What is a Liberal Studies Degree? | College Majors | College Degrees | Study Hall

[@Pruitt325]

I’ve told every high schooler I’ve ever worked with the same thing: Doesn’t matter how good/ interesting a degree sounds, if you can’t look five years into the future and find good work as an end result, pick something else. You don’t need to enter a degree program to study something you enjoy, especially in this day and age. If people thought practically about their college/ post high school choices, we wouldn’t have much of the debt crises we’re in now. High school guidance departments tend to make college seem like the only acceptable option, and I’ve seen many students go in in blind faith, having no idea what career options or financial hardships await them.

[@gardenandcalico]

this is what i wish someone had told me. i had a lot of pressure to go to college because people were sure itd help me make more money even though i had no idea what to major in or what i wanted to do. i was told to figure it out at college. thats just tens of thousands of dollars of debt for no pay off

[@heynonnynonnie9681]

Man, the comments are so unimaginatively negative here. I got my BA in philosophy in 2015 and I immediately got a job in finance. I use things I learned in (formal logic and epistemology) philosophy courses every day in finance. I'm not rich by any means but I live a comfortable life. Your degree doesn’t 100% guarantee your career. College teaches you how to recognize a doorway and a degree puts your foot in that door. You have to figure out how you're gonna get all the way into the next room from there. Unless you're shooting for a job with very specific prerequisites, the only thing that matters is if you actually grow during your study. Graduating pre-med, but hating it and never feeling like you really grasped anything from your classes, doesn’t prepare you for a job and leaves you in a much worse spot than studying something that you're naturally good at/passionate about but doesn't have a straightforward career path. For a long time, I double majored in biochemistry and philosophy, and now I regret all the time and effort suffering in organic chem classes I could barely pass when I could have doubled in literature or taken music theory classes which would have helped me so much with my current hobbies and lifestyle.

[@alexreid1173]

It just feels weird to me that they aimed this at people that aren’t sure what they want to do. If you don’t know what you want to do, maybe it’s not time to go to college? So many people are pushed into going to college when they feel directionless, which I don’t think is helpful, especially when college is so expensive. It’s not that the education isn’t valuable, but it often isn’t worth the money.

[@CottonCandyNationYT]

@@alexreid1173 This is a really good point.

[@carloscolon1259]

I disagree. I went to school for a real degree... Structural Engineering. I make bank, fool. All thanks to Beer & Johnston and a few other. If youre an engineer, you know who they are.

[@cole8165]

Wow. What’s up with all the negativity!? My degree is in history/political science and it’s served me well throughout my corporate career. It instilled diversification of thought and broadened my awareness politically, socially, and fostered cross-cultural understanding that’s necessary to communicate within a multi-ethnic work place. It’s not what - but more or less “who” you know and if they’re willing to open doors and mentor along the way.

[@alexandereast4072]

At college, I liked doing liberal arts in addition to my craft - learning history, philosophy, literature etc. exposed me to a lot of new ideas and is beneficially financially and in life in general. Going all-in on liberal arts is a tougher sell.

[@alexreid1173]

Honestly, if you don’t know what you want to do, just put off college. You can always go back to school later. There’s nothing wrong with interdisciplinary degrees, but it really helps to get one that gives you some kind of focus… unless you just have money to burn, just go work somewhere and get some life experience first.

[@mopnem]

This, honestly you either need to take advantage of connections or have a plan. Better yet have a plan or use the vast resources of the internet over collecting debt for no reason

[@gardenandcalico]

Yes! If you haven't decided what you want to do yet, it might be something you don't need a degree for at all. College is super expensive and if you don't end up using the degree you're setting yourself back hugely for no reason.

[@mopnem]

@@gardenandcalico I think everyone knows what they want to do but we all don’t-have the convictions to do it. Another reason to put off going through the motions/somewhat cushion of college & self search/learn the cost of trade offs in life.

[@gardenandcalico]

@@mopnem everyone absolutely does not know what they want to do, especially at 17/18 years old

[@mopnem]

@@gardenandcalico Well maybe not everyone but I think most have an idea. Or better yet know what they don’t like, then people tell them what to like if they don’t act on it. Like the lady in this vid reminds me of admission counselors that’ll make a useless degree sound “interesting” by appealing to small percentage aspects that someone may be drawn to but not going all in on. At least that’s been what I’ve seen.

[@peterchung2262]

I will take Liberal Studies once I get to my 100th rebirth and unlock the cheat codes for life lol

[@alexandriai3664]

Most jobs just want you to have a degree to get your foot in the door. This major allows you to do just that. I got my BA in Liberal Studies. My first job was working in HR and as a legal assistant and my salary was 50K in 2019. This degree will most definitely open doors for you. You just need to know how to sell yourself during the interview.

[@chocolatescorpio3]

Did you have any idea of what you were doing once you started working in HR? or I should reword and say experience. Did you go in having experience as well?

[@carloscolon1259]

I know Lic Pipefitters making $150k/year. Your degree is useless.

[@Disruptya]

Best comment I've seen. I work in government and majority of the jobs just want any bachelor's degree.

[@Historybuff188]

I wouldn't' recommend this degree to anyone but the privileged few that don't need to take on debt and have a career. Sorry to say, if you expect a return on investment for a degree like this: Good Luck!

[@kayp4601]

I never had a problem finding a job and I have a liberal studies degree. I work for the federal government.

[@Historybuff188]

@@kayp4601 Sure, there are exceptions to everything, but that doesn't mean the average return on investment is great.

[@kayp4601]

@ actually if you look at the data over time liberal arts graduates earn just as much as business and engineering graduates 10-20 years into their careers. It’s starting out the liberal arts majors earn less on average.

[@Disruptya]

​@@kayp4601same here. I work for federal government and have a gs14 salary with a liberal arts degree

[@Historybuff188]

@@kayp4601 Why would I want to invest in something and then expect a return in 20 years, when I can invest in something and expect a return immediately? I understand your point, however, given the rising cost of living, it's unfair to expect us to sit it out and wait for something to pay off way later in our lives. You can still learn critical thinking through a computer science degree.

[@FrancesBaconandEggs]

I think this is a great idea if you supplement it with concrete work experience and maybe even pre-med or pre-law requisites. I majored in biology but took a huge range of liberal arts classes that gave me a diversity of skills and interests. I am so grateful that I could get this experience along with the niche molecular biology classes I took for my major. I knew people who also took a broad variety of liberal arts classes who went on to get a law degree, MD, or an MBA. That being said, I did get scholarships and had several jobs so that I could graduate debt-free, which is not an option for many people.

[@SpocksCat]

In the US, there are no pre-law education requirements. Any undergrad degree is acceptable.

[@user-se5ef5pl3o]

That explains your picture.

[@alex12397]

An Exams series where you guys cover like the SAT, APs, GSCEs, etc. would be cool

[@dankattack2405]

Stop falling for college and an eternity of debt. Get a skill and live your life with your own value at the forefront.

[@BlaxKid22]

Dope

[@starbright3509]

Nice advise genius, but what will happened to future doctors, nurses, engineers, surgeons, etc…?

[@Jake-iz6rp]

Getting a degree that ends with an unclear skill set that I must learn to explain to potential employers is very pricey payoff, and interestingly a great idea for a comedy sketch.

[@mrmartywaring]

I believe if you minor or double major in something practical & flexible like business administration or plan to go to law school, you can make it work.

[@ashleyr2881]

At Cal Poly SLO, liberal studies is a K-12 education major. Some people sign up for it thinking that it is what is described in this video. I'm not sure if other schools use this major for the same purpose as CPSU.

[@Lv20Bard]

“Lily is passionate about a lot of things, but Lily also understands that college isn’t facilitated for her to get “higher learning” but to cascade her into debt so that she can get a piece of paper that might get her a job in the future. This in mind, she avoids a Liberal Studies degree and instead gets free second education from the infinite well of knowledge that is the internet.”

[@83ayodele]

Would be awesome if y’all did a series for non-traditional students

[@blackmcbain3145]

your degree shouldn't be an obstacle 😒🤦🏾‍♂️

[@tylerannamcmillan6058]

Quite right. So make sure if you do a college degree it leads to a job. I did engineering, and most of my friends did either professional degrees, or trade apprenticeship. They all got jobs within 3 months of graduation. The trade apprentices all kept their jobs and got promoted when they finished their study.

[@agente7766]

Every degree has some benefits and deficiencies. With some degrees, it's easier to find a job compared to others. But getting any degree or continuing your education after high school is always beneficial.

[@agente7766]

@@stevexracer4309 what why? What do you disagree with my statement?

[@kayp4601]

I have a BA in liberal studies with extensive coursework in Spanish, economics, history and geography. I have never had a problem finding a job. I work for the federal government.

[@BlaxKid22]

39k salary for a liberal arts degree isn't bad tbh, just don't spend more than 10k out of pocket on it. If you go into debt for a Liberal Arts degree or any college degree I'm going to be upset with you. State College (in state) + part time job= Debt free. Ok kid, have fun at college try to make friends at places other parties. Seriously, nerds win in the end. Even the ones that studied Liberal Arts.

[@ericvigen]

If you and different people around you believe that you are inherently a LEADER, then general studies like "Liberal Studies Programs" might be the best choice for you as it could hone your talent. Liberal studies programs are the best choice for leaders like Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg when they are young. Literally! Needless to say, you don't have to go to college to learn these subjects, although college could help organize your learning better and achieve your goals faster.

[@Disruptya]

Don't listen to the negative comments about this degree. I work in the federal government with a 6 figure salary with this degree. Just find a job or field where any bachelor's or master's degree is acceptable.

[@humiliated_by_auberle]

DO NOT DO IT! Especially if you are a black male in Missouri, this is not for you. I ended up with this degree switching from Graphic Design to Computer Science, finishing junior credits in both majors. Before taking either major I saw things like companies only requiring only a minor in CS that is met when people had Math and maybe Information Systems degrees. Despite companies making it clear they don't care about degrees for whites and Asians I get mistreated very badly.

[@wheelersway]

This will guarantee a career in unemployment. This is the highest demographic of unemployed college grads.

[@luisfilipe2023]

😂😂😂😂 I knew someone would make this comment I just didn’t expect it so soon 😂😂😂😂

[@ToonCrate]

@ConQuixote If college were free then it wouldn't matter, but unfortunately college is overpriced and advertises job placement as a selling point. As long as that's the case, employment results matter and liberal arts / general studies degrees aren't built for that. It'd be better to at least get a specialized degree in one of the fields you mentioned instead of only studying bits and pieces of each

[@luisfilipe2023]

@@ToonCrate college shouldn’t be free nothing is free

[@mrmikemrmike]

​@@ConQuixoteyour an engineer. Interesting. What brought you to the Study Hall channel today? What possessed you to watch? Or did you?

[@mrmikemrmike]

@wheelersway your comment indicates closed-mindedness. Anyone with a liberal degree can recognize that. Geezzz... It seems you didn't even comprehend the presentation. 😂

[@KimberlyBrabson-o3k]

I think that I'm interested in Liberal Arts!

[@tylerannamcmillan6058]

I'm doubtful a liberal studies course will qualify you for much more than being an activist. Employers want reliable people with the skills to do the job. If the job and wage you want require specialist skills then go get those skills. College isn't the only option, but it is a convenient option. Apprenticeships, or on the job experience can be better, work your way up, so to speak, and earn while you do it.

[@BlaxKid22]

True, but most jobs skills can be picked up on the job. We over-market college, but I don't think the humanities are a bad option. I would agree that it's not the best option. Yet, it's still a good option.

[@CottonCandyNationYT]

It depends on the school you go to and how you choose to present and use a liberal studies degree. Universities with a heavy focus on co-ops, internships, etc. give you the opportunity to learn both theory and practice. College certainly isn't the only option, but it can provide a lot more than an education and skills. Many universities host career fairs, networking opportunities, and provide career coaching. Again, college isn't the only choice. It's really up to each person to determine what is available to them and how they can take full advantage of it.

[@kimmickal]

Bachelor's Degrees are very valuable in Japan. Any major.

[@walkstallkeith4560]

Great video! All of these comments are so anti education. Thank you for all the inspiration Study Hall! I’m defiantly going to pursue liberal studies :)

[@KimberlyBrabson-o3k]

How about Hospitality and Tourism!

[@SpocksCat]

It's sad to me that a liberal arts education, the traditional curriculum in college, has become an unreasonable, idealistic thing to want.

[@adrianagrace1689]

Can I become a writer with a liberal studies degree? Or is it uncommon

[@danielholman7866]

Architecture and Something like Event Planning or Hospitality please.

[@studyhall]

Architecture is coming soon!!

[@adacathy3018]

I got an associate’s in liberal arts and a philosophy bachelors, I regret my philosophy degree

[@pearspeedruns]

Why do you regret it?

[@A93640]

Why would you really get a philosophy degree? Like did you fr put any thought into wtf you were gonna do with it?

[@yohanesliong4818]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@mrmikemrmike]

The presentation forgot to mention Law under the Humanities category 😊

[@duncanflorence5895]

Can someone comment one job looking for someone who studied health, political systems and inequality yet doesn’t specialize enough in any to be useful in a work setting.

[@bac-up6758]

even if the degree is valid, this video is so full of platitutdes that there is not much logic here.

[@diyi75]

Orrrrr you can get an actual trade, gain some experience and work for yourself 🤔. Amazing

[@elroliz9442]

Barista with a collegue degree

[@mormongirlnv]

Can someone name one job that is looking for this degree.

[@pearspeedruns]

Academic advisor

[@alexreid1173]

@@pearspeedruns I mean, this probably would be fine for academic advisors, but most majors are so

[@pearspeedruns]

@@alexreid1173 that’s how it is for a ton of jobs. They ask for a bachelor’s degree but don’t require a particular major. I just threw out the first one that popped into my head.

[@herkload]

Starbucks barista

[@kayp4601]

Many jobs in government require a BA in any field. I have a liberal studies BA and I work as a senior claims adjudicator for Social Security. I only needed a bachelors degree to get hired. I was trained for the job during my first year on the job. I make about 85k per year plus good benefits and will retire with a pension.

[@RussellCambell]

All employers want is a sucka to make money off of

[@tylerannamcmillan6058]

Not necessarily. Employers want reliable people with the skills to do the job. If the job and wage you want require specialist skills then go get those skills. College isn't the only option, but it is a convenient option. On the job experience can be better, work your way up, so to speak. I'm doubtful a liberal studies course will qualify you for much more than being an activist. BTW most activists don't get paid.

[@Dr.HarshTruth]

I can't believe it's true

[@duncanflorence5895]

Great ad to get kids into debt for no benefit.

[@PelagiMilitis]

I like how all the comments are in agreement that this degree is worthless. This one video speaks volume of this channel; they are just making up bs to justify certain things. Even if they praised a legit degree i would not trust what they say because i know they would never mention the downfalls of that degree.

[@space.junk101]

We need more skilled professionals with degree in engineering. And less "i dont know what to do but i have to study i guess but real faculties are difficult so i go with liberal" youngsters.

[@pearspeedruns]

As it is most engineering graduates don’t work in engineering. I don’t think even more engineering graduates is necessarily going to improve anything.

[@johnwaters7847]

My question: can a liberal major openly debate with engineers, economics, finance, social studies, history majors, without going out the door for the lack of facts and common sense?????😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@CottonCandyNationYT]

Why wouldn't they use facts?