Why do people look down on Liberal Arts Degrees so much?

[Anonymous]

Out of curiosity, if they're that bad, then why do celebrities like Emma Watson take time out of their super busy lives to pursue a Liberal Arts Degree?

[Prof_Don]

Liberal arts degrees are seen as "low value" because the average salary of those degree holders, is lower than average.

The most lucrative Bachelor's degrees are:

*STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
*healthcare
*education

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I graduated with a degree in History, which is considered a liberal arts degree.

I'm in the field of education because that is what I planned to do.

History easily transitions career-wise into education.

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Unfortunately there are people who get Bachelor's degrees in liberal arts such as global studies, music, art, etc... and don't realize that in order to find a lucrative job opportunity in those fields, have to get at least a Master's degrees in these fields of study.

[Prof_Don]

Another reason liberal arts degrees are looked down upon, is because they are seen as "the easy way out" compared to mathematics and hard sciences.

[Asker]

Where does Business stand in all of this?

[Prof_Don]

From what I heard business is in the middle.

It's more lucrative and easier to find a job than liberal arts, but not as easy to find a job as in STEM or education.

[evenlift]

The humanities have been so infected by irrationality over the past few decades.

By contrast, the hard sciences have been much more immune to this irrationality, though not totally immune.

Furthermore, as such, there has been a greater decline in the standard of humanities graduates.

Emma Watson doesn't need a job. So, it doesn't bother her, I suppose. Or, maybe, she is incapable of taking a more academically rigorous degree. Or, maybe, she was studying for a degree for the prestige of it.

[Luv2BRealExotic13]

She probably did bc she probably wanted to pursue another line of work or she needed a degree to back her acting career. If you're a really influential person some colleges/uni's just give you a degree like Oprah. If you mean a degree like Psychology there's some people that just don't think its a real science.

[Asker]

I think it is; I've studied some Psychology; if you study the BSc side of it, it's actually pretty scientific.

[Luv2BRealExotic13]

I agree but just think it's equivalent to that stupid argument that dentists aren't considered real doctors. However they are bc bad things that go on in your teeth and gums can actually kill you.

[JSmuve]

Because they have acting to fall back on. They don't even need the degree. It's more like "look! I'm going to university to get a degree to make me look more accomplished!" When was the last time you heard of a celebrity getting a degree in engineering, chemistry, or astrophysics?

They're looked down upon because they're kind of like fluff degrees, which might be why celebrities tend to go for them. What are the job prospects for a person with a degree in history, English , philosophy, art, etc? I'm not sure the demand is overwhelming.

[Anonymous]

You're paying top dollar for a degree with scattered return and abysmal career prospects. Look, if you're passionate about your subject that's great. Chances are, in order to succeed you probably have a safety net to fall back on and a few connections to pull you out of the mud. Just as Emma Watson has.

For everyone else in Liberal Arts, you'll be reciting Shakespeare as Tom the bus boy handles your last table of the night at Flanigan's. You had your voucher and you could have used it to learn skills that make you valuable in the workplace.

You better be a great, introspective writer or have rich parents if you want to put that degree to good use.

[OlderAndWiser]

Pragmatic people wouldn't think that Emma Watson or some other celebrity should be used as an example of someone living a deliberate, considered, sentient life. Liberal Arts degrees? Like a degree in philosophy? When's the last time you saw a job posting: WANTED - PHILOSOPHER?

[BertMacklinFBI]

cause she can pursue whatever she wants since she already has the money to back it up. unfortunately for her though she had to drop Harvard because every time she would answer a question correctly in class someone would yell out "thats 5 points for Gryindor!"

[Asker]

Ah I see what you mean.

So it's not the learning that people look down on, it's the placements.

[BertMacklinFBI]

i wouldn't blame the learning, its just what @damionrain100 said. an engineering degree holds way more potential than liberal arts. parents make jokes about their kids majoring in poverty when they say they are majoring in the arts lol.

[Asker]

Ah but parents shouldn't do that; you can get a liberal arts degree and then go into Law or Business which has good prospects.

Why put the poor kid down before theyr each that point... they will stop studying if they're constantly put down.

[BertMacklinFBI]

both understand that its just jokes though. they dont really mean it, all for fun. hopefully the kids aren't that sensitive lol.

[damionrain100]

People look down upon it because most people are not like Emma Watson. Most people don't have the privilege of being rich. As a result people will get the degrees that the market will value highly in terms of job placement and salary. Liberal arts degrees don't tend to yield high salaries.

[Asker]

Yeah I guess it wouldn't make sense for her to do something like Engineering or Business because what have you really learned that you can apply from either degrees.

It would make sense for her to do Liberal Arts if she truly wanted to learn

[bloodmountain1990]

Like others have said, the value that they lack. There's nothing wrong with doing music, art, etc as a hobby but realistically if you think you're gonna make a living with any of those degrees you may wanna look somewhere else.

That being said, if you are gonna major in art, music, film then I would suggest doing art education, music education, etc. There are at least practical careers in that, depending where you look for work.

[Anonymous]

It's the kind of garbage "study" idiots like Emma twatson and other feminist take in college along with their "social hate group" classes, which has zero need in today's world and will in. I way help them in getting jobs they complain women never get into, but it doesn't require brains so it's easier than taking real studies.

[Asker]

This is the first time I've heard Emma Watson being called an idiot.

Most people seem to be in awe of her? Clearly you're not one of them

[Opinion Owner]

Nope. She is a propaganda pusher and a spewer of misinformed bullshit, she has a political agenda which shames men under the scapegoat of "equality".

[Asker]

Well... putting aside your personal issues with her, you don't find her attractive out of curiosity?

[Opinion Owner]

Nope, she looks like Richard Dawkins with long hair. Mind you I love Dawkins.

[Opinion Owner]

www.klonok.com/.../richard_watson.png

Just for reference.

[Asker]

Uncanny resemblance, out of curiosity who is.. Mr. Richard Dawkins? I could google, but i have a feeling you have a good story of why you are comparing her to him

[Prof_Don]

Another one of those political conspiracy theorists, I see?

[Opinion Owner]

Richard Dawkins is a brilliant English ethologist, evolutionary biologist, and writer.

@prof_don being aware of the kind of crap I mentioned above doesn't make someone a conspiracist. That is a term used to try and stifle free thought. ANY and all points made about the misinformation can EASILY be shown with 5 seconds go google. For example wage gap.
So thanks for your 2 cents but it is crap.

[Tractorbeam]

Try answering these questions:
Does that degree help you to produce anything?
Is what you produce actually useful to people, and will it improve their lives?

[Eugene]

Best answer right there.

[Longblackveil]

Not everyone goes to college to get a job. Many people, especially people who are already successful like Emma, go to better themselves and become more knowledgeable.

While I would question the notion that college these days actually

[Longblackveil]

does anything other than push narratives on people, I generally think education is a great thing even if it's just for the sake of learning

[Anonymous]

Because Emma Watson made a lot of money being a famous actress.

For other people, who have to find jobs, liberal arts degrees do nothing to help them make a living. So all they do is take on debt, and if they're lucky enough to get a job, it's low-paying.

[Kshppatel]

Emma Watson and other celebrities are the last people that should be used as examples when it comes to pursuing an education to get a good paying job.

[atomique]

Placement is not the greatest these days unless you have the money. Even though things with STEM things aren't rosy but at least their skills are more marketable.

[Anonymous]

Well it is kinda useless. It's just an excuse to say someone been to college. Emma watson... she's a human just like you and me. Not some god. She can get whatever degree she wants. Maybe she's just interested.

[Anonymous]

Because they're not as important, you don't make as much money with it. Actors and actresses aren't as rich as we think they are

[thatkaruguy]

because its completely useless

[Anonymous]

Kind of worthless in real life