  2. Logic
  3. Statistics

You can choose any of the above-mentioned subject areas and specialize further in them. Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees are those degrees with accreditations like BA, BSc, MA, MSc, etc. A Liberal Arts and Sciences degree doesn’t limit you to studying one particular area but gives you the liberty to explore more according to your needs and interests. In India where if you pursue Science or Arts in your higher secondary education it limits your chances of studying some if not all Liberal Arts and Sciences subjects and here’s why a degree abroad stands out.  One of the many perks of studying this subject area abroad is that it eliminates those restrictions of not being able to study interdisciplinary courses. If you choose to study abroad you can pursue any subject of your choice given you fulfill the Eligibility criteria of the University, College, or institution to which you are applying.

Also read: Kick Start a Career in Data Science – The Roadmap

Some Popular Liberal Arts and Sciences Universities and Colleges from all around the Globe – 

BEST IN UNITED KINGDOM – 

  1. University of Oxford (Location – United Kingdom, England)
  2. University of Cambridge (Location – United Kingdom, England)
  3. University College London (United Kingdom, England)
  4. University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom, Scotland)
  5. University of Manchester (United Kingdom, England)
  6. University of London (United Kingdom, England)
  7. King’s College London (United Kingdom, England)
  8. London School of Economics and Political science (United Kingdom, England)
  9. University of Nottingham (United Kingdom, England)
  10. University of Birmingham (United Kingdom, England)

BEST IN OTHER PARTS OF EUROPE –

  1. University of Amsterdam (Netherlands, Amsterdam)
  2. University of Copenhagen (Denmark, Copenhagen)
  3. Erasmus University Rotterdam (Netherlands, Rotterdam)
  4. Utrecht University (Netherlands, Utrecht)
  5. Catholic University of Leuven (Belgium Leuven)
  6. University of Helsinki (Finland, Helsinki)
  7. University of Oslo ( Norway, Oslo)
  8. Karolinska Institute (Sweden, Stockholm)
  9. Lunds University (Sweden, Lund)
  10. Aarhus University (Denmark, Aarhus)

BEST IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA-

  1. Stanford University (Stanford, California)
  2. Harvard University (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
  3. Columbia University (New York)
  4. Yale University (New Haven, Connecticut)
  5. Princeton University (Princeton, New Jersey)
  6. Brown University (Rhode Island)
  7. University of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania, Philadelphia)
  8. Cornell University (New York)
  9. Dartmouth University (Hanover, New Hampshire)
  10. Duke University (Durham, North Carolina)
  11. Harvey Mudd College (Claremont, California)
  12. Pomona College (Claremont, California)
  13. Concord University
  14. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
  15. Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine)
  16. Barnard College (Newyork)
  17. Davidson College (Davidson, North Carolina)
  18. Wellesley College (Wellesley, Maine)
  19. Washington and Lee University (Lexington, Virginia)
  20. Amherst College (Amherst, Maine)

BEST IN CANADA – 

  1. York University (Toronto, Canada)
  2. Vancouver Island University (Nanaimo, Canada)
  3. Ontario Tech University (Oshawa, Canada)
  4. McGill University (Montreal, Canada)
  5. University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada)
  6. Bishop’s University (Sherbrooke, Canada)
  7. Thompson Rivers University (Kamloops, Canada)
  8. Brock University (St. Catharines, Canada)
  9. Niagara College (Hamilton, Canada)
  10. University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Canada)
  11. University of the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford, Canada)
  12. University of Regina (Regina, Canada)
  13. Laurentian University (Waterloo Canada)
  14. Concordia University (Montreal, Canada)
  15. Georgian College (Barrie, Canada)
  16. Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology (North Bay, Canada)
  17. Marianopolis College (Westmount, Canada)
  18. Dawson College (Montreal, Canada)
  19. St. Lawrence College (Ottawa, Canada)
  20. Sault College (Marie, Canada)

BEST IN ASIA 

The colleges/Universities below were declared as the Top 10 best Liberal Arts and Sciences colleges in the year 2015 by Forbes- 

  1. Yale NUS College (Singapore)
  2. Seoul National University (Seoul, South Korea)
  3. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shatin,Hong Kong)
  4. University of Tokyo (Tokyo, Japan)
  5. Yonsei University (Seoul, South Korea)
  6. Kyung Hee University (Seoul, South Korea)
  7. Ewha Woman’s University (Seoul, South Korea)
  8. Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan)
  9. Lingnan University (Hong Kong)
  10. International Christian University (Tokyo, Japan)

Other Colleges in Asia –

  1. Sogang University (Seoul, South Korea)
  2. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Seoul, South Korea)
  3. National University of Singapore (Singapore)
  4. Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel, Jerusalem)
  5. Tel Aviv University (Tel Aviv, Israel)
  6. Peking University (Beijing, China)
  7. National Taiwan University (Taipei, Taiwan)
  8. University of Malaya (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
  9. National University of Malaysia (Bangi, Malaysia)
  10. Mahidol University (Nakhon Pathom, Thailand)

BEST IN AUSTRALIA – 

  1. University of Australia (Sydney, Australia)
  2. University of Newcastle (Callaghan, Australia)
  3. University of Melbourne (Parkville, Australia)
  4. Australian National University (Canberra, Australia)
  5. La Trobe University (Melbourne, Australia)
  6. Macquarie University (North Ryde, Australia)
  7. Australian Catholic University (Melbourne, Australia)
  8. Monash University (Clayton, Australia)
  9. RMIT University (Melbourne, Australia)
  10. Curtin University (Bentley, Australia)
  11. University of Queensland Australia (Brisbane)
  12. Western Sydney University (Penrith, Australia)
  13. Griffith University (Nathan, Australia)
  14. University of Western Australia (Crawley, Australia)
  15. University of New South Wales (Kensington, Australia)
  16. Deakin University (Burwood, Australia)
  17. University of Wollongong (Wollongong, Australia)
  18. University of Adelaide (Adelaide, Australia)
  19. Queensland University of Technology (Brisbane, Australia)
  20. University of Technology Sydney (Ultimo, Australia)

After the completion of your degree, you might be wondering what kind of careers you can choose from with a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Well, this degree opens doors to a plethora of career options for you. This degree prepares you for your life as well as your career at the same time. With a degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, you are learning to live as well as learning to earn at the same time. 

The importance of a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree is becoming more and more potent in today’s job market. Employers seek the best of the best candidates for their companies and this degree equips you into becoming the best at what you wish to do. This is simply because unlike most degrees

a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree doesn’t see education as a means just to enhance one’s career, but it sees education as a tool to impart knowledge in the broadest sense. It focuses on life and the improvement of life altogether. This degree prepares you for the greater good, something much more than just getting a job. This degree opens doors to a wide range of career options to choose from, it does not limit you to just a handful of jobs but leaves you with as many options as you are willing to explore. 

Some popular career choices after Liberal Arts and Sciences degree are 

1. Secondary School Teacher

Median Annual  Salary –

  •  $57,720 for Middle School Teachers
  • $59,170 for High School Teachers

Eligibility/Skill Requirements –

  •  Have certification or license in the grade one wishes to teach.
  • A master’s degree in the subject area is preferable.

2. Editor

Median Annual  Salary: – $58,770 

Eligibility/Skills Required – 

  • Strong communication skills, good hold over vernacular and national languages
  • Leadership skills
  • Good writing skills
  • Planning and organizing skills
  • Content Creation skills
  • Eye for news

3. Microbiologist

Median Annual wage – $64,424 

Responsibilities – 

  • They study microorganisms and see how they react and respond to the environment.
  • They help in identifying, controlling, and combating infectious and lethal diseases. 

4. Public  Relations Specialist 

Median annual Wage – $58,300

Eligibility/Skill Requirements –

  • Maintaining a good public image of a company
  • Ability to handle and maintain company reputation during a crisis 
  • Maintain good rapport with stakeholders and shareholders
  • Have strong interpersonal skills and writing skills
  • Brand management skills

5. Fundraiser 

Median Annual wage – $55,640

This is a non-profit organization job.

Eligibility/Skill requirements – 

  • Plan fundraisers for noble causes
  • Plan events and parties for donation
  • Must have strong communication skills
  • Should be empathetic towards cause. 

6. Environmental Engineers

Median Annual wage – $83,257

Primary Responsibilities – 

  • They use their knowledge of subjects like biology, chemistry, and human behavior to make life here on earth easier by improving the overall health of our Planet.
  • Environmental engineers are scientists who help in the development of solutions to several environmental problems that occur. 

7. Journalist

Median Annual Wage – $58,079

Eligibility/skill requirements-

  • Fair
  • Must have an eye for news
  • Potential to tell the truth
  • Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Must be patient and persistent
  • Knowledge of Media Production and Communication
  • Ability to perform under pressure. 

8. Education Administrator

Median Annual wage – $81,630

  • They are people who help in the day-to-day functioning of daycare centers, pre-schools, schools, etc. 
  • They administer the overall education system in a district and make changes according to growing needs in the department.
  • They sometimes also teach and cater to education needs at museums and Art galleries etc. 

9. Atmospheric Scientist

Median Annual wage – $99,740

Eligibility – Bachelor’s degree in Meteorology

Responsibility – 

  • Study the weather and climate
  • Predict changes in the weather and climate
  • Study conditions and gather data on the atmosphere

10. Forensic science technician

Median Annual wage – $50,208

Responsibilities – 

  • Use their scientific abilities to help in criminal investigations.
  • Collect evidence at crime scenes
  • Analyse data found and report the findings 

As mentioned earlier, the list of jobs to apply for after completing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in any specific subject under the Liberal Arts and Sciences degree spectrum is never-ending. The above-mentioned job opportunities are only a few of those options. Some other jobs in this field include Writers, Authors, Politicians, Lawyers, Publishers, Social Workers, Chemists, Astronomers, Civil servants, Advertising, economic services, Broadcasting, etc. 

With a career in Liberal Arts and Sciences, you also choose a career that pays you handsomely. A recent study out of the Georgetown University Centre on Education and the Workforce depicted that a liberal Arts and Sciences degree graduate earns relatively more in the US compared to other counterparts. It was noticed that career earnings of Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates in the US were a little bit higher compared to other graduates in the engineering or technology-focused departments. This makes the fact clear that a degree in this field is going to be worth all the time, money, and energy that goes into it. 

A Liberal Arts and Sciences degree is said to be the most practical degree that anyone can pursue in a world where uncertainty and volatility are on the rise. This degree prepares you for so much more than professional work it equips you with necessary qualities that are sought by almost all employers worldwide and it also prepares you for job opportunities that are yet to be available in the job market. A degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences can be considered larger than life itself.