>There are jobs related to art (say, visual design or writing copy) that can be done on full or even limited part time basis. This is the part I don't get. You

>There are jobs related to art (say, visual design or writing copy) that can be done on full or even limited part time basis. This is the part I don't get. You're totally right. The skills taught in liberal arts programs are actually useful. I think university liberal arts departments could do a much better job of pointing students toward areas where they could use their skills. I flinch when someone says their poli sci or history degree is useless. Those are extremely useful for journalism and all subfields/areas where your vocabulary pays your rent. If done right, those degrees make you a better writer and generalist /specialist researcher than like, I don't know, at least 60% of the general population. I got an English degree just because I like reading books and writing. I wanted to be a journalist, which where I'm from is generally another year of specialised training after a three-year undergraduate degree. Then I went and lived overseas a couple of times and didn't want to be a journalist anymore. Used my skills for other things. It worked out fine. The liberal arts are more useful in the workforce than many people think.