Liberal Arts Curriculum

The skills and ways of thinking students acquire in their general education/liberal arts courses are highly valued by employers and are essential for societal vitality and an engaged citizenry in democracy. Completing a program of liberal arts/general education provides students with broad skills, building the foundation for deepening their understanding and honing their cognitive skills within majors. A liberal arts/general education situates students for the development of long-term careers, for greater success in graduate and professional school, and for ongoing personal growth.

Specifically, employers value the cognitive skills and dispositions a liberal arts/general education provides such as the ability to think critically, to communicate clearly, and to solve complex problems. Also valued are the abilities to be able to work effectively as part of a team, to engage in organizational innovation, to act with ethical judgment and integrity, and to demonstrate intercultural skills as well as the capacity for ongoing learning. These skills, and their ability to deepen discipline-specific knowledge, are viewed as fundamentally necessary for professional success. A liberal arts/general education that provides students with skills in written and oral communication, critical and creative thinking, quantitative and digital literacy, along with the ability to locate, evaluate, and apply information aligns student learning with the needs of the modern workforce.

For more information about the research supporting the relevance of liberal arts/general education in employment or more information on UNC’s commitment to student learning though our assessment of students learning outcomes, contact the Chair of the Liberal Arts Council.

Roll-Out Fal 2026 – More information to Come