by Jennifer Merritt
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Research into the U.S. Department of Education statistics uncovered that education, social sciences and history, and business are higher education mainstays all the way up to 2005. Why?
"Business, education, and history are very clear career paths, and that's attractive to a lot of students," says Esther Goodcuff, associate vice president for enrollment management and student affairs at Adelphi University (Garden City, NY). College is not only expensive, but also a big investment of time, she continues, so the pursuit of majors with direct career links may explain the longevity of such marketable majors.
Rationale for the variety of career surges through the years, however, might be reflective of what's popular. Take a look .
The 1970s
Top Five Degrees Earned:
1. Education
2. Social Sciences and History
3. Business
4. English
5. Biology
During the 70s, English and biology made their only appearance in the top five. "The 70s were an idealistic time," Goodcuff says. "Those who went to school back then were less focused on achieving status symbols." But these two majors didn't just stick out thanks to a one-time brush with the popular crowd - consider the foremost movements of the period: feminism and environmentalism.
Interest in English - a liberal arts major typically dominated by women - may have spiked thanks to the strong and free-spirited female icons in the 70s: Joyce Carol Oates' essay reflections on the 60s; Carrie, the novel by Stephen King; Woody Allen's "Annie Hall;" and Margaret Thatcher as the first female to lead a political party in the UK. (We'll leave it to the feminists to debate whether "Charlie's Angels" was help or a hindrance to women in the 70s.)
Likewise, biology majors in the 1970s had plenty of environmental firsts to which they could attribute their interest. On April 22, 1970, more than 2,000 colleges and universities in the United States celebrated the first Earth Day. Over the decade, a series of environment-friendly legislation was passed, including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (1970), Clean Water Act (1972), and Endangered Species Act (1973). Another major biological issue at hand during the 70s was the use of nuclear power vs. fossil fuel, also the basis of the 1979 movie, "The China Syndrome" starring Jack Lemmon and Jane Fonda.
The 1980s
Top Five Degrees Earned:
1. Business
2. Education
3. Social Sciences and History
4. Health
5. Engineering
Often called the "Me" decade, "yuppies" of the 80s saw a dramatic shift toward a more conservative lifestyle than the hippies and hipsters of the 60s and 70s. Plenty of events in the 80s called for a more moderate mindset: the onset of AIDS, the market crash of "Black Monday," October 19, 1987, or the peak of the Cold War.
In the 80s it was all about business, which may account for the major's jump from the number-three to the number-one spot during the decade. "People saw that education could be used to get a successful career," Goodcuff says of the time. "There was more of an appreciation put on that [in the 80s]."
Successful careers were certainly to be had, as technology surged with the popularity of personal computers, Walkmans, VHS recorders, and CDs. Additionally, the business minds behind the likes of He-Man, Strawberry Shortcake, and Trivial Pursuit are continuing to see success, as many rad fads are making a comeback today in the 00s.
Eighties' TV also proceeded with caution in the 80s, moving away from frequent "All In the Family" racial tensions (the series ended in '79), and gravitating toward the more wholesome and respectable Cosby family. CNN becomes the first 24-hour news channel, giving viewers all news, all the time. Also gone were the days of sex, drugs, and rock and roll, as contemporary Christian music reached its mainstream peak with the success of artists like Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. Though religion took "Billboard" by storm, it failed to influence marital couples as the "no-fault" divorce laws increased divorce rates. In the 80s, even love was all about the numbers.
The 1990s
1. Business
2. Social Sciences and History
3. Education
4. Health
5. Psychology
Business boomed in the 90s - and not just as a major. But perhaps all the raging egos of the previous decade began to ponder whether there were more to life than money and Material Girls. How else would you explain psychology's emergence into the top five?
In fact, Goodcuff says the 90s marked a more hands-on parenting approach when it came time to send children off to college.
"It's really wonderful for students to come from a supportive environment, but I do believe it's a little overdone," she says. "Parents play a much bigger role than they did years ago."
Dot-commers not only wanted to connect with their children in the 90s, but also each other, evident in the success of Jack Canfield's "Chicken Soup for the Soul" and John Gray's "Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus" during the 90s.
Everyone became an armchair psychologist discussing the details of the O.J. Simpson trial, and dissecting the constant conflict on MTV's "Real World." Parents feared for the mental well-being of their children who blared Nirvana's "In Utero" at indiscernible levels - although parents may have been even more distraught to find Kurt Cobain's lyrics no easier to understand at a discernible level.
Those who decided psychology wasn't the answer to lingering problems most likely found a release in the world of professional wresting. Stars like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Raven found fame after World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling surged to popularity in the 1990s.
Psychology also found success at the box office, with thrillers like "The Silence of the Lambs," "The Crying Game," "The Blair Witch Project," and "The Sixth Sense." Even so, many may have turned to a psychology degree for answers, as the 90s saw the loss of Princess Diana and Mother Teresa, as well as the deadly events of the Oklahoma City Bombing, Gulf War, and the first bombing of the World Trade Center.
The 2000s (thus far)
1. Social Sciences and History
2. Business
3. Education
4. Psychology
5. Visual and Performing Arts
Although it's only halfway through, the arrival of visual and performing arts in the top five of this decade is no surprise, although to look forward, one need only look back, beginning with 1995's "Toy Story." The animated flick was the highest grossing movie that year, generating $362 million worldwide. Since then, Pixar has continued to find success with movies like "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo," and "The Incredibles," consequentially making visual arts and graphic design some of the most sought after majors of the 2000s. "It's a popular time for graphic design technology," Goodcuff concurs. "It applies creative sides with technology sides."
In fact, in nearly every facet of education, technology has made its way into the classroom, from class discussion boards and students being required to carry laptops, to anytime/anywhere online learning.
However, Goodcuff isn't so optimistic when it comes to performing arts. "Even though it's made [the top five], I'm not sure that means there's going to be a demand for it," she says. But given today's celebrity worship, with Naomi Wolfe commenting on the cultural significance of Paris Hilton, to Madonna and Tom Cruise dispensing child-rearing advice, it's not hard to see the allure in becoming the next biggest thing with a degree in the performing arts.
What has this history lesson taught us? Perhaps that the likes of Melanie Griffith, He-Man, and Paris Hilton have the ability to predict the future? More likely, it's that the events and decisions of today will determine the intellectual paths of tomorrow, so pay attention.
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