Criminal justice and criminology is the largest declared major at Metro State, according to fall enrollment figures. This year, there are 1,025 CJC majors, a 15.7 percent increase over fall 2002.

“My immediate reaction to this increase is the attention faculty – adjunct as well as full-time – pay to meeting students’ requests and the quality of instruction paid off with additional enrollment,” said department Chair Joe Sandoval. “Current students recognize the efforts our faculty make to provide a relevant, challenging curriculum in tune with contemporary practices and needs. Former students who are in the field help us to recruit new students and to spread the message about our quality program.”

Since fall 2001, the number of criminal justice and criminology majors has increased 29 percent, adding 231 students.

Other majors posting large increases include management, with a 12.1 percent increase over a year ago, to 942 students. Biology majors are up 14.5 percent to 846 students this year, and chemistry majors have surged 44.2 percent to 238 students. The number of students choosing a political science major grew 22.6 percent over fall 2002 to 277 students. Behavioral sciences, a popular major for those pursuing elementary or secondary teacher licensure, rose 16.2 percent to 853 students.

Beth Frederick, chair of the Management Department, believes the increase in management majors stems from the “excellent” teachers and advisors in the department as well as a growing interest in the human aspect of business. “When the economy and high tech crumbled, the tech majors came back to school realizing they needed or wanted to know more about management,” Frederick said. “A major in management gives students more flexibility in looking for jobs.”

Biology Chair James Platt is puzzled by the increase. “I’m surprised. There doesn’t seem to be an improvement in the job sector. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the poor economy – people are going to school because they don’t know what else to do.”

Robert Hazan, chair of the Political Science Department, believes the continued growth in his department stems from growing interest in understanding domestic issues as well as international relations. Since fall of 1999, the number of political science majors has nearly doubled. “More people are choosing political science because they believe they can have tangible careers that also satisfy their intellectual curiosity.”