The Humanities and Professional Training in Broadcast Education.

Overview & Synopsis

The question of the proper mix of liberal arts courses and professional broadcast training courses in higher education is often debated. Many feel that broadcast education in higher education should return to a greater study of humanistic, liberal arts courses with a de-emphasis on the vocational aspects of the curricula. Vocational training is defined as teaching "how to," but not "what" or "why." Conversley, liberal arts education teaches the power of understanding and judgment. Expanded perception and extension of the ability to think logically and thoroughly about any subject, to learn the difference between dogma and reality, to note discrepancies and to acquire the habit of precise and accurate communication--in short, the development of critical thought, which may not be relevant to getting the first job but may be relevant to the survival of our civilization--should be the aim of broadcast education. (Author/HB)