Liberal Arts

[Guest HayashiEsme]

It's a program that just got some traction in Singapore, and there's not very much information that I can get for my area, so I'd like to ask what it's like for all the IB graduates and perhaps, how it compares to the IB in the rigor? Also perhaps if someone could tell me what it's like to be a Liberal Arts student:) I'd appreciate that greatly too:)

[carpediem]

Yay! Liberal Arts is growing?

/celebration over

Liberal Arts is actually quite similar to the IB. The aim for Liberal Arts is to give you a strong foundation/well-roundedness, which is why many Liberal Arts schools have requirements (in various names) in order for you to graduate, e.g. a science requirement/credit. The interesting thing is that many liberal arts schools try to make it interesting for students, so if you have to fulfil that science requirement, some colleges/unis offer non-traditional courses like Chemistry and Crime for you to fulfil that requirement.

Also, you don't have to declare your major until your sophomore year, so your first two years is more of an experiment (if you need it) of your interests and any new interests you may gain, and the last two years are more of a focus on your chosen-degree but you can still take electives.

Plus, Liberal Arts colleges have a tendency to be smaller in size (in terms of the total number of students) and tend to be colleges rather than universities - or in other words, only have undergraduates rather than graduates. This means that teachers can give you more attention, and you won't have graduate students teaching the class in order to earn their degree.

Liberal Arts is predominantly an American thing, but it's growing. Last I heard, there are about two British universities that have picked up Liberal Arts, but it's not very big in the UK. If you are applying to Oxbridge, however, do NOT apply for Liberal Arts - Oxbridge favours specialisation and passion in your subject of choice.

P.S. You can get Liberal Arts both as a undergraduate (4 years) and graduate degree (2 years after the undergraduate degree). Just if you're interested.

[Guest HayashiEsme]

Oooh, sounds great for a very indecisive me! Love what I'm hearing about class sizes as well, I'm not too fond of big classes cause I find myself not focusing in those. Yale and the National University of Singapore just teamed up to open a Liberal Arts college here where I get to spend 2 years in Yale as well, which is why I asked. Signed up for the college tour that's in a few weeks too:)

How would you go about doing Liberal Arts as a graduate degree though, would you declare your subject within the first year or do you just graduate with a Liberal Arts degree?

[carpediem]

I had to ask my dad for this, haha. For all graduate degrees, you declare your major in your first year. (Which is probably why it's shorter.)

Good luck for NUS! It's really interesting to hear when universities of different countries collaborating together. It'll be a great experience and opportunity, so go for it