A common misconception is that a liberal art degree is a luxury that not all can afford, so the idea of a “career education” should be the main focus. “Yet one could argue that the traditional, well-rounded preparation that the liberal arts offer is a better investment than ever—that the future demands of citizenship will require not narrow technical or job-focused training, but rather a subtle understanding of the complex influences that shape the world we live in.” (Ungar, Para 1) Ungar seems to value a liberal arts degree since it is one that shapes the ideas of the world and all areas of thinking. “One typified by America’s liberal arts colleges, embraces the ideal of the integrated curriculum, encompassing virtually all nonprofessional higher learning, from the natural and social sciences to the humanities and the performing arts.” (Scheuer, Para 9) Scheuer explains what a liberal arts education entails and gives a brief definition of it. Both authors’ ideas seem to show the importance of how a liberal arts education is well rounded, therefore is a good form of education.
Another common misconception is that liberal arts are irrelevant for those from low income families or first generation college students. Ungar combats this idea with an example of how America is the place where a mixed-race child raised overseas by just his mother has almost impossible odds, but he can grow up to be president. “It is precisely a liberal education that allowed him to catch up and move ahead.” (Ungar, Para 3) Both Scheuer and Ungar have similar ideas as to how people think is how likely they are to succeed in a higher level of education. “Free minds are flexible minds…” (Scheuer, Para 10) This quote gives hope to anyone with a free mind to be able to think in different ways and adapt to new ways of thinking.
