The Liberal Arts
The College of Idaho offers a liberal arts education. "Liberal arts" is a frequently misunderstood phrase, and although the liberal arts are variously defined, they represent an educational tradition born in ancient Greece. In its ideal form, a liberal arts education encourages individuals to seek personal foundations for the choices they make as they live their lives, and to pursue intellectual freedom from the constraints of society, history, tradition, and ignorance. Here at The College of Idaho, we take care to introduce students to the disciplines—the arts and sciences—that will empower them to live fully and well.
The College of Idaho continues the tradition of an education based in the liberal arts because we believe such an education enables students to experience curiosity, social responsibility, and inquiry. We believe that a student who is liberally educated recognizes the importance and powers of thinking logically, imaginatively, and independently; writing and speaking forcefully and effectively; framing questions and finding difficult answers creatively; thinking broadly across the lines of traditional academic disciplines; assessing values; and approaching others with understanding and compassion. Through exposure to the liberal arts disciplines—the humanities and fine arts; the social sciences and history; the natural sciences and mathematics—students learn the methods and perspectives of many ways of knowing the world. They become broadly educated and capable of making choices grounded in knowledge.
Our liberal arts curriculum enables students to develop the versatility of thought and the intellectual self-confidence necessary to be active within their society and culture. While the College recognizes the importance of preparing students for profitable and fulfilling careers, we deliver an education that provides much more than professional competencies. We believe that our curriculum prepares students for a lifetime of learning, for career flexibility, and for careers that do not yet exist. Students who take full advantage of the College's strong academic programs, its dedicated faculty and staff, and its vital online and campus life will have the tools necessary to realize—and to exceed—their career expectations. This is because our curriculum emphasizes the acquisition of many types of learning skills and ways of knowing, fostering the mental flexibility and social adaptability essential to achieving success and finding happiness in the modern world.