While the debate rages on about the benefits of a liberal arts education versus a degree in a specialized field, one college professor says a background in humanities on a candidate's resume may mean better long-term jobs prospects. President of American Association of Colleges and Universities Carol Geary Schneider told Inside Higher Ed magazine that recent remarks made by Microsoft chair Bill Gates to the National Governors Association is an outdated theory. Gates suggested students focus on specific skills when choosing a major may seem more attractive because it offers a concrete vision of the future. "The basic lessons of a liberal education are in fact crucial to the long-term employability of nonacademics," Schneider told the publication. Schneider said that a background in liberal arts and humanities can offer critical thinking skills that are transferable across many business sectors and industries. He told the news agency that the question students should ask themselves should be not what majors appear to be the best as far as initial job placement, but instead, students should focus on new challenges and ways of learning. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that graduates with a humanities degree can qualify for a variety of jobs and have major skills in demand by many employers. |