Misconception #1: “A liberal-arts degree is a luxury that most families can no longer afford.” This misconception goes along with the idea that all well paying jobs are in STEM and someone going into the liberal-arts will not make any money. 

Ungar’s response to this is questioning whether or not it is better to have a focused education or one that gives “well-rounded preparations.” As industry and jobs evolve, so must the people. Having an education that prepares you for change may have more value than a specialty in finding jobs.

Misconception #2: “College graduates are finding it harder to get good jobs with liberal-arts degrees.” This misconception says that people with a liberal arts degree won’t be able to find a job.

Ungar disagrees, stating that the recent statistics on recent graduates having trouble finding jobs show that it is not just liberal arts majors but in all fields. Ungar goes on further to say that recently, employers were looking for workers with “the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.”

Scheuer’s view on the liberal-arts and critical thinking supports Ungar’s argument on the importance of the liberal-arts teaching effective communications and critical thinking. Skills listed by Scheuer like “thinking outside the box,” and being an independent thinker, are included in the list of characteristics that Ungar says employers are looking for.

Misconception #3: “College graduates are finding it harder to get good jobs with liberal-arts degrees.” This misconception says that people with a liberal arts degree won’t be able to find a job.

Ungar disagrees, stating that the recent statistics on recent graduates having trouble finding jobs show that it is not just liberal arts majors but in all fields. Ungar goes on further to say that recently, employers were looking for workers with “the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing.”

Misconception #4: “One should not, in this day and age, study only the arts.” This misconception goes along with the idea of the liberal arts being just the humanities when in reality it is a much broader scope of subjects.

Ungar argues that while STEM is important, there is no evidence that it will serve you better if it comes at the expense of a broad background in other areas of the liberal arts.” One should not limit themself to a singular subject, but should pursue an understanding of the world.

This misconception relates directly to Scheuer’s paper. The idea of the phrase “liberal-arts” has changed so much that some people want to write them off all together when in reality the liberal arts include subjects that they may value.

Misconception #5: “It’s the liberal democrats who got this country into trouble in recent years, so it’s ridiculous to continue indoctrinating our young people with a liberal education.”

Ungar argues that a liberal education will create citizens who are prepared for life and teach them “the idea of listening to all points of view and not relying on a single ideology.” A liberal-arts education is designed to give students a solid foundation in multiple subjects that can be used in many aspects of the world. The hope is to make open minded well educated people

Ungar and Scheuer both see value in the liberal-arts in regard to civil duty. Ungar points out the value of the liberal-arts in politics saying that it will create people who can make well thought out arguments and see multiple points of view, while Scheuer talks about the Liberal arts teaching students about citizenship in “a social ecology involving a range of activities symbolic with democratic communities.”

Misconception #6: “America is the only country in the world that clings to such an old-fashioned form of postsecondary education as the liberal arts.” This misconception says that America is the only country to put value in the liberal arts anymore.

Ungar says that while it may seem that way, many European countries start a liberal arts education before college and “often includes much that is left out of the typical high school curriculum in America.” Receiving a liberal education early on allows students to focus more solely on their field in college as they already have the foundation of a liberal arts education.

Misconception #7: The cost of American higher education is spiraling out of control, and liberal-arts colleges are becoming irrelevant because they are unable to register gains in productivity or to find innovative ways of doing things.”

Ungar argues that all colleges are struggling, not just the liberal arts schools, because the government doesn’t support them enough. He says that education is not prioritized in America and one must only follow the money to see that “education is really not all that important to this country.”