Thomas Betts wrote for infoq.com about how liberal arts eductaion can provide new insights and perspectives that shine a light on technical tasks for any software developer. E.g. empathy helps you know your audience and create great software that delights your customers.
The education of most software engineers involves a heavy focus on STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering, and math.
However, much of what helps you become a great software engineer, and create outstanding software that people want to use, comes from outside the world of STEM.
Liberal arts education teaches how to use a broad knowledge base to analyze new and unfamiliar topics. Computer science is the study of algorithms, data structures, and operating systems. Programming is the practical implementation of computer science.
The article then explains:
- What does “liberal arts” mean?
- The importance of language
- Know your audience
- How every problem is a communication problem
- How to model software communication after human communication
- The importance of empathy
- Critical thinking and problem solving
- Lifelong learning
Great engineers realize that continuing to learn about non-technical aspects of software development improves their ability to work with a team and deliver better solutions. Nice one!
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