He also wrote extensively about almost everything else: history, diplomacy, French literature, German literature (in this case, on the lack of it), religion, philosophy and the practical arts of government (in which he himself excelled).

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Ninety miles northwest of Detroit, Michigan State started as the nation's pioneer land-grant university, charged with using public land to teach practical subjects to augment the liberal arts tradition.

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This may provide some comfort to parents who have recently sent in deposits and are worrying about the futility of a liberal arts education versus more practical degrees in engineering, computer science or say, nursing.

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Community colleges have also surged in popularity among those who already hold four-year degrees and are looking for practical skills to complement their liberal arts education and give them an advantage in the job market.

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However, he warns that if you want to pursue the arts and social sciences, you should either combine the study with a more practical major or go for a graduate degree.

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"We won't see such garments in stores for another 20 or 30 years, but the practical and creative possibilities are exciting, " said Prof Joanna Berzowska, of the Department of Design and Computation Arts at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

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