English used to be one of the top college majors, but today, fewer students pursue it. Why?

In today’s Martin Center article, Professor Mark Bauerlein provides an answer, writing:

English used to be one of the most popular majors on campus, much more common than the now-thriving fields of biology, psychology, communications, and engineering/computer science. A half-century later, for most students, exposure to English amounts to a single requirement, freshman composition, a course that in most cases has no literary content. Instead, teachers highlight social themes, current events, and contemporary readings (op-eds, for instance). They sound more like social-science instructors than humanities profs.

In short, politicization is a big reason why so few students major in English these days. It suits the interests of the faculty, but not the students.

Bauerlein continues, “Demand determines value. Humanities departments don’t bring in federal dollars, so the only tally that counts is student sign-ups. In the Culture Wars years, professors could accuse conservative critics of Eurocentrism, chauvinism, and anti-intellectualism and thus preserve their high self-opinion. They can’t do that with 20-year-olds. All they can do is admit that the learning they offer isn’t wanted anymore.”

Analysis: True.