In an article on why science and math students often change majors to other disciplines: “The latest research also suggests that there could be more subtle problems at work, like the proliferation of grade inflation in the humanities and social sciences, which provides another incentive for students to leave STEM majors.”
Okay, guys, feel free to blame it on us, but don’t do it because we give higher grades. How about the fact that I was often the only professor my students had who knew their names?? A very big part of my choice of the English major was the emphasis on small class sizes and discussion-oriented seminars. I know full well that science classes are hard. But I also know that students will do a lot to master difficult material in the right settings, and a lecture of 400 is not an ideal learning environment.
Sydney’s response: Attrition is a good thing. Everyone’s told to go into one of three “stable” majors, and that’s all they can see coming into college. Attrition is the only way that most majors get students to give them a shot. Philosophy isn’t taught in high school, and it’s not on students’ radars. But some really smart students realize that applied-science-x is just not for them, give us a shot, and get hooked.
Erin
Alan Schmierer