Princeton Pushes for Intellectual Diversity
Three years ago, Princeton initiated an effort to encourage undergraduates to sign up for under-subscribed majors in the humanities and sciences.
Faculty and administrators were concerned that a number of departments and programs were attracting only a small number of students. In 2004, for example, the University graduated only 13 chemistry majors. Educators worried that Princeton risked becoming an overly homogenous intellectual community if most students continued to enroll in a handful of popular majors.
In 2004, the University issued a booklet called "Major Choices" to undergrads. The booklet contained profiles of students who had majored in under-subscribed programs.
At the same time, the University allocated more resources to departments where it wanted to see major enrollment increase. These departments also took steps to make their work and course offerings more visible and attractive to prospective majors.
Princeton's initiative has paid off in significant increases in enrollment in the targeted history and science programs. The number of students majoring in comparative literature, Slavic languages, and classics has increased by 60 per cent over three years. The number of philosophy majors has grown by 40 per cent, and that of French, Italian, art and archeology, and religion majors by over 30 per cent. Chemistry and chemical engineering enrollment is also up by more than 30 per cent, while astrophysics, music, and psychology majors have increased by over 20 per cent.
Overall, the number of humanities majors grew by 15 per cent, and that of science majors by 11 per cent.
The University notes that a number of small departments, including East Asian studies and geosciences, have still not attracted more majors. It hopes that situation will change as the Major Choices initiative continues.
Technorati tags: Princeton University, Princeton
Faculty and administrators were concerned that a number of departments and programs were attracting only a small number of students. In 2004, for example, the University graduated only 13 chemistry majors. Educators worried that Princeton risked becoming an overly homogenous intellectual community if most students continued to enroll in a handful of popular majors.
In 2004, the University issued a booklet called "Major Choices" to undergrads. The booklet contained profiles of students who had majored in under-subscribed programs.
At the same time, the University allocated more resources to departments where it wanted to see major enrollment increase. These departments also took steps to make their work and course offerings more visible and attractive to prospective majors.
Princeton's initiative has paid off in significant increases in enrollment in the targeted history and science programs. The number of students majoring in comparative literature, Slavic languages, and classics has increased by 60 per cent over three years. The number of philosophy majors has grown by 40 per cent, and that of French, Italian, art and archeology, and religion majors by over 30 per cent. Chemistry and chemical engineering enrollment is also up by more than 30 per cent, while astrophysics, music, and psychology majors have increased by over 20 per cent.
Overall, the number of humanities majors grew by 15 per cent, and that of science majors by 11 per cent.
The University notes that a number of small departments, including East Asian studies and geosciences, have still not attracted more majors. It hopes that situation will change as the Major Choices initiative continues.
Technorati tags: Princeton University, Princeton
posted by AllStarEssays at 9:13 AM
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