Communication and Finance Are Top Majors
A&S, graduate nursing enrollments highest ever
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More students are studying nursing, physics and Islamic society than ever before, while communication remains the University's most popular major, helping to push the College of Arts and Sciences to a record enrollment, according to a study released by the Office of Student Services.The 6,058 undergraduate enrollments in A&S mark the largest ever. Following A&S is the Carroll School of Management with 1,948 students, the Lynch School of Education with 672 students and the Connell School of Nursing with 382 undergraduates.
Among the highlights from current enrollment trends:
•With 843 students, communication resumed its place as the major with the largest enrollment after being displaced by finance last year. Finance enrolled 830 students this year.
•The Connell Graduate School of Nursing enrollment of 301 students is the largest recorded by the graduate school.
•With approximately one-third of all undergraduates completing a minor, the sciences are the largest minor area of study, with 180 students enrolled.
•Physics is at a 25-year peak enrollment with 75 students.
•The new Islamic Civilization and Societies major enrolled 19 students within its first year.
The statistics speak to relatively stable enrollment trends among 9,060 undergraduate and 4,843 graduate students at the University, say administrators.
"The trends reflect some fluctuations one way or the other, but we continue to see similar patterns as we've seen in recent years," said Office of Student Services Executive Director Louise Lonabocker. "It will be interesting to see whether the state of the economy produces any changes next year in the majors or minors students choose."
Communication Department chairwoman Assoc. Prof. Lisa Cuklanz said the popularity of the major at BC reflects national trends dating back 30 years that show the area of study attracts students with interests in a broad range of subjects. In recent years, the rapid growth in new media has added to the appeal for students.
"The major is popular in large part because of the increasing salience of communications media in social, political, and cultural life in the US and around the world," said Cuklanz. "For our undergraduates, the major also offers a particularly appealing mix of critical thinking and theoretical grounding along with the ability to be in a cutting edge field of work after graduation."
In Physics, where enrollment was 28 students in 1995, department chairman Prof. Michael Naughton attributes the surge in enrollment during the past 13 years to the academic reputation of faculty and researchers and improved efforts to reach out to students.
"We work very hard to convey a sense of welcome and excitement to prospective undergraduates during Admitted Eagle days, and other such events, showing what kinds of people 'do' physics, where our students go after graduation, and how much we value and encourage undergraduate research.
"We also back that up with actions. Full-time faculty teach all our courses, undergraduate research opportunities abound, we run a dedicated Undergraduate Resource Room that offers free physics tutoring, and we keep our doors open."
Lonabocker called the Connell Graduate School's enrollment increase a statistically significant shift reflective of new programs created by the school in recent years.
"We're thrilled about our record graduate enrollments," said the CSON Associate Dean of Graduate Programs Patricia Tabloski. "This is a result of both increased academic options for our students, including palliative care and forensic nursing tracks at the master's level, as well implementation of a more responsive and holistic application process that better serves the needs of our applicants.
"Given the nursing shortage we are facing in the United States, thinking creatively about how to educate more nurses is a priority."
Among the 2,319 graduates from BC between August 2007 and May 2008, Student Services reports that nearly one-third completed two or three majors or concentrations. There were 73 students who completed accelerated degree programs to earn an undergraduate and a graduate degree.
Ed Hayward can be reached at ed.hayward@bc.edu