博雅大學(liberal arts college)是美國高等教育的特色。與綜合型大學不同,博雅教育的靈魂是全人教育,而並不着眼於如工程、會計、建築等專業技術的培訓。博雅教育的原則是:培養學生批判性思維、培養學生高尚的道德品格和公民素養,並以其學養去服務社會,令世界更美好。它們的教育宗旨,是只要學生受過優質的全人教育,則不論其後選擇什麼專業,都會得心應手。
"The oldest existing, and continually operating educational institution in the world is the University of Karueein, founded in 859 AD in Fez, Morocco. The University of Bologna, Italy, was founded in 1088 and is the oldest one in Europe."