[Superman]

The "liberal arts" are the social sciences. The non-science stuff. Poly Sci. Psych. Phil. Soc. History.

"Liberal Arts College" basically connotes a college or university that does not 'bend over' to the accreditation requirements mandated by the various special-discipline associations. Most large, well-known universities do more research than teaching. The teaching they do tends to be sterile. It's an education that you could get, if you worked at it, without ever entering a classroom. In fact, at most large universities, it can be pretty difficult to get a conference with your professor. I've heard of professors who are so enamored with their research and so contemptuous of their teaching duties that their conference schedule is once per week, for a half-hour, and only by phone!

By contrast, the last university I attended, a noted liberal arts school (Gonzaga University), I could find a professor of any subject I chose, in his or her office, any time of the day, happy to answer my questions.

In short, "liberal arts" schools are schools whose focus is on teaching and students and critical thought. The rest are diploma mills.