The recent upheaval in the economic, political and environmental situations has led to changes in the academic and career choices of Washington University students.

In particular, the environmental studies major has enjoyed an enormous increase in popularity. Since 2004, the program has seen an increase from 80 majors to 142.

Jan Amend, director of the environmental studies program, said he anticipates graduating 50 majors in May—which will be “by far the largest class ever.”

Amend attributes this rise in popularity to what he calls the “Obama effect.”

“Obama has inspired young people to pursue careers and futures they are passionate about, to do something truly important with their lives,” he said. “For many, this begins with studying environmental issues.”

In addition, Amend noted that the president has “made a big push to fund science and technology, especially green science and renewable energy sources.”

Freshman Steve Fuller, a prospective environmental studies major, said he became interested in his prospective major because environmental issues are much more pertinent today.

“A lot more people are interested in it, because they realize how important it will be,” Fuller said.

University College has also seen a noticeable rise in degrees “much more applied in nature and much more in tune with economic trends,” said Steve Ehrlich, the school’s dean. He said he has observed a “flattening out” in some social sciences.

Ehrlich noted that there was still a “steady group” interested in the humanities, but that even these students are “looking at supplementing [liberal arts classes] in areas like finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, project management; very specific kinds of areas that can provide some very specific tools and skills to complement a liberal arts degree.”

“We have more and more people interested in what are the global implications of the trends today,” he added.

Carol Moakley, team leader of career development at the Career Center and co-facilitator of the Making Major Decisions workshop, said there has been a shift for reasons of “practicality” in career choices.

Notably, the decrease in interest in finance is “because of the flailing economy,” while paths to graduate school, government and public health have become more popular.

While a changing world demands changing skills from its future workers, school officials warn Arts & Sciences students that the values of a liberal arts education should not be sacrificed in the meantime.

“By tradition and philosophy, Arts & Sciences prepares students for life rather than a specific career,” said Matt DeVoll, sophomore dean and co-facilitator of the workshop with Moakley.

Ehrlich agreed, saying that “there’s always going to be a place” for liberal arts degrees.

“Thinking, reading, writing, speaking, problem-solving, understanding ethics, sensitivity to other cultures—[these skills are] particularly valuable in tough times,” Ehrlich said. “People have to know how to learn, how to change and adapt.”

Thus, even traditional humanities majors like English are still “practical degrees,” he said.

“I think [English] has the power to transform a person’s perception of the world and give him or her greater empathy and understanding,” freshman and future English major Emma Hine said. “I think a world without literature would be hollow, narrow and selfish.”

DeVoll and Moakley advise students to choose majors based on “personal interest and aptitude,” and to “study what [they] love.”

“There’s really no such thing as a more or less lucrative major,” DeVoll said. “Any number of majors can lead to the same job, and the same major can prepare students for any number of jobs.”

He urged freshmen “not to look at the major alone as a gateway to a career” but rather to engage in “experiential learning” as well.

“The experience and networks that students develop are critical to the ability to land a first job, much more so than a particular major,” DeVoll said.

Ehrlich lauded attempts to use liberal arts degrees in “innovative ways.”

“Good solid liberal arts programs have always been a combination of theory and application,” he said. “Given the economic times, it’s frankly up to us as educators to help students translate their skills that they’re learning here a little more effectively and creatively into very practical job opportunities.”

“In issues like the economy and the environment, we’re going to have to learn to work more creatively with each other across schools,” he added.

DeVoll echoed this message of flexibility and creativity.

“The job market today has become so flexible and dynamic that many jobs that [students] will compete for in the near future do not even exist today,” he said. “If you don’t move forward—if you try to stand still and rest on what you’ve learned—you’ll quickly find yourself falling behind. It can be overwhelming or exciting.”

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Tags: Jan Amend, majors, Steve Fuller

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