The liberal arts offer the best preparation for a full and productive life. As a liberal arts college, Lyon stands in a long and venerable tradition of educational institutions designed to cultivate in their students the habits of reasoned thought. At the heart of this tradition lies the conviction that the purpose of education is not simply the acquisition of knowledge, but the development of thoughtful, inquisitive, critical, and creative men and women. These men and women would take a reasoned approach to all of life's experiences and have the abilities essential to success in most of life's tasks.

In essence, a liberal arts education is the development of the most basic and important intellectual abilities: to reason clearly and critically, to read carefully and accurately, to speak and write precisely and persuasively, to interpret with insight and imagination, and to make original contributions to a chosen field of study. This intellectual cultivation, however, must be accompanied by certain complementary values: intellectual honesty, the love of truth, fairness to opposing points of view, tolerance of reasoned dissent, patience with complexity and ambiguity.

A liberal arts education engages students in the very best of our cultural heritage -- the writings, works of art, discoveries, and ideas that express the finest of our moral, intellectual, and aesthetic culture. To be liberally educated, then, is to have a fuller, richer understanding and appreciation of the world we live in.

The liberal arts are also the best preparation for achievement. That's why a professor of history at Lyon once defined the liberal arts as "vocational training for people whose true vocation will be leadership."

The fruit of a liberal education is a person who appreciates and understands more of human experience, who can lead a richer and fuller life, who is prepared for responsible citizenship, who can make mature and reflective moral and religious commitments, who can engage in a life of learning and discovery, and who has the ability to succeed and, indeed, to be a leader in a wide range of fields.

Liberal arts graduates approach their life and their life's work with a broader perspective. They have the intellectual abilities to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced world where information has become the most important commodity, and learning, the most important skill. They have the ability to reason clearly in new situations, to communicate with precision and persuasion, and to solve problems they have never encountered before.

Lyon College graduates are prepared to assume leadership roles because they bring to their life's work analytical and communication skills that enable them to have an impact upon their chosen profession.

Degree Options and Fields of Study (link to Academics section)