CAS – Conversations on a Liberal Arts Education
Instructor Instructions
Introductions
This module is designed to encourage students to think about what it means to be
“liberally” educated. We used the term “conversations,” as opposed to “definition”
or “value,” because this is a complex topic that does not lend itself to absolute
statements. However, there is no shortage of arguments for why a Liberal Arts
education is special and some would argue more crucial today than it was when it
was the only “option” for students pursuing higher learning. The College of Arts and
Sciences continues the tradition of a Liberal Arts education for students in the
College as well as for all BU students through General Education. We think it is
worthwhile to explore with students the meaning of a Liberal Arts education and the
skills they will acquire regardless of their eventual major.
Learning Outcomes
Through this module students will be able to…
 Recognize a variety of definitions of a Liberal Arts Education
 Identify the transferable skills associated with a Liberal Arts Education
 Understand a number of arguments for the value of a Liberal Arts Education
 Discuss with one another why they are pursuing a Liberal Arts Education
 Learn the perspective of a current CAS faculty member on a Liberal Arts
Education
Written Resources
We have posted various readings on the meaning and value of a liberal arts
education. These readings are posted under the module “Conversations on Liberal
Arts Education” in the Instructor Planning Blackboard Site. You can use one or more
of these readings as preparation for the class and/or as a follow up to class
discussion.
Faculty Resources
You may want to invite a CAS faculty member in to facilitate this discussion. The
faculty members listed below are advisors in the CAS Advising Center and they have
agreed to make a guest appearance in FY 101 classes to give their impressions of a
Liberal Arts Education. Obviously this will depend on their availability but we hope
to add more faculty to this list and you are certainly not limited to just the folks
listed below. We recommend that if you invite a faculty member to assist with this
discussion that you speak to him or her before the class to outline your expectations.
Kyna Hamill, Core Curriculum
kyna@bu.edu
Elizabeth Godrick, Biology
godrick@bu.edu
Fred Wasserman, Biology
few@bu.edu
Conversation Starters/Discussion Questions
As we’ve stated this module is more about class discussion than a formal
presentation but we recommend that you develop some specific questions to get the
ball rolling. We also recommend some kind of “initiation” which involves all
students and reinforces the topic for class. It could be as simple as asking every
student share his or her major. Other initiation questions are listed below.
 What is your favorite class at BU so far? Why is it your favorite class?
 What is your intended major?
 If you had to attend a different school at BU other than CAS which would you
attend and why?
 Name one of the majors in CAS.
There is no shortage of more general questions that you can present to the entire
class. These questions may depend on the readings you’ve included in the module
but some basic examples are listed below.
 How would you define a Liberal Arts Education?
 What specific skills to you hope to acquire through your time here at BU?
 How do you expect to be different 4 years from now?
 How do you think your liberal arts degree will benefit you later in life?
 What is the difference between a graduate from CAS and SMG?
Another way to generate conversation is to examine definitions of a liberal arts
education. A couple of examples are listed below and there are other excellent
examples included in the readings. Feel free to find other definitions of a liberal arts
education to present to your class.

College or university studies (as language, philosophy, literature, abstract
science) intended to provide chiefly general knowledge and to develop
general intellectual capacities (as reason and judgment) as opposed to
professional or vocational skills – Webster Dictionary

Rigorous and sustained conversation about the great questions of human
existence among the widest possible circle of the best possible conversation
partners. – Fr. Michael Himes, Boston College