No matter your chosen career or professional interests, the intellectual fundamentals of a liberal arts education will help you build the essential skills necessary to succeed in today’s modern workplace. We need employees, leaders and engaged thinkers who approach the challenges of their profession and this world with creativity and confidence. That is precisely what an education from William Jewell College provides.
The liberal arts education provided by our programs and our Critical Thought and Inquiry Core Curriculum allows you to translate the skills you develop at college into work anywhere. While highly-specialized degrees provide the tools for success in a particular field, a degree from Jewell will provide those fundamentals while also encouraging broader analysis and critical thinking. From creative problem solving and deductive reasoning to effective business communication, a liberal arts education, like the kind you will receive here at Jewell, will provide you the tools to succeed wherever you apply yourself.
At William Jewell College, we recognize that a liberal arts education is an investment in the wholeness of our students. That is why our core curriculum prioritizes training your creative and critical thinking skills in a focused, engaging environment. We aim to prepare you to be both a successful and reflective citizen of a global community. What is real? What can we know? How should we live? These questions color our approach to education and to creating an environment where you can become your most passionate self.
So, you may be curious, precisely what are the benefits of a liberal arts education? A better question is, what are the benefits of an education from William Jewell College? Well, we’re happy you asked.
Honed Critical Thinking
The most significant benefit of a degree from Jewell is that you can translate what you’ve studied into anything you pursue. Any major at Jewell will help you learn how to approach problems, assess needs, think abstractly and ask meaningful questions. While our model draws from the core tenets of a classical liberal arts education, we reframe our degrees and course work to engage you critically no matter the degree you pursue. This makes us unique in the academic world.
The skills you pick up while pursuing a liberal arts education at Jewell are in high demand from employers. Critical analysis, long-term planning, creative problem solving—these assets are challenging to teach new hires and invaluable long term. After all, no work is truly one-dimensional.
Beyond employee retention, statistics suggest that new students are likely to work in a wide variety of jobs and careers throughout their life. Studies have estimated most new students like you will hold roughly 18 jobs across six careers. A narrow education experience just won’t cut it when you’re likely to need versatile skills to succeed in your professional future. It’s crucial that you be able to adapt, think analytically and apply logic to situations you may have never encountered before. These skills, all gained through your academic journey at Jewell, make you an asset.
At Jewell, our core curriculum helps you bridge the gap from high school to college, exploring topics such as culture and traditions; science, technology and the human experience; power and justice; and sacred and secular; followed by an in-depth capstone course.
Greater Creativity
Second only to improving your capacity for analytical reasoning, a student-centric liberal arts education like the kind offered by Jewell provides the tools to enhance your creativity. This may, at first, seem overly abstract. However, exploring new ideas and learning how to express yourself in different ways will make you more creative. It allows you to think outside the box and bring innovative solutions to the table. Much like critical thinking, creativity is an essential component of problem-solving. After all, it’s one thing to recognize there’s a problem, and it’s another thing entirely to devise a new solution. These skills make a creative mind an asset in every industry.
With majors in philosophy, English, psychological science, digital media, music and more, William Jewell College understands the importance of creating ways to express yourself and think about the world. Our students are encouraged to pursue their passions and explore new creative opportunities.
A Diverse Perspective
A focused, analytical education like the kind found here at Jewell offers the unique academic opportunity to broaden your horizons by introducing you to concepts and people worldwide. This study isn’t simply a matter of comparing notes, but meaningfully approaching and understanding the philosophies and thinking of other people and cultures. The variety of subjects you will be exposed to allows you to learn about a wide range of ideas, which will better help you discover your interests, strengths and potential career paths. This can be perfect for our global economy. You will explore different philosophies, cultures and human experiences that can broaden your worldview and provide valuable insight into other businesses and professional environments.
If you want a global perspective, start in the classroom, then go live your learning out in the world. Through study abroad, Jewell will help you pursue your global educational interests and broaden your perspective.
Flexible Professional Soft Skills
As you grow and evolve, you may find that what you want to pursue career-wise shifts. A Jewell education allows you to keep your career options open, as you will be taught a variety of non-static skills rather than just one specific skill set. Even when you pursue a specialized STEM degree with us, you will be able to transfer the skills you learn at college to any work you pursue. The range of topics and methods covered by your liberal arts curriculum makes you fundamentally flexible, interdisciplinary and adaptable in a changing environment.
There are three core skills you’ll learn studying here at William Jewell College:
1. Leadership
Leadership is a broad skill set, encompassing many skills but centering on bringing people together. Learning to engage with others while guiding them and making decisions is a critical part of the liberal arts experience. An appreciation for different points of view and a willingness to incorporate new ideas exist at the core of this exercise.
2. Communication
Communication is an important skill heavily emphasized in a liberal arts education. Whether you are listening, clearly stating your opinion, asking questions for clarification, providing constructive criticism or sending emails, your ability to express yourself defines how others see you. Perhaps just as important, it also dictates how effectively you work with other professionals.
3. Work Ethic
Some companies look for dedicated and hardworking individuals when hiring for new positions. A good work ethic can help you find a job and support your career advancement. One benefit of a liberal arts education is that it teaches you how to work hard. Your coursework isn’t always straightforward. It frequently requires deep analysis and rigorous thought and effort. Though not always easy, it will teach you how to actively engage in a professional environment.
Honing soft skills isn’t just about working in the classroom. We offer various programs that reflect this understanding. Pursue an internship with our community partners. Whatever your interests may be, we’re here to help you grow.
William Jewell College is committed to your growth!
At William Jewell College, we educate our community to ask reflective questions, apply critical thought and act with purpose. That commitment is why we provide you with a world-class liberal arts education. Our goal is to prepare you to be both successful and reflective citizens of a global community.
At every step of your undergraduate experience, Jewell is here to facilitate your growth. Interested in the benefits of a liberal arts education? You can visit our website or contact the Office of Admission to learn more!