Who Needs an English Major? The Future of Liberal Arts Education
Series: American RadioWorks: Focus on Education
From: American Public Media
Length: 00:54:00
The most popular college major in America these days is business. Some students think it doesn't pay to study philosophy or history. But advocates of liberal-arts programs say their graduates are still among the most likely to become leaders, and that a healthy democracy depends on citizens with a broad and deep education. In this program, American RadioWorks’ Stephen Smith examines how a form of higher learning unique to the United States is responding to the demands of the 21st century.
More from American Public Media
Don’t Lecture Me: Rethinking the Way College Students Learn
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
Most college students spend a lot of time listening to lectures. But research shows there are better ways to learn. (9/1/2011)
Some College, No Degree: Why So Many Americans Drop Out of College, and What to Do About It
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
37 million Americans are college dropouts. What wlll it take to get them back? (8/25/2011)
Testing Teachers
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
Kids need good teachers. It’s something people know instinctively. But experts disagree over how to measure teacher quality. (8/26/2010)
Rising by Degrees
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
Young Latinos are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, and they are among the least likely to graduate from college. (11/5/2009)
Early Lessons
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
There’s been a quiet revolution in America’s schools over recent decades. We’ve added an extra grade to a child’s education: Preschool. (10/29/2009)
Put to the Test
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
There’s been a dramatic change in public education over the past 10 years and it’s all about numbers. (9/6/2007)
Cheryl Rogowski: Farm-to-Plate Innovator
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
Where does our food come from? Since we pay close attention to so many aspects of food in the holiday season, host Majora Carter visits Cheryl Rogowski, a fourth-generation ...
Marla Spivak: Think Like a Bee
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
When you sit down at your holiday table, thank a bee. A third of the food on your plate is made possible by these pollinators, whose numbers are being decimated by disease ...
Sharon Hanshaw: Leading Out of the Ruins
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
Before Katrina, Sharon Hanshaw owned a beauty salon and lived in a house on a tree-lined street. All that all changed when the hurricane hit Biloxi, Mississippi. The storm ...
Reimagining a New Way of Life
(00:54:00)
From: American Public Media
New Orleans East is home to the most-dense ethnically Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. In the Gulf region, about 80 percent of Vietnamese Americans were connected to ...
Related Pieces
Piece Description
The most popular college major in America these days is business. Some students think it doesn't pay to study philosophy or history. But advocates of liberal-arts programs say their graduates are still among the most likely to become leaders, and that a healthy democracy depends on citizens with a broad and deep education. In this program, American RadioWorks’ Stephen Smith examines how a form of higher learning unique to the United States is responding to the demands of the 21st century.
Transcript
Transcript
Stephen Smith: From APM, American Public Media, this is an American RadioWorks documentary, Who Needs An English Major?
Ashley Smith: I always enjoyed reading and writing in high school but I didn't think an English major would actually get me a job.
The liberal arts are a hallmark of American higher education.
Victor Ferrall: The great advantage of a liberal education - open to all people - is that it allows merit to rise to the top. And merit is what we need in this country.
But the tough economy and soaring college tuition rates are pressuring liberal arts program to prove their worth.
Leslie Batchelder: Students don't exactly have these lofty ideals. It's more like, "How can I get through this paying the least amount of money?"
I'm Stephen Smith, in the coming hour, Who Needs an English Major? The Future of Liberal Arts Education. From American RadioWorks. First thi...
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
00:00 - 01:00 (0:59 + :01 silence) Billboard outcue = "first, this news."
01:00 - 06:00 (5:00) NPR News hole, Music Bed.
06:00 - 35:40 (29:40) Part 1; outcue = "American Public Media."
35:40 - 36:40 (0:59 + :01 silence) Music Bed.
36:40 - 59:00 (22:20) Part 2; outcue = "American Public Media."
59:00 - 60:00 (1:00) silence [no silence segment on PRX]
Intro and Outro
INTRO:The most popular college major in America these days is business. Students think it doesn't pay to study philosophy or history. Here is... “Who Needs an English Major? The Future of Liberal Arts Education” ... a new documentary from American RadioWorks
OUTRO:Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Martha | Allman Brothers Band | Eat a Peach. | Island / Mercury | 1972 | 01:00 |
Additional Credits
Producer and host: Stephen Smith
Editor: Catherine Winter
Assistant Producer: Suzanne Pekow
Coordinating Producer: Ellen Guettler
Audio Mixing: Craig Thorson
Related Website
Of 2 purchasers of this piece...
- 2 also bought:
Nightfall in Chester County (00:29:29) - 2 also bought:
Bob Dylan: No Direction Home (01:58:10) - 2 also bought:
Roy Orbison: In Dreams (00:59:05) - 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
The Clash: Revolution Rock (00:59:00)
