Sierra Nevada College is proudly, unabashedly a liberal arts college. What, exactly, does that mean?
Our definition of a liberal arts education is that it is not only a
study of academic disciplines but also a mode of instruction that
emphasizes applying knowledge and skills learned in one context to new
contexts, and on employing interpersonal skills like teamwork, courage,
creativity, judgment to solve complex, interrelated problems. At Sierra
Nevada College, we take it a step further: We believe that a liberal
arts education is the best way to prepare not just for your work, but
for your entire life.
Why?
Because it is not enough for students to master the tools and
techniques of, say, accounting, if they do not take a holistic approach
in dealing with the challenges of the workplace and the world. A liberal
arts education provides students with diverse opportunities to acquire,
refine, and use the skills that business leaders and professional
organizations of every stripe are seeking, which just happen to be those
that are highly emphasized in the liberal arts-leadership,
problem-solving, creativity, global awareness, and teamwork. Our
students hone their abilities to be persuasive, effective writers and
speakers. But just as importantly, they learn how to get along with
people.
The world changes and so does the workforce.
College graduates need to be prepared to have not one career but a
number of careers throughout their lifetime. The new workplace requires
flexibility and adaptability. Some educational programs focus more on
creating experts in ever-more specialized fields. We graduate scholars
who are able to make informed judgments even on matters outside their
particular competence. If we have done our job well, our graduates enter
the world as well-trained, well-rounded individuals.
We have built Sierra Nevada College on the belief that the liberal arts teach you how to live a full life.
When we talk about "lifelong learning," what we really mean is a lifelong joy
in learning, not just the ability to learn. We want to prepare students
for a successful life, and we want that life to be fulfilling as well.
And fun. No matter how much the world, and the workplace, changes,
citizens grounded in the liberal arts will be prepared to add value
through work and find meaning in their lives.
