What Does A Liberal Arts Degree From UMM Mean?

UMM is a small, undergraduate, liberal arts college. That short statement contains a wealth of implications. First of all, because we accept a limited number of students, our student body is maintained at around 2000 students. What this means in practical terms is that we have a high teacher-to-student ratio, many class sizes are small and students receive a great deal of individual attention from their instructors. Interactions between professors and students often occur one-on-one or in very small groups and are as likely to occur informally outside the classroom as inside. Instructors know their students as individuals and students and professors often form close relationships.

As an undergraduate institution, teaching efforts are focused solely on undergraduates, unlike larger institutions where undergraduates are often ignored or considered to be second-class-citizens. Classes are taught by professors, not teaching assistants, and academic advising is also done by the faculty, instead of professional advisers. Undergraduate education is our ONLY focus.

UMM provides its students a liberal arts education. A liberal arts education is one that enables an individual to develop a broad understanding of the world in which we currently live, as well as an understanding of our past. This is accomplished by a curriculum that focuses on breadth of instruction and in which students are expected to take a wide spectrum of classes that span the arts, the humanities, the social sciences and the sciences. A liberal arts education is intended to form citizens of the world, who understand the complexity and interrelatedness of our current geopolitical climate, but who can also appreciate art, literature and music, as well as the implications of scientific discoveries. A liberal arts education develops life-long learning skills, the ability to think critically about and analyze issues and the ability to make informed, thoughtful choices. This kind of education prepares students for professional careers and meaningful personal lives, not just for a future job.

UMM accomplishes this goal by offering our students a wide spectrum of classes and other opportunities to choose from. For example, in addition to regular classes, many of our students participate in directed studies, internships, field experiences, study abroad, research opportunities, service learning and campus governance. UMM may be unique in that students are expected to be actively involved in campus governance and have as much influence on campus decisions as do the administration, faculty and staff. Liberal arts students tend to be those who are concerned about the world around them and who want to make a difference in that world. Thus, our students are also involved in campus student groups that work for a variety of causes and many are involved in volunteer activities outside of campus. Finally, UMM offers the opportunity for students to collaborate one-one-one with professors on publishable research. Students can and do leave UMM not only with a liberal arts degree, but as published authors.

When employers hire new employees, they are looking for individuals who possess the very skills that a liberal arts degree provides. For example, they want employees who are articulate communicators, who can step into leadership roles, who understand the value of teamwork and who are able to think critically, analytically and creatively about issues and problems. They also want employees who are sensitive to the fact that, with advances in technology, the different cultures of the world are becoming more and more interconnected and a successful citizen of the world understands and is sensitive to those cultural differences. Finally, many liberal arts graduates eventually go on to graduate or professional school and those institutions are also looking for exactly the same set of skills and values as future employers. Clearly, a liberal arts degree is a valuable commodity.

Beyond offering access to a wide variety of professional careers, a liberal arts education also offers an increased appreciation of life and increased life satisfaction. Liberal arts graduates understand that they are part of a larger whole and that it is necessary to contribute to their greater community. They have an understanding of the arts, literature and sciences, that enables them to appreciate the world they live in and what it has to offer. A liberal arts degree just might make you smarter and happier!