What About History?

Friedman suggests that another possible cause of the decrease in enrollment numbers is the draw of closely related departments.

"A lot of people in history and literature tend to sway a little more towards history or a little more towards literature," he says.

Friedman also says that because history and literature does not have its own professors, students may feel a little lost in the concentration.

"It's a pretty demanding major and it's pretty confusing," Friedman says. "You end up taking courses in so many departments."

Trumbull Professor of History Donald H. Fleming notes that social studies, as well as English and history are "natural rival[s]" for the history and literature program.

He says that history in particular has been "attracting much larger numbers."

Social studies enrollments have remained steady over the last five years. However, enrollment statistics have dropped in both literature and in the English and American Literature and Language Department.

Literature, also an all-honors concentration, had an enrollment of 75 students in 1988 and 48 in 1994.

The History Department experienced a similar drop, from 488 concentrators in 1986 to 228 in 1994.

But the concentration seems to be on the upswing. After a recent revamping of the history curriculum, first-year enrollments in history have increased from 55 in 1993 to 65 in 1994 to 91 in 1995.

The Draw to Hist and Lit

Professors in the programs say they are not overly concerned about the dropping enrollment numbers.

"I thought the numbers were dropping a little, but I didn't think it was such a big deal," Fleming says.

And Professor of English and American literature Daniel G. Donoghue, chair of the Committee on Degrees in History and Literature, says, "We are monitoring the enrollment, but we are not alarmed."