What is a Liberal Arts School?

If you’ve been researching different international schools, you’ve probably come across something called a “liberal arts college.” For students who were educated outside the United States, this might be an unfamiliar term—just what is a liberal arts school?

The term “liberal arts” (sometimes written as “liberal arts and sciences”) dates back to Antiquity: the Ancient Greeks believed that there were certain “arts” that a well-educated person should learn, including logic, grammar, math, music, among several others. Although higher education has changed significantly since then, the essence of a liberal arts education remains the same: liberal arts colleges offer students a well-rounded curriculum where they take courses in a wide variety of fields rather than focussing on just one discipline.

The United States is well-known for its liberal arts colleges, many dating back to the 19th century! In fact, famous universities such as Harvard and Yale started as liberal arts schools—and many of them still follow this model, particularly for students’ first year. Today, some of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges include Williams, Amherst, Swarthmore, and Wellesley College. At these schools, students still select an academic major, but they’ll spend all 4 years of their bachelor’s degree program taking classes in a multitude of other disciplines as well.

Besides the breadth of a liberal arts curriculum, the colleges themselves tend to look and feel different than other American universities. Liberal arts colleges often have more rural campuses, as many of the older campuses of New England can attest. They’re typically smaller than public universities; for instance, whereas the University of Massachusetts has around 30,000 students, the liberal arts school right down the road, Amherst College, is home to just 1,800! In the classroom, students usually engage in seminar-style discussions with their professors.

Why go to a liberal arts school?

Many students find that when they first begin their college education, they’re not entirely sure what fields interest them the most. Rather than beginning a degree in biology only to discover that your real passion is for law, you can go to a liberal arts college and experiment with many different disciplines before settling on a major!

The liberal arts curriculum prepares students to be flexible learners. These colleges put a special emphasis on critical thinking skills, preparing alumni to pursue careers in many different fields. In a 21st-century economy, employers need candidates who have not just extremely specialized training, but a balanced set of skills that enables them to succeed in a variety of different challenges.

What kind of student would do well at a liberal arts college?

The style of learning at a liberal arts school may be very new for many international students. You’ll likely find yourself sitting around a table with your classmates and your professor, asking each other questions about the reading and sharing your own opinions and ideas. If this kind of intimate, personalized learning sounds exciting to you, then liberal arts school might be a great fit!

Many liberal arts colleges emphasize both writing-intensive curriculums and hands-on learning. It’s not unusual to write multiple essays over the course of a semester for your classes, where your professors will help you argue your ideas logically and become a stronger writer.

What are some schools to check out?

Some of the world’s most well-known liberal arts schools are in the United States. According to U.S. News & World Report, the top liberal arts colleges include Williams College, Amherst College, Wellesley College, Swarthmore College, and Pomona College.

However, there are also some fantastic universities in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands that offer liberal arts and sciences bachelor’s programs! Some of the best options in the UK include University College London, Durham University, Bristol University, and University of Exeter. In the Netherlands, virtually every large university has started its own innovative liberal arts college including University College Amsterdam, University College Utrecht, and Erasmus University College.