History, Mathematics, Chemistry, Politics, Literature… Are you interested in all kinds of disciplines?
Do you want to understand the world around you and the laws and principles that govern it? Liberal Arts are for you!Your Dream School invites you to discover one of the oldest study programs in history: the Liberal Arts.
The origins of Liberal Arts: a little historyAlthough relatively recent in appearance the study of the Liberal Arts originated in AntiquityAt the time, the Greeks and Romans considered this discipline (or rather this set of disciplines) to be the basis of all culture and erudition.
At the time, the study of Liberal Arts is organized into two cycles: the trivium and the quadrivium, which focus on oral and written expression and mathematics respectively.
These first cycles of study were considered indispensable for access to more complex disciplines such as philosophy, theology and metaphysics.
From Antiquity to the Modern Age: Liberal Arts TodayInspired by the Greco-Roman model, the Liberal Arts taught in colleges and universities today offer students interdisciplinary interdisciplinary programsallowing them to benefit from cross-disciplinary teachingsharpen their general culture and develop a critical thinking.The subjects offered in the Liberal Art curriculum curriculum vary from one establishment to another, but generally speaking, the same fundamentals apply:
- Human Sciences – which study man on an individual and collective scale, particularly through the verbal and non-verbal modes of communication he uses.
The Human Sciences encompass subjects such as art, languages, literature, religions, ethics…
- Social Sciences, aiming to analyze human societies, to understand the relationships between man and his environment, and his interactions with the environment in which he evolves.
The Social Sciences can be studied through a variety of subjects, such as history, politics, law, psychology, economics…
- Formal Sciences mainly focused on the study of mathematics, computer science and logic.
- Natural Sciences which enable us to discover the macro and micro environments in which we live, through different disciplines such as biology, chemistry, astronomy, geology…
Liberal Art program: how does it work?The main advantage of a Liberal Arts curriculum is that it offers flexibility in the choice of disciplines. Students must validate a certain number of credits, but they are free (hence the term Liberal), to select the subjects they wish to include in their curriculum.
It is therefore a à la carte curriculaThese are designed to give students a “taste” of different disciplines, before opting for their preferred area of specialization: law, communications, business…In the United States and the United Kingdom, most Liberal Arts Colleges offer a 4-year curriculum, leading to a BA or BSc qualification.Liberal Arts: College or University?
At leading universities such as Harvard or Princetonthe first – and sometimes even the second – academic year is quite similar to the Liberal Arts program.
Students have access to a wide range of disciplines at the start of their studies, so they can choose with greater ease and certainty the field they wish to pursue.
That being said, taking a Liberal Arts program program has a number of advantages: in fact, since enrolments are much smaller than at university, students can benefit from closer contact with their teachers and therefore mentoring.
Les interactions entre élèves et professeurs sont vivement encouragées et les étudiants sont souvent invités à exprimer leurs points de vue et opinions.
Les étudiants peuvent ainsi bénéficier d’un personalized follow-up and frequently call on their teachers, who are more accessible than at university.
The best Liberal Arts and Sciences courses
The Israel, United Statesthe United Kingdom ,the Netherlands, are among the most renowned destinations for the quality of their Liberal Arts and Sciences programs.
Israel Israel is beginning to integrate Liberal Arts programs into its higher education institutions, inspired by American and European models.
These programs offer students an interdisciplinary education, enabling them to develop critical thinking skills and a broad general culture.
Tel Aviv University offers a true Liberal Arts program, designed to provide a high-quality, interdisciplinary education.
The BA in Liberal Arts program at Tel Aviv University is a three-year multidisciplinary curriculum taught in English, designed to provide a solid foundation in liberal arts education.
Tuition is $15,500 per year, and it requires a high school diploma for admission.
The program offers personalized academic guidance, enriching cultural experiences, and prepares graduates for diverse careers and international graduate study. In the U.S.A.-theUnited States was the first to introduce Liberal Artseducation within their academic system (in the 19th century).
The United States is home to some of the world’s oldest liberal arts colleges, such as Washington College and the renowned Claremont Colleges.
Here is the 2019 ranking of the best Liberal Arts Colleges in the United States according to US.News:
1 – Williams College (Williamstown, MA)
2 – Amherst College (Amherst, MA)
3 – Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)
4 – Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)
5 – Bowdoin College (Brunswick, ME)
6 – Carlton College (Northfield, MN)
7 – Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT)
8 – Pomona College (Claremont, CA)
9 – Claremont McKenna College (Claremont, CA)
10 – Davidson College (Davidson, NC)
In the United Kingdom
Inspired by the American model, many British universities offer one or more Liberal Arts curriculumIn response to a growing demand from students who refuse to confine their knowledge to a single discipline, Liberal Arts programs are increasingly attracting students who are interested in interdisciplinarity.
Here are some of the UK’s most famous universities where you can take a Liberal Arts* programme:
- University College London (UCL)
- King’s College London
- University of Warwick
- University of Durham
- University of Bristol
- Durham University
- University of Leeds
- SOAS, University of London
- >University of Winchester
- Regent’s University of London
- University of Birmingham
The content of Liberal Arts programs varies from university to university.
Don’t hesitate to contact the institution you wish to join before applying.
In the NetherlandsThe Dutch Liberal Arts Colleges enjoy an excellent local and international reputation.
Students benefit from quality teaching, very similar to that offered by American Liberal Arts Colleges, at much lower fees.
Classes are taught in English, and class sizes are deliberately kept small to enable students to benefit from personalized, interactive teaching.
In the Netherlands, the Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts takes 3 years to complete, and the Master’s degree is awarded after a further one or two years.
Here are some of the Liberal Arts Colleges in the Netherlands:
- University College Groningen
- University College Amsterdam
- University College Utrecht
- University College Roosevelt
- University College Maastricht
- Erasmus University College Rotterdam
- Leiden University College
Thanks to a incomparable expertise and
Your Dream School team will guide and support you throughout your admission process to one of the most prestigious Liberal Arts Colleges in the world: orientation advice, preparation for standardized tests help with writing your application, essays and cover letters in English…
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or require further information.
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