<p>I think Modestmelody’s post about liberal arts education being a process is dead-on. It is generally marked by a discussion-based, small class approach to education. Students are encouraged to study outside their major to gain breadth in addition to depth. Often, you’ll find that major requirements have fewer required courses than at other, non-liberal arts universities because the institution wants students to have the time to study abroad or take courses in a variety of disciplines. Professors both educate and facilitate; they are generally more accessible than at other types of colleges. That’s not to say that lectures are absent or that all professors are friendly, or that less-liberal arts educations don’t have discussion-based courses, only that the liberal arts’ emphasis is on discussion and close mentorship. </p>
<p>A liberal arts education-based university is not divided into undergraduate schools. If students can enroll in a school of business or a school of education or a school of engineering, then it’s not liberal arts.</p>
<p>Brown and Dartmouth are the closest to the liberal arts education model, both because of size and philosophy. Cornell and UPenn are known to be the farthest. The others fall along a spectrum between those, with Princeton edging toward liberal arts and Yale toward non-liberal arts. Does this mean that one type of education is better than another? No. It depends on what you value.</p>