The Catholic Weekly 9 August 2020

14 The Catholic Weekly, 9 August, 2020 UNIVERSITY OPEN DAYS 2020 A liberal arts education is a traditional program of learning in Western high- er education that incorporates the humanities and sciences. Campion’s liberal arts degree includes core units in history, literature, philosophy and science, with the option to study ad- ditional units in Latin, Ancient Greek and mathematics. The goal of a liberal arts education is to help you to develop foundational skills and knowledge before you ven- ture out into the world and pursue a particular profession. The idea is that you should study broadly at under- graduate level and then specialise later. In recent months, it has been con- cerning to see the Federal Govern- ment double fees for humanities degrees. While the fee increase does not affect Campion as a private insti- tution, the decision demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the value of humanities degrees. A humanities degree such as Cam- pion’s is about far more than getting a job (although it contributes to that as well). Studying the enduring texts and ideas of Western Civilisation fundamentally shapes your perspec- tive. At Campion, the students thrive in an environment where they have a good book, a lecturer to guide the discussion and their own minds. Im- portantly, they are then able to take the unique insights gained through this cultivation of critical thinking into the workforce, where many Campion graduates are flourishing. While many humanities depart- ments in public universities could benefit from an overhaul in how they teach their disciplines, this is no rea- son to devalue the humanities them- selves. Not only do they have a long and enduring history in Western ed- ucation, the humanities or liberal arts were responsible for the existence of universities in the first place. Universities came into being in the Middle Ages chiefly as a place to study the Scriptures and the surround- ing theological and philosophical thought. While universities may have expanded the breadth of disciplines studied over time, their role was al- ways to provide a liberal education, to develop the mind’s capacity to think clearly and critically, freeing it from the darkness of ignorance (hence ‘lib- eral’ arts). Campion is proud to continue this tradition in an authentically Catholic environment. Students interested in finding out more are encouraged to register for Campion’s upcoming Virtual Open Day, held on Wednesday 30 September. Now is the time to consider a broad undergraduate degree in the liberal arts Which path would you choose? Finish high school Undergrad vocational degree e.g. Bachelor of Journalism (3-4 years) Undergrad degree in liberal arts at Campion (3 years) Postgrad vocational degree e.g. Master of Journalism (1.5 years) Job applicants A pathway that ensures you stand out from the crowd… The typical university pathway… When first presented with the idea of a liberal arts education, many people ask, “Why not just go straight into a vocational undergraduate degree instead?” Here are a few reasons why: • Set yourself apart – An undergraduate degree is no longer something that will set you apart from oth- er job applicants. By nature of its rarity in Australia and when combined with other studies, having a lib- eral arts degree on your resume will make you stand out from your peers. • Make yourself more attractive to employers – Increasingly, employers are reporting that they are prioritising ‘soft’ skills gained in a liberal arts degree – like critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication skills – over university qualifications when recruiting recent graduates. • Make a more informed career choice - How many students know exactly what they want to do after high school? Even those with a set idea of a ca- reer path will often change their minds during their degree, resulting in time and money spent on niche studies that will ultimately have no bearing on their future employment. A liberal arts education will in- troduce you to a broader range of disciplines than your typical degree, meaning you’ll discover new in- terests and potential career paths before you commit to specialised studies. • A liberal arts education is education for life – Campion graduates all say the same thing: even though they didn’t learn specific vocational skills, their Campion degree has been applicable in every aspect of their lives because they have studied the world and humanity itself. A liberal arts education produces well-rounded, articulate graduates with a love of learning and the ability to engage with every- thing life has to offer on a deeper level. As Australia’s first liberal arts college, Campion College has the privilege of offering a unique tertiary experience. Where can a liberal arts degree take you? Campion graduates have pursed successful careers in teaching, journalism, business, law, medicine, evangelisation, academia and politics. Norbert Neville (Class of 2009) After graduating from Campion, Norbert completed a postgraduate law degree. He worked as a paralegal before being admitted to the bar and holding a number of positions under the Head of Legal at an Australian multinational investment bank. “Looking back over the last few years, I reflect on the opportunities and challenges that I have experienced. The tools needed to overcome and succeed in these roles are critical thinking, problem solving and effective communication. Campion College provided an environment to develop these qualities and certainly helped me to get where I am today.” Anna Mattai (Class of 2014) After graduating from Campion, Anna completed a Masters of Oc- cupational Therapy. Upon learning that her undergraduate degree was neither psychology nor health science but rather the liberal arts, many people ask if she regrets her Campion degree. Her response: “Absolutely not! Occupational therapy requires one to have sound clinical reasoning, to be able to critically appraise a person’s situa- tion, their abilities and their environment, and decide on the best way to meet their occupational needs. Through studying the liberal arts, I developed the ability to think critically, creatively and rationally and this has undeniably assisted me in developing strong clinical reason- ing skills. Furthermore, it instilled in me a thorough and grounded understanding of ethics, something that will guide my everyday prac- tice with clients and assist me in navigating the complex cases when they inevitably arise.” Which path would you choose? The value of Campion’s liberal arts degree