Psychology's Surge in Undergraduate Majors

Abstract

This is a report on the surge of undergraduate psychology majors since the early 1980s. The number of psychology faculty has remained relatively constant in the last decade, but the number of bachelor's degrees awarded in psychology has increased by 59% since 1985 almost entirely due to an increase in the number awarded to women, which has increased by 80%. Results of a survey indicate that psychology departments have dealt with increasing enrollments by some combination of (a) new admissions requirements, such as completion of required premajor courses; (b) more rigorous requirements for graduation; and (c) limiting advanced courses only to majors. Causes and long-range implications for academic psychology are discussed.