WCVE Forum Sunday January 8: “The Future of Liberal Arts Education”

Antioch College

The most popular college major in America these days is business. Some students think it doesn’t pay to study philosophy or history. But advocates of liberal-arts programs say their graduates are still among the most likely to become leaders, and that a healthy democracy depends on citizens with a broad and deep education.

In this program, American RadioWorks’ Stephen Smith examines how a form of higher learning unique to the United States is responding to the demands of the 21st century.

New Pressures on Liberal Education
In a troubled economy, it’s harder to make the case for a degree in English, or any college major without an obvious career path. More undergrads are opting for “practical” degrees in business, engineering or nursing.

An Old School Made New
Declining enrollment and financial problems forced Antioch College to shut its doors in 2008. Now, the 155-year-old college in Yellow Springs, Ohio is reopening with a goal of creating an affordable model for small, liberal arts programs.

Ticket to a Better Life
Berea College in eastern Kentucky aims to give students from one of the poorest regions in the nation a chance to break out of poverty by earning liberal arts degrees.

Making the Liberal Arts Relevant
Portland State University is trying to stop students from dropping out by grounding its liberal arts program in the real world. The school’s motto: Let Knowledge Serve the City.

Profiting from Plato
Most for-profit institutions focus on degrees in “hard skills” like business, technology and health sciences. But American Public University System is a for-profit, online school that believes the liberal arts can be a money maker.

Join WCVE Public Radio Sunday, January 8 at 6:00 p.m. for WCVE Forum.

Can’t tune in on Sunday? Listen to the full program here (audio links on the web page).

Photo: kevystew