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[racketsports]

As a follow-up to my own post from earlier (after doing some research for my own interest), there are schools in Canada that can probably compare to US liberal arts colleges. 

Bingo!

I would say that altho. Canadian universities are publicly funded, some of the places named above, such as Mount A., Bishop's and Laurier (as well as perhaps King's and St. FX, to name a few more) would offer a similar experience to an American SLAC.  Ditto the smaller colleges associated with larger universities (such as King's) which are really a law unto themselves.  As for the teaching, I very strongly disagree with the following:

From what I know about the Canadian system, the smaller schools like Mount Allison, Bishops, Wilfred Laurier, etc... are closer to the comprehensive, primarily-undergraduate universities of the US.  They are still publicly-funded institutions, and as such have a lingering propensity to want to become the next "Harvard of the North" (to secure federal $$).  I have known several colleagues at smaller Canadian schools who have seen their departments filled with pure researchers who can't teach (or communicate effectively) if their life depended on it.  A liberal arts college would not entertain such a hiring practice.

I'm not sure what you're referring to, exactly. Frankly, in this job market, it's hardly uncommon for professors with R-1 doctorates to end up teaching at SLACs even though their intention was always to teach at another R-1.  This happens everywhere.  My experience with what was essentially a Canadian SLAC was extremely positive, and I had great professors and small courses. The difference between a US SLAC and my undergrad? Less entitlement, and fewer spoiled students who demanded certain 'perks' (you know, like a $10 million gym). 

[jdmurray]

Having spent some of my time at Aberdeen University (in Scotland), which interestingly conforms to some of the seeming requirements of a Liberal Arts institution, I have to say I was less than ipressed with the teachimg quality and the above quote referring to Canadian practice cretainly rings a few bells. My prime reason for attending the University was precisely the fact that it gave me the option of studying a broad range of subjects. I was merely discouraged by the poor lecturing quality, especially in their History Department. This, in fact, led me to leave before seeing out my first year and so I begin the long search for another location to embark on more fruitful study.
Having done some more affective research I have discovered these "SLAC's" which are extremely appealing to me. However, I am somewhat upset to discover their presence only in the US and only to those able to afford their extremely high fees. I know that loans and grants are, of course, available but I don't think I'm quite scholarship material for somewhere that already describes itself as "selctive" and I would rather avoid accumulating a debt similar in size to some small countries! The possibility that there may be pubicly run institutes in Canada that provide similar education as an American SLAC is highly relieving only few of them seem to tout themselves as such.
I notoced that racketsports metioned his college gave him an "extremely positive" experience an the ability to avoid

spoiled students who demanded certain 'perks' (you know, like a $10 million gym). 
[/quote]

which appears to be anothe of the pit-falls associted with a US SLAC.

So my question is really directed at racketsorts: where were you and would you recommend it for someone interested in studying arts; mainly literature?

[porcupine]

It is possible to do general arts degrees at some institutions, but these tend to be the least respected/prestigious universities.

I think Durham might disagree with the above definition.

Having said which, Durham and the OU are the only two places I can think of offhand in England that really do allow considerable breadth of study.

Durham's program is excellent. The Combined Arts and Combined Social Sciences degrees are certainly not considered soft options - they are extremely challenging. Students taking either of these degrees are expected to work to the same standard as students specializing in one or sometimes two disciplines, while themselves taking courses in up to four different disciplines. This means they have to acquire a significant depth of subject knowledge in order to match their peers in each course, but in a broader range of subjects than their peers. A core course is provided for each degree program.

Bradford has an interesting, though sadly under-funded, interdisciplinary program in the humanities, which emphasizes connections between different subjects such as psychology, sociology, philosophy and literature - their courses are often team-taught across disciplines.

[mended_drum]

Let me note that not all American SLACs are private.  Many, if not most, state university systems include at least a couple of SLACs in addition to universities and community colleges.  Some of these may have limited graduate programs, but powerful reputations for concentrating on undergraduate education (SUNY-Geneseo, for example).  You don't have to go deeply in debt for the SLAC experience.