Question:
What are the most popular majors for college students?
Response:
Of the 1,439,000 bachelor’s degrees conferred in 2004–05, the largest numbers of degrees were conferred in the fields of business (312,000), social sciences and history (157,000), and education (105,000). At the master’s degree level, the largest numbers of degrees were in the fields of education (167,000) and business (143,000). The fields with the largest number of degrees at the doctor’s degree level were education (7,700), engineering (6,500), health professions and related clinical sciences (5,900), biological and biomedical sciences (5,600), and psychology (5,100).
In recent years, the numbers of bachelor’s degrees conferred have followed patterns that differed significantly by field of study. While the number of degrees increased 24 percent overall between 1994–95 and 2004–05, in some fields such as physical sciences and science technologies and health professions and related clinical sciences, the 2004–05 figures were lower than the 1994–95 figures. However, there is some evidence that these trends have shifted. The number of bachelor’s degrees conferred in the combined fields of engineering and engineering technologies declined 7 percent between 1994–95 and 1999–2000, but then rose 9 percent between 1999–2000 and 2004–05. The number of engineering and engineering technologies degrees conferred in 2004–05 was about 1 percent higher than the number conferred in 1994–95. The number of mathematics degrees declined by 15 percent between 1994–95 and 1999–2000, but then rose 26 percent between 1999–2000 and 2004–05. In addition, some technical fields experienced sustained increases in degrees conferred from 1994–95 through 2004–05. After an increase of 53 percent between 1994–95 and 1999–2000, the number of degrees in computer and information sciences grew 43 percent between 1999–2000 and 2004–05. Other fields with sizable numbers of degrees (over 5,000) that showed increases of over 20 percent between 1999–2000 and 2004–05 included visual and performing arts; theological studies/religious vocations; philosophy and religion; communications and journalism; parks, recreation, and leisure studies; security and protective services; social sciences and history; family and consumer/human sciences; area, ethnic, cultural, and gender studies; business; and liberal arts and sciences.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2007). Digest of Education Statistics, 2006 (NCES 2007-017), Chapter 3.
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