More seniors today are majoring in biology and economics than five years ago, but government, history and English remain Dartmouth's most popular majors.
At the start of Fall term, 155 seniors are government majors, 122 are history majors and 121 are English majors, according to Teresa Rodimon, the assistant to the registrar. There are currently 1,017 seniors.
Government has been the most popular major at the College for the past five years. The Class of 1995 had 153 government majors and the Class of 1991 had 195 government majors.
The next most popular majors after government, history and English are economics, with 108 senior majors, and biology, with 103 senior majors.
Just 10 years ago, the biology department had only 44 declared senior majors, and the number was still only 51 for the Class of 1991.
The number of economics majors has grown significantly in the last few years. Five years ago the department had only 85 majors.
Economics Department Chair John Menge said he contributes the rise in economics majors to several factors.
"There has always been a strong interest among students to pursue a career in business and finance," Menge said.
"With the legal numbers diminishing in the last five years, an economics major looks more attractive and provides a good foundation to go on to business school," he said.
He said the department made a conscious effort to improve itself.
"We got some really good researchers and teachers. The students have really responded to them," he said.
The number of senior English and creative writing majors have slowly dropped in the last few years, going from 151 majors in the Class of 1991 to 137 for the Class of 1995. The Class of 1996 currently has 121 English majors.
"I attribute the decline in numbers to the movement into the social sciences and sciences," English Department Chair William Cook said.
"Government has the largest enrollment," he said. "The focus has become more and more on what students think has a direct influence on the job market."
Cook said the department has tried to take steps to increase the number of English majors.
"We have revised the whole system of major liaison," he said. "We have a more cohesive major now." For example he said majors are allowed to sit in on department meetings.
The religion department, with just 10 senior majors this year, is at one of its lowest levels ever. Ten years ago, there were 51 senior religion majors.
Religion Department Chair Hans Penner said he does not know how to explain the decrease in numbers.
"It goes up. It goes down.," he said. "We can't really chart student interests."
He also said although many students do not become religion majors, quite a few students do take religion courses.
"The major is down, but enrollment isn't," Penner said. "Religion 1 has around 200 students enrolled."
