Question:
What are the most popular majors for college students?
Response:
Of the 1,485,000 bachelor's degrees conferred in 2005–06, the largest numbers of degrees were conferred in the fields of business (318,000), social sciences and history (161,000), and education (107,000). At the master’s degree level, the largest numbers of degrees were in the fields of education (175,000) and business (146,000). The fields with the largest number of degrees at the doctor's degree level were education (7,600), engineering (7,400), health professions and related clinical sciences (7,100), biological and biomedical sciences (5,800), psychology (4,900), and physical sciences (4,500).
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 28 percent overall between 1995–96 and 2005–06, there was substantial variation among the different fields of study, as well as shifts in the patterns of change during this time period. The number of bachelor's degrees conferred in the combined fields of engineering and engineering technologies declined 7 percent between 1995–96 and 2000–01, but then rose 12 percent between 2000-01 and 2005–06. The number of engineering and engineering technologies degrees conferred in 2005–06 was about 5 percent higher than the number conferred in 1995–96. The number of mathematics degrees declined by 12 percent between 1995–96 and 2000-01, but then rose 32 percent between 2000-01 and 2005–06. Some technical fields experienced sustained increases in degrees conferred from 1995–96 through 2005–06. After an increase of 80 percent between 1995–96 and 2000-01, the number of degrees in computer and information sciences grew 8 percent between 2000-01 and 2005–06. Other fields with sizable numbers of degrees (over 5,000) that showed increases of over 30 percent between 2000-01 and 2005–06 included visual and performing arts; transportation and material moving; philosophy and religious studies; parks, recreation, and leisure studies; mathematics and statistics; and security and protective services.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2008). Digest of Education Statistics, 2007 (NCES 2008-022), Chapter 3.
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