Major Drop-outs

Some majors at LSC tend to keep hold of their students better than others do.

Drastic changes are seen when looking at the change in number of students in each department from their enrollment in 2005 to their graduation in 2009. Most of the numbers decreased, due to the whole class becoming smaller as time went on, but some departments actually showed an increase in students by graduation time.

Among the highest attrition rates seen in departments are Atmospheric Sciences, with a change from 41 students to only eight students (a 80% decrease), TVS, which changed from 39 students to 16 students (a 59% decrease), and Education, with a change from 24 students to 9 students ( a 63% decrease).

The lowest attrition rates are found in psychology, which started with 17 students and ended with 26 (a 53% increase), English, which started with seven students and ended with 11 (a 57% increase), and Liberal Studies, which began with six students and ended with 11 (an 83% increase).

The psychology department, which includes both psychology and human services, had the highest rates among all the departments of holding on to and even gaining students over the four years.

"People are curious as to why people behave the way they do" said Patricia Shine, Psychology department chair and professor. "In terms of keeping students, I'd like to think it's because we are a department who pays a lot of attention to our students . . . but that's a hallmark of the college at large." She went on to say that the psychology department provides students with many hands-on opportunities that seems to draw them in.

According to the LSC 2008 Graduate Survey Report, 83% of 2008 psychology graduates who responded to the survey were employed or continuing their education. Shine said that the placement numbers are lower in this particular year than past years because of the state of the economy.

"You can do such a broad range of things with a degree in psychology and human services," said Mariah Ogden, who is a sophomore double majoring in psychology and human services. " There are a lot of opportunities."

On the other end of the spectrum, the atmospheric science department (formerly known as meteorology) had the greatest rate of attrition for the class of 2009.

Some students who start just don't know what meteorology is all about, said Nolan Atkins who is is the chair and professor for atmospheric science.

"Many think it is 'storm chasing' or simply presenting a weather forecast in front of a green screen," Atkins said. "Based on student perception, it is likely that atmospheric science is the most difficult major for the majority of students on campus." This is the only major at LSC that requires Calculus I, II, and III, as well as Classical Physics I and II.

Atkins said that he frequently sees people that leave this major to transfer to others within LSC. These often include Business, Natural Science, TVS, Liberal Studies, and Education.

The difficulties to graduate in this major do pay off. 88% of students from the 2008 Graduate Report had jobs or were furthering their studies.

Students who graduated in 2009 included students who came in undecided and picked a major somewhere along the way; others may have switched majors part-way through. Others still were transfers or re-admits that did not enroll at LSC in 2005. Drop-outs as well as all these other factors affected the changes in numbers of students in each department.