Economics (1,208 students enrolled), finance (1,203), biology (807), political science (769), communication (615), and psychology (548) are once again the most popular undergraduate majors this academic year, a ranking sequence that has changed little in the past decade.
Enrollment statistics for the University鈥檚 9,532 undergraduate day students and 5,574 graduate students were compiled during the fall 2021 semester by 精东影业's Institutional Research and Planning office.
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The other most-enrolled majors for the current academic year include computer science (494), nursing (419), and applied psychology and human development (414), while neuroscience鈥攊ntroduced in 2019鈥攈as already become the 10th most popular major at 精东影业, with 383 students.
The 2021-2022 IR&P report also found that 37 percent of 精东影业 undergraduates are majoring in a STEM field.
In addition to being 精东影业鈥檚 second-most popular major, finance is its most-enrolled minor (491), followed by management and leadership (267), marketing (241), philosophy (152), history (144), managing for social impact (128), medical humanities (119), computer science (118), global public health (108), and international studies (94).
Other reported statistics show the Carroll School of Management has the highest number of graduate students at 精东影业, with 1,037, followed closely by the Lynch School of Education and Human Development with 1,035; 精东影业 Law is third with 880. The Carroll School and Lynch School also awarded the most graduate degrees between August 2020 and May 2021鈥�366 and 313, respectively鈥攁long with the 精东影业 School of Social Work (273) and 精东影业 Law (235).
Annually assembled statistics such as these offer potential insights into the interests, motivations, and aspirations of 精东影业 undergrads, according to University administrators and faculty members. The popularity of certain majors and minors at 精东影业 may reflect wider societal and generational trends, they say, but also likely speak to the ethos of students who have chosen to pursue a Jesuit, Catholic education.
“[A]t 精东影业, where the mission is to educate the whole person, undergrads have the best of both worlds. They get a thorough grounding in their chosen field and, through our core curriculum and our interdisciplinary minors, they can also explore those big issues and big questions. So, these students are able to bring a unique perspective and world view to their career in economics, finance, biology, political science鈥攚hatever their major may have been.”
鈥淚鈥檓 not surprised that our top majors have stayed constant,鈥� said Vice Provost for Undergraduate Academic Affairs Akua Sarr. 鈥淥ur students have such an awareness of, and interest in, big issues鈥攃limate change, health disparities, economic inequities, racial justice鈥攁nd big questions in matters of faith, values, morals, and ethics. They also are pragmatic, and so they will consider those majors they see as most likely to help lead them to a job.
鈥淏ut at 精东影业, where the mission is to educate the whole person, undergrads have the best of both worlds. They get a thorough grounding in their chosen field and, through our core curriculum and our interdisciplinary minors, they can also explore those big issues and big questions. So, these students are able to bring a unique perspective and world view to their career in economics, finance, biology, political science鈥攚hatever their major may have been."
Economics faculty have previously cited a greater awareness and appreciation of the discipline as a reason for its continued popularity among students, who view economics as a useful analytical lens for a multi-faceted understanding of issues such as climate change, income inequality, crime, and now, the effects of the pandemic.
Professor Christopher Baum, the current department chair, cites two developments in recent years that also have had a favorable impact on enrollment. Like a number of colleges and universities, he said, 精东影业 opted to reclassify economics from a social science to a STEM field, which for many undergraduates鈥攅specially international students鈥攎akes it more attractive in terms of potential career prospects. In addition, the Carroll School鈥檚 decision in 2018 to make its minors available to non-management students has led some students to choose economics because they can supplement the major with courses in finance, accounting, management and leadership, managing for social impact, and marketing.
Likewise, notes Baum, Carroll School students can complete the full economics major or minor rather than a concentration in economics. 鈥淔rom what we鈥檝e seen in our recent graduating classes, the economics major is providing a strong background for a productive career or further studies,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e often said that an economics background trains a student to think, to understand costs and benefits, assess externalities, and apply quantitative analysis to the data to produce science-based judgments. The emphasis placed on these learning outcomes is paying off.鈥�
Haub Family Professor and Finance Chair Ronnie Sadka sees the appeal of finance as stemming from its propensity鈥� like many business and management fields鈥攆or adapting to new circumstances, especially the pandemic.
鈥淔irst, the pandemic brought to focus the rise of the retail trader, armed with social media and easy access to financial markets via trading platforms, and some cash in their pockets during the pandemic. Retail traders now significantly impact financial markets. Many asset management firms hired thousands of financial advisers to service individual investors.
鈥淎nother aspect is the amount of attention drawn to financial economics, such as the rise in inflation,鈥� Sadka added. 鈥淭he market and the economy are so dynamic and ever evolving, and I think many students find this interesting.鈥�
Professor Elizabeth Kensinger, who chairs the Psychology and Neuroscience Department, expected the neuroscience major to be popular鈥斺�淚t鈥檚 one of the fastest- growing scientific disciplines, and there had been long-standing student enthusiasm for developing the major鈥濃�攂ut she and her colleagues are pleasantly surprised by its meteoric rise.
鈥淲e are thrilled that the major鈥檚 focus, which leverages the study of brain mechanisms toward an improved understanding of the human condition, is resonating with so many students,鈥� Kensinger said.
The arrival of the neuroscience major on the eve of the pandemic proved to be fortuitous, she added. 鈥淭he societal impacts of the pandemic have highlighted the importance of social connection, and the intricate links between mental and physical health. Our majors are exploring these topics as they take courses on the neural systems of social behavior, or on the effects of stress on learning and development. Our faculty are terrific at encouraging students to think about how the topics they鈥檙e studying are relevant to their daily experiences.鈥�
Sean Smith | University Communications | February 2022