What is a Liberal Arts Degree - Meaning, Benefits, Fees, Colleges

What is a Liberal Arts Degree - Meaning, Benefits, Fees, Colleges

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Jun 17, 2024 11:00 AM IST | #B.A.

While other educational degrees focus on one area; a Liberal Arts degree aims to enhance creativity, research, and critical thinking of students across various domains. Fine and applied arts, Natural sciences, Social sciences, and Humanities are four major areas of study in Liberal Arts. In simple words, a liberal arts education provides interpersonal skills in addition to other technical skills.

What is a Liberal Arts Degree - Meaning, Benefits, Fees, Colleges
What is a Liberal Arts Degree - Meaning, Benefits, Fees, Colleges

"The purpose of education is to replace an empty mind with an open one” is a famous line quoted by Malcolm S. Forbes. The Indian education system traditionally emphasised on rote learning and neglected the development of both technical and interpersonal skills. Opportunities for research, critical analysis, and creative thinking were also limited.

But National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, has focused on this problem and highlighted the importance of liberal arts subjects in the course curriculum. The NEP aims to integrate the Humanities and Arts with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). BA Liberal Arts and MA in Liberal Arts will help students develop the intellectual, social, emotional, and moral traits required for a more holistic and multidisciplinary education.

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Degrees Offered in Liberal Arts

Various undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees are offered in liberal arts. Below, we have compiled a list of popular liberal arts degrees, and a few of their combinations including the course fees, and provider college details.

Also Read: Liberal Education as per NEP 2020

Benefits of Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts has been an important part of Western education for a long time, and now it has also been included in the curriculum of other regions of the globe including India. There are many pros of Liberal Arts Education that we have below discussed in detail.

Scientific and Domain Knowledge

The main feature or advantage of liberal arts education is its focus on more than one discipline in one degree. This helps students gain knowledge and understanding of multiple disciplines/subjects which enhances their skills and overall personality.

Critical Thinking

Liberal Arts Education emphasises the development of individuals to their fullest potential by enhancing thinking, problem-solving, and social and ethical capacities. It increases an individual’s creativity and critical thinking to encourage decision-making and innovation.

Communication and Social Interaction

Soft skills are something that have been largely neglected in the Indian education system. Liberal arts education specifically addresses this gap and encourages critical thinking and self-expression. It develops listening, writing, and reading skills to easily convey thoughts and ideas.

Scientific Reasoning and Research Skills

This means the ability to make decisions or draw conclusions based on facts, logic, and evidence. It is an important quality to have, as every day we make several decisions without thinking practically. Liberal arts enhance experience-based learning and increase research and analytical skills.

Diverse Career Paths

The main concept of liberal arts education is multi-disciplinary and a holistic education across all streams. This idea ensures the unity and integrity of all knowledge which becomes important when pursuing a career. Liberal Arts gives you a well-rounded understanding of the world and enhance skills such as critical thinking and communication.

Therefore, even if you change your mind about what you want to do after college, you will have a strong foundation to launch yourself into a new career. Career opportunities after pursuing Liberal Arts is huge, graduates can choose from a range of jobs from different industries, such as education, hospitality, business analytics, data analysis, technology, and finance.

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Explore Top Universities Across Globe

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Questions related to B.A.

Have a question related to B.A. ?

Hello aspirant,

An integrated dual-degree program that combines a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education is called BA + B Ed (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education).  It is intended for those who want to become teachers and lasts for four years.
varying universities may charge varying course costs for the BA B Ed degree, although they typically range from INR 15,000 to 1,20,000 year.

For more information about colleges and their fees, you can visit our site through following link:

https://university.careers360.com/colleges/list-of-ba-bed-universities-in-india

Thank you

Hope it helps you

Hello,

Here are some colleges in Gurugram that offer BA LLB and B.Com (Hons.) courses:

  1. GD Goenka University – Offers BA LLB and B.Com (Hons.)

  2. Shiv Nadar University – Offers BA LLB and B.Com (Hons.)

  3. Manav Rachna International University – Offers BA LLB and B.Com (Hons.)

  4. Northern India Engineering College (NIEC) – Offers B.Com (Hons.), and sometimes BA LLB through affiliated programmes

Hope it helps !

Hello,

Yes, you can still get admission in a BA course even if you have scored 39% in your 12th boards. While top-tier universities and colleges may have higher cutoffs, many private colleges, open universities like IGNOU, and some state universities offer BA programs with more flexible eligibility criteria.

Hope this helps. All the best!

Hello,

Since you have completed your BA in Criminology, and are now interested in pursuing Clinical Psychology at the postgraduate (PG) level, your eligibility will depend on the specific university or institution's criteria.

Most universities offering MA or MSc in Clinical Psychology require applicants to have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or a related field with Psychology as one of the major subjects. Since Criminology is related, especially in terms of understanding human behavior and societal patterns, some universities may consider your application, particularly if you had Psychology papers or electives during your undergraduate course.

Check individual university eligibility criteria carefully—some may accept candidates from allied fields like Criminology, Sociology, or Social Work, especially if you can demonstrate a strong interest in psychology.

Hope this helps. All the best!

Hello there,

To pursue a postgraduate degree in Clinical Psychology, most universities have specific eligibility criteria. Here's what typically applies:

General Eligibility:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Psychology is usually required.

  • Some universities may accept graduates from related fields (like Criminology, Sociology, or Social Work) but often prefer candidates with at least Psychology as one of the subjects in UG.

    In your case:

  • Since you completed BA in Criminology , you may be eligible only in certain universities that allow related backgrounds.

  • You might need to take a bridge course or qualify through an entrance exam/interview to prove your knowledge in psychology.

    Recommendation:

  • Check the specific eligibility criteria of the university you’re applying to.

  • Some institutions may accept your background, especially if you can demonstrate a strong interest and understanding of psychology.

If you are committed to Clinical Psychology and your current degree is not accepted directly, you could also consider:

  • Pursuing a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology first.

  • Enrolling in a BA or MA in Psychology through distance mode and then moving to Clinical Psychology at the PG level.

Always confirm directly with the university to avoid issues at the time of admission.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

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