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India is consistently marching towards being a country that offers tremendous opportunities to create jobs not just in the existing employment sectors, but also in the ones that have not been thought of yet. While the industry requirements are getting specific, it is important to nurture the skills which can help students fit into job roles that are on offer. Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA) aims at moulding students to be employable and critically conscious citizens with a sound balance of personal & professional lives. Established in 2011, SSLA was set up as the first liberal arts undergraduate four-year degree Programme under the aegis of Symbiosis International (Deemed University)

While the structure and ideology of Liberal Arts education is American in origin, SIU has been the pioneering visionary in bringing it to the country. Liberal Arts education in India has adapted to the needs of the Indian society, economy and industry. The foray into liberal arts started with the setting up of a three-year diploma in liberal arts at the Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts in 2006. Based on the experiences gathered at the centre, feedback from students, parents and all other stakeholders, and a two-month stay at the DePaul Liberal Arts College in the USA, SIU decided to launch a four-year programme in liberal arts.

Today, in contrast to the traditional teaching-learning and assessment methods, SSLA promotes and encourages creative pedagogy which is beyond didactic and rote learning. Students are expected to participate in classroom discussions and encouraged to question the knowledge imparted for experiential self-learning. The assessments are bifurcated into Continuous Assessment to promote ongoing learning and the Semester End Evaluations for a conglomerated learning experience. In a nutshell, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts strives to assess students through the visual, auditory and tactile faculties.

Diversity of Courses for Distinctive Careers SSLA offers three kinds of courses - core courses that are taught to all students; courses for specializations that are taught to students depending on the major and minor they have selected; and electives that can be taken by students irrespective of their specialization. There are 12 specializations offered as majors and 22 specializations as minors. The wide range of courses offers students a chance to go beyond the traditional curriculum. For instance, a student with a major in English and a minor in Law or Sociology, who applies for a position at a leading newspaper, will walk in with a larger toolbox of skills, knowledge

Moulding students to be employable and critically conscious citizens with a sound balance of personal & professional lives.

SSLA promotes and encourages creative pedagogy

There are 12 specializations offered as majors and 22 specializations as minors

Larger toolbox of skills, knowledge and abilities as compared to a regular graduate in english.

At SSLA, interactive pedagogy is used to facilitate unique student-faculty interactions to engage in scholarly discourse and to foster a spirit of curiosity in a co-constructed classroom environment.

The pedagogy or the methodology adopted is interactive due to the small class size of not more than 15 students. Being a liberal arts institution, students are not just encouraged to learn concepts but also think about applying their learnings increasing the possibility of application of the knowledge gained inside the classroom and outside

Pedagogy revolves around audio-visual forms including documentary, movie, news clippings, online lecture sources.

Use of academic papers to introduce, explain and often critique the concepts taught allow the students the wide girth of opinions that sustain and take forth a discipline to new avenues of research and application”, says dr. Anita Patankar, director.

Instead of focusing on just one skill – how well you write an examination at the end of the year – students at SSLA are tested on several skills, many of which will be more useful in the real world.

SSLA lays great emphasis on transferable skills like critical thinking, research, and analysis, writing and communication, and civic mindedness which is aimed at all-round development of the student.

The programme offered at SSLA is designed to equip students with the skills that employers across all sectors are looking for.

Living in times of significant cultural and technological changes, the institute aspires to ensure that its students are ready to face an uncertain future.

The USP of SSLA is woven in adapting the international model to the Indian environment, democratic learning space, co-constructed, experiential classrooms, core domain knowledge with on-field learning through research, internship and a project that requires students to work in and learn from communities.

The other advantages include study abroad opportunities where many students travel on a semester exchange programme/summer school and study courses at partner institutes.

“The opportunity to specialize in two or more diverse disciplines, 1:17 faculty to student ratio, 242+ courses across 20 disciplines, summer trips, conferences, professors from foreign universities offering short-term programmes and co-taught courses are a few highlights that set SSLA an apart from other liberal arts colleges in the country.

Overall, there is a focus on developing the students’ ability to research while honing their reading, writing and critical thinking skills.”

Warranting vibrant and dynamic individuals the student community at SSLA la is engaged in a host of cocurricular and extracurricular activities.

The institute has 11 active clubs that are entirely student-run and organize a host of events, lectures, and workshops throughout the year

These include clubs dedicated to music, theatre, psychology, and trekking. The achievements of the theatre club, natak society, and poetry club, it could be verse, are particularly noteworthy.

SSLA believes, its programme is well suited to prepare students to face a volatile uncertain world.

The 21st century presents an influx of change within the technological and socio-cultural space with expectations of global skills and competencies from the youth.

SSLA programme is well-crafted to cater to the uncertain future with its inter-multi and transdisciplinary, interwoven learning that focuses on research, critical analysis, technological literacy and more importantly communication and soft skills.

Our students are thus well placed in learning how to learn, learning how to think, and learning how to question and these skills set that they gain will hold them in good stead.

Living in times of significant cultural and technological changes, SSLA is committed to ensuring that students are equipped with the requisite knowledge, skills, and attitude to perform competently in an uncertain future and succeed in their personal and professional lives

Our road map ahead will be to continue and focus on our experiential and critical learning pedagogy, specific skill sets that the liberal arts ideology offers that allow us to move ahead in pace with the changing trends that the industry throws at us.

 The liberal arts programme at symbiosis school for liberal arts is a holistic programme designed as a combination of multi, inter and transdisciplinary learning focused on transferability of skills, employability, and a spirit of enquiry. The focus is on critical thinking, research, analysis and writing along with civic mindedness. The programme aspires to augment and develop individuals who are critically conscious and able to find a healthy balance between professional and personal growth.

 Freedom to pick and choose majors and minors gives students a chance to enter hybrid workspaces where expertise from two disciplines offers and edge over other.

Diversity of Courses for Distinctive Careers

Opening New Window of Opportunities

With the introduction to the vastness of Liberal Arts, you are exposed to a realm of multiple perspectives and critical thinking through the understanding of different areas like Arts, Commerce, Science, Spirituality, Media, Ecology, Management, History, Fiction, and many more. With the steady growth in the awareness regarding Liberal Arts, a more dynamic and promising future awaits us. Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts is the pioneer of Liberal Arts with its 4-years Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree programmes in B.A. In Liberal Arts (Honor’s) and B.Sc. In Liberal Arts (Honor’s) based on your choices of major and minor specialization.

Most companies today are looking for and creating positions for dynamic personalities with expertise and understanding of multiple domains to transform their methods of coping with in-house challenges while making multifaceted growth. They are now looking past just the degrees and merit to retrieve multidimensional personalities with advanced critical thinking, problem-solving, polished soft skills and a progressive approach to the future. Hence, the growing worldwide demand for Liberal Arts education.

Symbiosis International (Deemed University) houses various Bachelor of Arts courses with Liberal Arts education being one of the finest. These 4 year degree courses in India open up multiple career possibilities for you while honing you with diverse skills and knowledge, making you fit in and contribute in various verticals. It enables you to perceive situations and challenges from multiple angles and come up with unique solutions to overcome them.

We are a part of a world with endless possibilities and cultural complexity that keeps giving rise to advancements and problems alike. Every existing affair in the world today unexpectedly and uniquely connects to many others, and this is probably just the beginning. Apparently, being trained in a uni-disciplinary education system is not enough anymore while preparing to confront the complexity of a diverse world with a mix of ecological, economic, environmental, and social aspects.

 Liberal Arts at SSLA

Symbiosis International is the first university to have Liberal Arts as one of our 4-year degree courses in India. SSLA holds more than 11 years of experience in Liberal Arts, providing unique major and minor specializations. We aim to hone the thinking, writing and research skills of our students through innovative learning pedagogies, updated curriculum, unique teaching methodologies, practical experiences and so forth. We incorporate Socratic learning techniques and unconventional assessment methods to provide students with a vibrant classroom environment, sincerely focused toward the development of a strong knowledge base and sharpened soft skills. We are the only Institute to bring to the table interdisciplinary courses like Conflict & Peace, General Studies, Film Studies, Rhetorical & Critical Writing, Legal Awareness, Exploration of Natural Sciences and International Relations to name a few.

 Benefits of the Liberal Arts

Amongst all other Bachelor of Arts courses, Liberal Arts opens the doors to unique and diverse career possibilities for students. The multifaceted knowledge and skill building of Liberal arts proves to be advantageous for students in various ways.

Career Opportunities and Diverse Possibilities: With the priceless skills that come along with the Liberal Arts, a wide and vivid range of career opportunities open up in areas like journalism, media, law, civil services, social work, public policy building, academics, politics, linguistics, publishing, etc.

Soft Skill Development for Emotional Intelligence: The Bachelor of Liberal Arts course nourishes and enhances social and cultural understanding of students to boost their emotional intelligence of harmonic co-existence in regard to social, economic, cultural and environmental challenges to come in the future.

Critical Analytic Thinking and Imagination: Of all the Bachelor of Arts courses, the Liberal Arts improve your ability to understand and imagine complex situations creatively to develop in-hand and future-oriented solutions to increase possibilities of growth.

Flexibility And Ability to Face Uncertainties: With the practice of critical thinking and development of a problem-solving attitude, a student of the Liberal Arts gains the skills and flexibility to confront any challenges or uncertainties in social, professional, and personal life by creating unique solutions, options and opportunities to move past them with ease.

 Career Prospects

SSLA makes sure that every student that graduates from here is a true global citizen with a multicultural world view. Our students are dynamic, open-minded and are taught to appreciate larger similarities and minor differences in beliefs and cultures across the world. With a deep understanding of the Indian constitution, our students possess a sensitive outlook towards all cultures, classes, and genders, and are innovative and creative in their approach.

The Placement Cell at SSLA guides and grooms every student to their best of abilities and provides them with a spectrum of opportunities in different sectors to suit their interests and strengths. They are trained thoroughly through counselling and mock interviews to meet the requirements of potential recruiters.

We have a history of students working in prestigious firms and institutes after graduating from SSLA. Some of the reputed organizations that our graduates are placed in are:

- American Express

- Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs

- DViO Digital

- Ernst and Young

- Global Educational Services

- GQ Middle East

- HDFC Bank

- Mullen Lowe Lintas Group

- National Center for Advocacy

- News laundry

- Red Ice Films

- Teach for India

- The Invisible Paintbrush

- The Gateway House

- Times Network

- Uber

- World Bank and many more.....

Apart from these, there are graduates from SSLA who took to higher education at institutes like:

- Ambedkar University

- Australian National University

- Berkley University of California

- Boston Conservatory

- Columbia University

- Georgetown University

- Hyderabad University

- John Hopkins University

- Kings College

- Leiden University

- London School of Economics and many others.....

Liberal Arts takes the term art in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. Thus, Liberal Arts encourages a diversified approach to learning covering multiple disciplines of study such as literature, philosophy, math's, sciences and the social sciences, which gives learners a broader perspective of the field they choose, a positive mindset and a broader, more informed world view.

Liberal Arts were the continuation of Ancient Greek methods of enquiry that began with a "desire for a universal understanding”. In 4th century Athens, the government of the polis, or city-state, respected the ability of rhetoric or public speaking above almost everything else. The first recorded use of the term "liberal arts" in literature by Cicero, but it is unclear if he created the term. (Source: Wikipedia)

In India, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA) was the first liberal arts college. Today, the B.A. / B.Sc. Honors Degree in Liberal Arts offered at SSLA adapts the well-established international ideology of liberal arts education. Students join SSLA for its strong academics, innovative learning, transdisciplinary learning model, constructive and friendly environment and of course, its internationally valued 4-year programme tailored to the Indian scenario. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students are equipped with the technical, academic and practical knowledge to excel in their future careers.

SSLA offers a wide range of courses with the freedom to pick and choose major and minor areas of specialization. Unique combinations like Biology and Economics open up avenues in fields like Health Economics, Policy Making, Pharmacare, etc. The number of combinations possible is in thousands.  

Along with the coursework, students are encouraged to take their learning experience beyond the classroom. SSAL partners with the industry and NGOs for student research, internships, community outreach and placements. These projects are then assessed and integrated into the programme structure.

SSLA has set up a collaborative for Asian Anthropology to bring together cooperation and information relative to the diverse communities and people of Asia and the world.  SSLA also hosts the India Association for Big History. Its members promote an interdisciplinary model to trace the trajectory of the world and our existence in it, from our origins in the Big Bang to the present, through an interactive micro / macro perspective.

SSLA differentiates itself by offering opportunities in two or more diverse disciplines. With a faculty: student ratio of 1:20, individual attention is guaranteed. With 242+ courses across 20 disciplines. workshops, study trips and conferences integrated in the programme, and international exposure, semester exchange and summer trips, SSLA thoroughly prepares students for the real world.

SSLA offers 4-year Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Arts) Honors and Bachelor of Science (Liberal Arts) Honors programmes with Majors in Philosophy, Anthropology, Media Studies, Business Studies, International Relations, Political Science & Public Policy. All Majors can also be taken as Minors.

The list of Minors includes Women’s and Gender Studies, History, Film Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Biology, Physics, Performing Arts and Law, Mathematics & Statistics, Computer Studies, English, Economics, Psychology, Sociology and interesting subjects like History of Ideas, Short Stories from around the World etc.

Students can try their hands at getting their work published. They can take a lead in conceptualizing and running home-grown publications, ranging from political commentary to poetic expression. The strength of SSLA is its vibrant student community. SSL encourages student participation in as many processes as possible. The School has a very active student council and student body who are engaged throughout the year in various club activities run entirely by the students.

Over the four years at SSLA, students are nurtured to become effective thinkers and communicators, possessing research and analytical skills, interpersonal skills, and multi-tasking abilities. In the ever-changing work environment, these transferable skills help students thrive in diverse domains, even when not specifically trained in them.

Liberal Arts takes the term art in the sense of a learned skill rather than specifically the fine arts. Thus, Liberal Arts encourages a diversified approach to learning covering multiple disciplines of study such as literature, philosophy, math's, sciences and the social sciences, which gives learners a broader perspective of the field they choose, a positive mindset and a broader, more informed world view.

Liberal Arts were the continuation of Ancient Greek methods of enquiry that began with a "desire for a universal understanding”. In 4th century Athens, the government of the polis, or city-state, respected the ability of rhetoric or public speaking above almost everything else. The first recorded use of the term "liberal arts" in literature by Cicero, but it is unclear if he created the term. (Source: Wikipedia)

In India, Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (SSLA) was the first liberal arts college. Today, the B.A. / B.Sc. Honors Degree in Liberal Arts offered at SSLA adapts the well-established international ideology of liberal arts education. Students join SSLA for its strong academics, innovative learning, Tran’s disciplinary learning model, constructive and friendly environment and of course, its internationally valued 4-year programmed tailored to the Indian scenario. Through a multidisciplinary approach, students are equipped with the technical, academic   and practical knowledge to excel in their future careers.

SSLA offers a wide range of courses with the freedom to pick and choose major and minor areas of specialization. Unique combinations like Biology and Economics open up avenues in fields like Health Economics, Policy Making, Pharmacare, etc. The number of combinations possible is in thousands.  

Along with the coursework, students are encouraged to take their learning experience beyond the classroom. SSAL partners with the industry and NGOs for student research, internships, community outreach and placements. These projects are then assessed and integrated into the programme structure.

SSLA has set up a collaborative for Asian Anthropology to bring together cooperation and information relative to the diverse communities and people of Asia and the world.  SSLA also hosts the India Association for Big History. Its members promote an interdisciplinary model to trace the trajectory of the world and our existence in it, from our origins in the Big Bang to the present, through an interactive micro / macro perspective.

SSLA differentiates itself by offering opportunities in two or more diverse disciplines. With a faculty: student ratio of 1:20, individual attention is guaranteed. With 242+ courses across 20 disciplines. workshops, study trips and conferences integrated in the programme, and international exposure, semester exchange and summer trips, SSLA thoroughly prepares students for the real world.

SSLA offers 4-year Bachelor of Arts (Liberal Arts) Honours and Bachelor of Science (Liberal Arts) Honours programmes with Majors in Philosophy, Anthropology, Media Studies, Business Studies, International Relations, Political Science & Public Policy. All Majors can also be taken as Minors.

The list of Minors includes Women’s and Gender Studies, History, Film Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Biology, Physics, Performing Arts and Law, Mathematics & Statistics, Computer Studies, English, Economics, Psychology, Sociology and interesting subjects like History of Ideas, Short Stories from around the World etc.

Students can try their hands at getting their work published. They can take a lead in conceptualising and running home-grown publications, ranging from political commentary to poetic expression. The strength of SSLA is its vibrant student community. SSL encourages student participation in as many processes as possible. The School has a very active student council and student body who are engaged throughout the year in various club activities run entirely by the students.

 Over the four years at SSLA, students are nurtured to become effective thinkers and communicators, possessing research and analytical skills, interpersonal skills, and multi-tasking abilities. In the ever-changing work environment, these transferable skills help students thrive in diverse domains, even when not specifically trained in them.

A liberal arts degree offers foundational knowledge across many different subject areas. Liberal arts students will find themselves exposed to ideas and topics that range from arts to science and mathematics and even business studies. A liberal arts degree provides general knowledge and career-relevant skills that prepare students for a range of professions.

  What does Liberal Arts mean?

 A liberal arts education includes the study of history, literature, writing, philosophy, sociology, psychology, creative arts and more. A Bachelor of Liberal Arts programme is designed to help students formulate compelling arguments, communicate well and solve problems.

 Steve Jobs once said, “It is in Apple's DNA that technology alone is not enough - it's technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing.”

That's because these degree programs are designed to develop soft skills such as:

Creativity

Collaboration

Effective communication

Critical Thinking

 These are highly desirable professional traits and earning a liberal arts degree, especially from a reputed institute such as Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts can be an effective way to show employers students have the skills necessary to be an asset in a range of fields.

 What Exactly Does A Liberal Syllabus Include?

 Some popular subjects include:

●     English

●     Communication

●     History

●     Psychology

●     Mathematics

 But also remember, liberal arts is a broad term that can be encompass everything from theatre arts to economics.

 A liberal arts education is intended to give students general knowledge and the ability to think critically and learn any subject – instead of specific skills needed for a technical profession. Instead, liberal arts sharpen students research, writing and critical thinking skills.

 As to what students can do with an education in liberal arts, the benefits go far beyond the specific subject knowledge from a particular degree. When it's time to enter the job market, liberal arts graduates have a huge array of possibilities available to them, including many in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and business.

 What is a Bachelor of Arts course good for?

 With further training, nearly all bachelor of arts degrees can lead to careers in education, allowing graduates – with the right qualifications – to share their passion with others. These degrees also lend themselves well to further studies and research. Many liberal arts students are also interested in giving back and connecting with people, which leads them to careers in politics, public service and other helping professions.

 These are some of the more traditional paths for liberal arts graduates. But they can be found in nearly all industries and professions. Their ability to think critically, adapt quickly and solve problems is in demand and liberal arts graduates may find their niche in areas such as marketing, sales, strategy or relationship-driven work such as customer relations and account management.

 Their skills in reading, research and making complex information digestible can help them get up to speed quickly on technical subjects, even when they may not have a formal technical background.

 Liberal arts graduates often know how to connect with others and can excel at adding the "human touch" to whichever field they enter. Liberal arts graduates approach problems in the workplace and the world from a unique vantage point by tapping into the humanistic qualities and dynamics at times overlooked due to a narrowed and single approach to problem-solving.

 What Jobs Can students Get with a 4 Year Degree Course in Liberal Arts in India?

 After graduating students can look forward to entering a number of careers in business, government, education and healthcare thanks to the transferable skills a liberal arts education provides.