New Freshman class predictable in choice of majors

09/12/08 - Every year, a new group of freshmen enter the University of Rhode Island, but regardless some administrators say the choice of majors is not changing. The most popular undergraduate majors during the past five years have been communication studies, psychology, nursing and pharmacy.

Though the statistics for this year cannot be compiled until October, Dean of University College Jayne Richmond and Coordinator for University College and Advising for Undeclared Students Linda Lyons agreed on the popularity of those majors.

"Where the squeeze is is where it's always been," Richmond said.

This year, the university is experiencing a deficit, which has led to early retirements in many departments, and subsequently causing either hasty hires or vacancies. But Richmond said she has not seen an effect among the freshman class who are choosing their majors for the first time.

"Nothing has changed ... there has been no problem there," Richmond said. "I haven't heard of any situation anywhere. The faculty so far have really been stepping up."

Richmond said based on her observations, nursing seemed to be the fastest growing major, and statistics from the past few years proves her right.

Nursing pushed communication studies out of the No. 1 spot for 2006 and 2007 and made up more than 5 percent of the student population, but the five top majors have been mostly stagnant. Nursing, which comprised 458 in 2003, boasted 768 last year.

"When I came here eight years ago, they were looking for students," Lyons said, referring to the nursing major.

Another upsurge is in the field of kinesiology, which grew from 345 to 485 from 2003 to 2007. Richmond attributed this to the rising interest in clinical practices, and said she expects to see the interest continue.

"People really like more hands-on learning," she said.

The passion for communication studies, Lyons said, may be because of the wide array of job opportunities available for such majors.

"Communications does a beautiful job of dealing with the masses," Richmond said. "It serves people so well."

Richmond said many undeclared students gravitate toward communication studies as their declaration, or other liberal arts degrees. About 60 percent of freshmen change their major, while 1,100 students in the freshmen class are currently undeclared.

"Sometimes the liberal arts majors give them the most freedom," Richmond said.

She said she feels students come into college with a weight on their shoulders when choosing what major will dictate the next four years of their lives.

"I think some of them come in a little stressed about it," Lyons said.

Richmond pointed to the University College's motto, "No Major? No Problem!" and said it is very common for students to remain undecided their freshman or even sophomore year. To combat this, the University College will hold a series of workshops and informative socials designed to help students "find their affinity" the first week of October.

In addition, the advisers have recruited Residential Peer Mentors in majors such as nursing and engineering to help undecided students and formed a Facebook group called "Undecided at URI." Both are new additions.

In the future, both administrators said they expected a rise in ecology-friendly majors, especially with the initiatives URI is taking to be a more "green-friendly" school.

"The issue of sustainability and green life are important," Richmond said. "I think there will be a shift toward environmental programs."

"It's the nature of the attention to the environment," Lyons added.

Another expectation they have is a bigger surge in psychology and other mental health fields.

"I still don't think that's reached its zenith," Richmond said.

But no matter what major students may choose, both administrators agreed the passion for the major, or majors, is what is essential in determining one's learning path.

"Just let it naturally evolve, and be excited about it," Lyons said.