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Posted on Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 9 a.m.

Top 5: Majors at U-M, EMU and WCC

By Juliana Keeping

What are students studying at the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University and Washtenaw Community College?

We asked them to provide their top five majors by enrollment.

majors.jpg

University of Michigan


  1. Psychology

  2. Business administration

  3. Economics

  4. Political Science

  5. Mechanical engineering

U-M tracks juniors and seniors only since students don't have to declare a major until their junior year. The most recent data - which comes from U-M's Office of Budget and Planning - is from the fall of 2008; data this year has not yet been tallied.


Eastern Michigan University


  1. Teacher education

  2. General studies

  3. Nursing

  4. Technology studies

  5. Communications and theater arts

Data is based on freshmen through senior enrollment from fall 2009 and was provided by EMU's Institutional Research and Information Management division.


Washtenaw Community College


  1. Health care foundations, including nursing and pre-nursing students

  2. Liberal arts transfer (individuals looking toward a four-year degree in an undeclared major)

  3. Business

  4. Human services

  5. Criminal justice

Anything surprising? Any majors you expected to see on the list at any of the institutions? 

Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter

Comments

lumberg48108

Tue, Oct 13, 2009 : 3:35 p.m.

The methodology used to gather this info is flawed! The College of Business has the second highest enrollment at EMU behind Arts and Sciences, and yet no business majors cracked the top five? How is this possible? Communications and Theater arts has a higher major declaration than business?

treetowncartel

Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 1:41 p.m.

Psych majors go on to work for Walmart marketing dvision.

braggslaw

Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 1:26 p.m.

Just what we need for the "new economy" psychology and political science majors.

treetowncartel

Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 10:49 a.m.

I know at U of M general studies is a specific degree, can't speak for Eastern though.. At michigandegree there required a split of 60 upper/60 lower level credits and you could not get more than 20 upper level credits in one particular area. The degree has its plusses and minuses, you can tailor your own curriculum, take meaningful classes and compete for grades with those majoring in the area, or you can avoid some mandartory classes and try and get through college as easy as possible.

halflight

Mon, Oct 12, 2009 : 10:12 a.m.

What does "General Studies" mean at EMU? Does the university grant generic degrees, or is it a designation for underclassmen who haven't chosen a major?