Gov Leads First-Year Concentration Choices

Government is once again the most popular concentration among first-year students, according to figures released by the registrar's office last week.

Of the 1371 students who have declared their concentrations, 166--12 percent--chose the Government Department. Economics ranked as the second most popular concentration, with 127 students, 9 percent of first-years who declared. Eight additional students chose combined concentrations that include economics.

The Biology Department garnered 125 first-year--9 percent--while three students chose to concentrate in combined concentrations with biology.

Reischauer Professor of Japanese Politics Susan J. Pharr, who will being a term as Government Department chair in September, said the government concentration is a "powerful attraction" to students because it draws from a full range of disciplines.

"The feeling is that it's a good field for launching into a whole variety of professional roles," she said.

Pharr also said the department had a reputation for quality teaching and advising.

"I certainly hope it means that Government Department faculty value teaching,"she said. "I think it means, that for a largeconcentration, we've worked very hard to meetstudents' advising needs."

Pharr said at least seven new junior professors"from a whole array of fields" will join thedepartment next year.

"We'll be in pretty good shape to respond tostudents' needs," she said.

Nearly twice as many males as females chose toconcentrate in government this year. Of the 166first-years who chose the department, 109 aremale, while only 57 are female.

And among first-years choosing the EconomicsDepartment, the male-female ratio is even lower.Of the 127 who chose economics, 99 are male, whileonly 28 are female.

In the humanities, 88 first-years--6percent--will concentrate in English, while anadditional seven will concentrate in a combinedfield with English. sixty-three students, abut 4percent of the first-years who declaredconcentrations, chose to concentrate in history.

Four percent of first-years, 58 students inall, chose to concentrate in history andliterature. Social Studies, the other honors-only,landed 82 students, nearly 6 percent offirst-years who declared their concentrations.

Eight students chose to concentrate inAfro-American Studies, while seven chose Women'sStudies

Pharr said at least seven new junior professors"from a whole array of fields" will join thedepartment next year.

"We'll be in pretty good shape to respond tostudents' needs," she said.

Nearly twice as many males as females chose toconcentrate in government this year. Of the 166first-years who chose the department, 109 aremale, while only 57 are female.

And among first-years choosing the EconomicsDepartment, the male-female ratio is even lower.Of the 127 who chose economics, 99 are male, whileonly 28 are female.

In the humanities, 88 first-years--6percent--will concentrate in English, while anadditional seven will concentrate in a combinedfield with English. sixty-three students, abut 4percent of the first-years who declaredconcentrations, chose to concentrate in history.

Four percent of first-years, 58 students inall, chose to concentrate in history andliterature. Social Studies, the other honors-only,landed 82 students, nearly 6 percent offirst-years who declared their concentrations.

Eight students chose to concentrate inAfro-American Studies, while seven chose Women'sStudies