
What is College For?
Season 1 Episode 53 | 56m 30s
David Brooks, Interviewer, William Deresiewicz
At a time when traditional notions of college are under attack — in the shift to online instruction, in the emphasis on STEM fields and the denigration of the liberal arts, in the continued privatization of public higher education — it is urgent that we ask what college is supposed to be about in the first place. What happens when education is understood in purely vocational terms?
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
The Aspen Institute produces the Aspen Ideas Festival in concert with its partner, The Atlantic.

What is College For?
Season 1 Episode 53 | 56m 30s
At a time when traditional notions of college are under attack — in the shift to online instruction, in the emphasis on STEM fields and the denigration of the liberal arts, in the continued privatization of public higher education — it is urgent that we ask what college is supposed to be about in the first place. What happens when education is understood in purely vocational terms?
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Aspen Ideas Festival
Aspen Ideas Festival is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship- News and Public Affairs
Top journalists deliver compelling original analysis of the hour's headlines.
- News and Public Affairs
FRONTLINE is investigative journalism that questions, explains and changes our world.
Support for PBS provided by:
The Aspen Institute produces the Aspen Ideas Festival in concert with its partner, The Atlantic.