Students Abandoning Science Fields

By Alex Granados

Staff Writer

A recent study has shown that science majors across the country are abandoning their fields when they graduate, but UNC students are standing strong against this trend.

The pattern was illustrated in a study conducted by officials at the University of Washington based on surveys filled out by students with top scores on the Graduate Record Exam across the nation.

The study, published last week in the journal Issues in Science and Technology, was written by William Zumeta, professor and associate dean of the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at UW, and by Joyce S. Raveling, a doctoral candidate for the UW College of Education.

Zumeta and Raveling revealed a decline, particularly in graduate studies, for natural sciences and engineering.

Raveling said they decided to do the study after they noticed an overall decline in the number of science majors continuing in their fields and instead opting for the business track.

"We were saying, 'Let's look at the best students, then out of that group, let's see where these students are going,'" Raveling said.

They found that science and engineering majors were not continuing in their original fields of studies, with a decline in enrollment of 14 percent from 1993 to 2000.

But according to UNC faculty and staff, there is little, if any, of this trend displayed on campus.

Marcia Harris, director of University Career Services, said that while a few students have abandoned their science field, there has not been a noticeable decline.

"I think I would see some sign of it, but not in significant numbers," she said.

She said that those who are leaving the sciences for other professions are being wooed away by consulting firms. The talents cultivated in the sciences are desired by firms looking for new strategies.

She attributes this minor exodus to the financial incentives offered by consulting firms. But she said the numbers of students pursuing their doctorate degrees still is strong.

"There hasn't been any huge decrease in doctoral students," she said.

Zumeta and Raveling also identified finances as one of the reasons for the overall decline in science students. Long training requirements and the lack of faculty positions available in the sciences also were implicated in the decrease of graduate studies.

Raveling attributes the absence of the trend at UNC to the reputation of the school.

"I think ... (UNC) is a prestigious school," she said. "Who is going to be losing the most students? It is not the prestigious university."

Raveling believes this trend will continue without government intervention, particularly since the economy is bad and the amount of time needed to pursue a career in science has grown longer.

"The amount of time has increased and increased, and there still aren't many jobs."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.