One of the most outstanding elements of a liberal arts education includes learning how to think critically. Having both a Bachelor in Political Science and a Master in Public Service and Administration (MPSA) degree, I have been able to maximize my opportunities to critically think on issues that are complex and constantly changing. To think critical means to consider multiple valid perspectives about an issue and to think of problems thoroughly with the big picture in mind.

Reflecting on my coursework for my Bachelor of Science in Political Science, I understand the importance of my liberal arts degree and how it helped me get to where I am today. By completing a broad set of undergraduate courses, I was able to learn about a variety of topics and understanding multiple perspectives on such topics. This is helpful in that local government requires employees to have knowledge and skills in a variety of areas. Group projects and collaboration in classes were the primary ways that I learned how to consider multiple perspectives. By gauging feedback from people who see things differently than me and taking it into consideration when presenting solutions, I've been able to become more well-rounded. With the inclusion of multiple perspectives and arguments on certain issues, I always made sure to follow through with the potential externalities of different policies or solutions to projects. The rigorous political environments public servants work in reflect these projects. Final policy recommendations and outcomes are often nuanced and account for multiple perspectives. By doing this routinely, I helped foster a sense of inclusion, as my classmates and I sometimes disagreed, yet we included alternative arguments as a part of presentations and discussions.

By completing my Master's degree in Public Service and Administration (MPSA), I have been able to focus specifically on the various management and policy issues at all levels of government. I have been able to see these diverse issues mostly from the big picture and sometimes from an in-depth perspective. As a future manager, it is incredibly important to maintain attention to detail, but also see each issue and project in the context of the larger priorities in government. My coursework in Public Management and Program Evaluation helped me significantly in developing these skills. I worked on a group project which studied the issue of affordable housing in the City of Missoula, Montana. The research and recommendations from the final memo/presentation required thinking critically through a complex problem. Since the memo was addressed to the elected officials, we kept the ideas at a high level to maintain focus on the big picture and address the audience appropriately. In my Program Evaluation class, my group project focused on evaluating the No Child Left Behind program. While each member of the group did thorough research, we made sure to focus on large impact items that hindered or helped the government's initiatives. From both projects and courses, I learned the necessity of how the big picture is the bottom line of public service, all while maintaining a high attention to detail.

Critical thinking is foundational to any educational experience. I was fortunate enough to get two degrees and experience the different aspects of critical thinking. This important skill includes thinking through and considering multiple perspectives and providing solutions with the big picture in mind. My diverse array of coursework and two degrees provided me with direct experience in all of these areas.