Timely article. I read about the 'contraction' of QUT's arts and social science programs. Melb Uni is even running vocational communication arts degrees. RMIT has created a mish-mash of hybrid multimedia degrees which specialise in nothing. They're still running on the old creative industries model.

There will always be a place for a general arts degree. We've placed so much emphasis on 'doing' (technics) rather than thinking so that when we stuff up in the market place or environmentally, we leave a crater rather than a dent.

I've always thought that a BA was not an end in itself but the start of a learning adventure. It's not valued by business but who cares? A BA can open students to new ways of thinking as well as tolerance of differing opinons (well, it should try).

Arts degrees will always be under attack in conservative times. A well-rounded university education gives citizens the ability to gather evidence on a topic and form their own conclusions, which may contradict whatever dictate or bogeyman serves the government of the day.

There are a number of reasons why the Arts is having problems.

1) There's the problem of identity. In many cases studies in what constitutes "the Arts" pragmatically should belong elsewhere. For example, moral reasoning, political economy and political theory is a regulative approach and should be awarded an Legum Baccalaureus. In some cases it deals with (social) facts which really is an objective and scientific approach. In others it is interpretative on an aesthetic level and should be combined with the fine arts.

2) There is a problem of laity. Everyone is a lay sociologist for example. It is generally considered easy to *pass* an Arts degree for this reason. But when is the last time you heard of someone getting a 100% in an Arts essay? It is easy to pass but very hard to do well in.

3) There is the problem of micro-economic relevance. A skilled generalist is not something which makes sense in a micro-economic analysis. Their presence however is the 'glue' which can tie disparate provision of production and services together. Arts graduates typically make excellent administrators for this reason, far better than those generated by "management" courses. Further the presence of Arts graduates provides macro-economic positive externalities. But of what value is to the individual organisation?

A bit off the topic but my daughter is well advanced in completing a double degree in Arts majoring on languages. After her 4 years study she will start with a debt of around $60000. My 18 year old son with less than a years experience in the workforce has canceled the idea of uni as he has just been offered a job at 50000 plus. I am not complaining about this but it makes you wonder whether its worth going to uni these days at all. Get a trade and you can name your own price in the mining industry or get paid $60 per hour to change tap washers. THe again learning Chinese has not hurt Mr Rudd!

If a student has been through 12 years of school, one would expect that they have been taught how to think. And if they couldn't think, then they should not have been able to pass exams.

However most politicians seem to have Arts and Law degrees, but that has not decreased our trade deficit.

Maybe it is time to rethink the education system.

HRS, the point is, that many exams are simply facts by rote.
That isn't necessarily thinking or critical reasoning, it's just an issue of memorising things.