lxxxii
2.7.08
published on 11/12/04
Now and Then
Taking a look at the popularity of majors, 30 years ago and today
Larissa Pahomov 
Contributing Editor
In 1974, 34 courses of study were available to students as a major. In 2004, the number had increased to 47. In the interim, the College has seen changes in which majors attract the most students. The Miscellany News took a look at these shifts by calculating the average number of majors in each discipline over two four-year periods, 1971-74 and 2001-04. These averages were then compared against the average total number of degrees awarded in the same period.
Of the majors that existed at both these times, several saw dramatic increases in participation.
Other groups experienced slight or more major decreases in participation.
While most programs have experienced a decrease in popularity when compared to the total number of degrees awarded, this can be attributed in part to the increase in options available to students. Moreover, despite the general downward trend in popularity, 8 of the 10 most popular majors in 1971-1974 remain on that list in 2001-2004. Film, a major that did not exist in 1974, is perhaps the most notable additions to the top ten.
Top Ten Majors: 1971-74
1. Psychology
2. English
3. History
4. Political Science
5. Independent Program
6. Art
7. Antropology
8. Sociology
9. Economics
10. Biology
Top Ten Majors: 2001-04
1. Political Science
2. English
Psychology
4. Economics
5. Art
6. Sociology
7. History
8. Film
9. Drama
10. Computer Science
Political Science secured the top spot over the past four years with an average of 64 majors, while Psychology had the number one spot in 1971-74 with an average of 66 majors.
In addition, several majors that have gone down in relative popularitiy have still increased in size due to the overall increase in enrollment. Biology has increased its average number of degrees by over 50 percent, from 13.75 to 21, and yet it fell off the top ten majors list (to number 11.) Another example is the cases of both Philosophy and Mathematics, whose have both increased slightly in number of degrees awarded, but are now surrounded by other courses of study who award an average of 10-12 degrees a year.
The bottom line: While the interests of the student body are changing, the number of majors available has as much to do with popularity as new developments in education. While the most popular majors have stayed the same, they represent a smaller percentage of the total degrees awarded.
The average number of total degrees awarded jumped 32 percent from 1971-74 to 2001-04, from 456.5 to 602.75, while the number of courses of study available has increased by a larger 38%. By the numbers, there are more options now than there are students to go around.
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Alumnae/i posters are strongly encouraged to include their class year with their name. The maximum length for comments is approximately 100 words; longer responses should be submitted as letters to the editor to misc@vassar.edu. More information about our letters policy can be found on our Policies page.
