Upskilling Liberal Education

Abstract

The employability of liberal arts education is a concern in a specialized labor market. As a result, there has been much-debated interest in determining the value of a liberal arts degree. Globally, there has been a greater demand for knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM-related fields. Consequently, a liberal arts education's significance has left public opinion to contemplate its value and existence. This qualitative instrumental case study used the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Career Readiness Competencies as the theoretical framework to identify the qualities, skills, and role liberal arts students at an HBCU contributed to a User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) design course. The study utilized four methods of data collection and three themes linked to the NACE Competencies that supported the skills of liberal arts students in a UX/UI design course: oral and written communication, teamwork and collaboration, and global and intercultural fluency.