Faculty and administrators attending the annual Associated New American Colleges (ANAC) Summer Institute at Elon talked about resolving tensions that are perceived between liberal arts schools and professional schools. Details...
The June 13 session was titled “Combining Professional and Liberal Arts Education.”
Participants discussed strategies for integrating professional, career-oriented programs, such as business or education, into liberal arts disciplines.
The seminar was lead by Paul Parsons, Elon’s dean of the School of Communications, and Ray Lutgring, director of honors at the University of Evansville. Each shared different initiatives their institutions have taken to bridge the gap between approaches to teaching that are often at odds.
“I think that students will be looking for the intersections between liberal arts and professional schools,” says Parsons. “Maybe that’s where the future of what many students do will reside.”
Elon’s newest major, Music Technology, is an example of a hybrid major that is a collaboration of the Music Department and the School of Communications. As part of this major, students will learn the liberal arts approach to music as well as the professional skills needed to use audio technology.
Lutgring shared an innovative program that has been recently implemented at the University of Evansville called IBASE (Integrating Business and Arts and Sciences Education.) The program is geared towards liberal arts students who don’t have time to complete a minor, but wish to learn business skills in their junior and senior years. Completion of the program requires fulfillment of several courses as well as an internship.
“Just like with the political parties in our country, when it comes to approaches to teaching, there can be a bit of academic red and blue,” says Parsons. “I’m wearing a purple tie today because I believe this represents a coming together of the liberal arts and professional schools.”