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Standstill in Numbers of CC Science Majors Raises Concerns
By Alexa Davis
PUBLISHED APRIL 23, 2008
Columbia College may have reason to worry that, instead of evolving and growing, its science programs have remained developmentally static and are not attracting enough potential science majors.
The Subcommittee of Research and Science Education, which is a division of President Lee Bollinger’s Task Force on Undergraduate Education, has been examining the undergraduate science programs at Columbia College and comparing it to those at peer schools. Although it appears that there is no alarming decrease in science majors at Columbia, there is a marked standstill in development and number of students in sciences programs. This lack of growth has led the committee to believe that Columbia—like many other American colleges and universities—may be following a discouraging trend of decreased undergraduate interest in science.
“It is a big concern whether the interest in the discipline for doing science is really being properly instilled in our culture,” said Ann McDermott, a professor and the associate vice president for academic planning and science initiatives. “Some reports talk about it as a ‘crisis,’ some reports take a milder approach to it. But I think that everybody agrees that there’s something to worry about here, about the quality of the education and how is the culture really supporting an interest.”
While McDermott insists that the number of Columbia science majors has remained relatively stable in recent years, she admits that the number of students has declined over the “broad brush of time” in comparison to peer schools. She said that the issue is made more severe by a demanding Core Curriculum that can prohibit possible science majors from exploring their options.
“It’s limited what you can do to make the science less heavy,” she said. “When you then combine it with a set of rigid requirements that are really the things that so many people love about Columbia, it’s hard to throw away. Nobody wants to throw it away. But ... it’s easy to see the choices and the flexibility go away.”
John Hwang, CC ’08 and a biology major, agrees that the requirements can be overwhelming. He explained that although he has received a solid undergraduate science education, he regrets the fact that his science requirements—in addition to the Core—left him little time to pursue other interests.
“I do feel like it leaves me strapped for time,” Hwang said. “I haven’t taken classes that I would otherwise be interested in. The Core obviously is a good way for science majors to branch out but other than that ... there isn’t enough time.”
McDermott said that while there have been proposals about how to combat this decline, no drastic measures have been taken. No changes to the science program are being seriously considered, and the process of change would take a long time, she added.
“We’ve had a monopoly on science and engineering pipeline in this country that might have never been destined to last,” McDermott said. “But I think that we can hold on to it better than we are.
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Weird. The administration is worried about a "marked standstill" in science majors?? Why be concerned if it ISN'T declining? My hunch: they're actively trying to encourage science majors (e.g. with Frontiers) and can't understand why it's not working. I'd rather everyone was encouraged to follow their natural interests, not be pushed and prodded towards a particular major.
I think this boils down to a focus on research in the sciences at the expense of undergraduate education. But all the complaints about the grades being unfair and the courseload being too hard are a bit silly. As a double-major in a science and a humanities subject, I've found that the two just play to different strengths. Some people have both; some people are in the wrong major. No undergraduate curriculum at Columbia is in and of itself too demanding for one to pursue outside interests. That's just lazy.
Problems at Columbia for science majors is not limited to only having to deal with a giant course load alongside Core requirements, but it goes further.
First, of course there is the course load. A Physics or Astrophysics or Math major has to take 50 letter graded points at the top of the whole core, and that's only the basic requirement. You then go on to take advanced classes so that you get to apply to grad school. Research is also unofficially required for even having a shot at grad school. Essentially, science students take the SEAS course load with CC core.
Second, under appreciation by the university and CC dean's office is unashamedly open. The grading scale in physical science courses, specially beyond intro level, strictly adheres to the "B means good and A is extraordinary" rule. Compared to humanities scale, that is terrible, and science students thus simply miss out on the college honors because of "low" GPA, perceived lack of extra-curricular accomplishment (research and publication doesn't count, thank you), and small size of department (small departments can't nominate more than one).
Third, administrative discouragements. For example:
a) The new science building on 120th st will eclipse Pupin's telescope, and the administration refused to move it to the new building in the future because it "will not be aesthetically pleasing". WTF, the building is for science not just for show.
b) Columbia doesn't have a centralized undergraduate summer research program and the professor more often than not doesn't have money for undergrads to do research. For a comparison, just google "Caltech SURF" and you will see what a real science centric school does to encourage its students.
c) VP Arts and Science Nick Dirks, with all personal charms, has a cold relation with the science departments. He hails from the humanities world and made no efforts to reach out. His lack of understanding of basic numbers has put the central research budget of the university in a mess. This is not to mention two weeks ago Bollinger held a meet-the-scientists stunt in front of Pupin Physics Laboratory on the first day of American Physical Society meeting in St. Louis, MO. Of course, what better day to visit than when everyone is away?
...............
Oh wait, did anyone just say the science programs at Columbia are not growing? Give us some f***ing appreciation that we are surviving.
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