Why study the liberal arts at the Millis Institute?
Simply put, the liberal arts liberate students.
Pursuing education merely as job training can trap students in a single career and can neglect the formation of wisdom, creativity and discernment. Teaching students how to think, however, can free them to flourish in almost any context. The liberal arts are the subjects—like history, philosophy, theology, literature and logic—that liberate students from
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a single career track,
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ignorance and inactivity, and
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harmful ideologies and trendy assumptions of the day.
Why is a liberal arts pathway strategic?
“The proper [focus of education]… is how to speak and write well, not how to be ... a ‘broadcaster’ … or a journalist … If one can speak and write well, then, given the need, one can make a speech or write an article ... If one cannot speak or write well, then the tricks of a trade will be no help.” –Wendell Berry
Many students specialise too early, narrowing their options for the rest of their lives. By the end of their first year in uni, 1 out of every 5 students drops out of or changes their degree. This can be a frustrating experience and feel like a wasted opportunity.
A liberal arts pathway specialises at the postgraduate level, strategically using the undergraduate degree to develop skills useful in any career (critical thinking, effective writing, etc.). This path avoids wasting a year or two in an undergraduate degree that students end up dropping out of, and it provides them more time to determine in what career field to specialise. When they select a career pathway at the postgraduate level, they are more likely to be confident of making the right choice.
"I would like to see a much bigger emphasis on the Liberal Arts, philosophy and thinking skills, followed by some specialisation rather than the other way round.”
–David Murray, former CEO of Commonwealth Bank
What are the benefits of a liberal arts education?
