Liberal arts colleges were never a mainstream study option in India. However, in the past few years, many institutes offering liberal arts education have sprung up in the country. It could be new in our education scene but has existed in the US and Europe for quite some time. In India, some of these liberal arts colleges have established themselves as top institutes making it to the desirable college list of most students. However, there is an understandable confusion among parents and students in India about these colleges. Several families have discarded them prima facie, thinking they specialise in the arts.

We have written this blog to explain what liberal arts programs are and if you should consider them for higher studies.

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What are Liberal Arts Colleges?

The education system in India borrows its philosophy from the UK. It expects the students to enter college with an understanding of what they want to study. For instance, you can choose to specialise in economics, chemistry or psychology. When you apply to college, you have to select the course while filling out your application. The college assesses your academic background and gives you admission if you fulfil the course entry requirements.

However, there is one more approach to higher education. It originated in ancient Greek times and derives from a broader collection of subjects known as artes liberalis. Translated in English it means the study of subjects for free people. Back then, the purpose of education was to create wholesome individuals who had knowledge across streams. 

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Liberal arts education borrows from this philosophy. Instead of creating clear and marked distinctions between subjects, this education system allows the students to study a variety of subjects across streams. There is a flexibility given to them to study subjects across sciences, social sciences and humanities subjects and then decide their major. Moreover, they are at liberty to choose interdisciplinary subjects and expand their knowledge. Thus, liberal arts colleges can be your go-to option if you are still undecided about your major.