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History Bachelors Decline, but Several Upward Trends Persist

Colleges and universities in the United States awarded 37,752 bachelor’s degrees in history (including first and second majors) in academic year 2012-13, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). That’s 918 fewer than in 2011-12—a decline of 2.4 percent. The 2012-13 total is just below the total number of degrees awarded in 2006. History’s share of all bachelor’s degrees dropped as well (to 1.9 percent), continuing a seven-year slide.

These figures suggest either a discipline that is struggling to make its case to undergraduates or a discipline holding on in the face of rapid change in the college population and the institutions students attend. The challenges facing history can be seen in the multiyear decline in history bachelor’s degrees awarded by research universities, and a similar drop in institutions focused on arts and sciences. These two types of institutions have long been home to a solid and dependable core of history graduates. At the same time, a growing number of students are earning bachelor’s degrees at institutions that graduate no history majors.

A further challenge is visible in the fact that the discipline continues to graduate a disproportionate number of male students. In the latest data, women comprise 57 percent of all bachelor’s degrees, but only 41 percent of all history bachelor’s degrees. The latter figure has barely moved over the last 10 years.

Still, the history major is not in decline across the board. Many departments are adding majors and increasing their share of their institution’s bachelor’s degrees. As we drill down, patterns emerge that suggest the discipline continues to attract undergrads, and has the potential to attract more—but where these undergrads study may be undergoing a significant change.

Read entire article at AHA Perspectives (Click for color graphs).