As the fields of science, technology, engineering and math gain popularity at Ohio State and universities across the country, the long-studied humanities disciplines may be left behind.
For example, the number of English majors at Ohio State alone has dropped by more than half over the past 25 years — falling from over 1,000 in 2000 to around 430 in 2024, according to university enrollment records obtained by The Lantern.
Elizabeth Hewitt, a professor and chair in the Department of English, said the enrollment decline in her department and the humanities overall has been a consistent trend at Ohio State and within higher education nationwide.
📸 The number of English majors at Ohio State has dropped by more than half over the past 25 years — falling from over 1,000 in 2000 to around 430 in 2024, according to university enrollment records obtained by The Lantern. Credit: Kathleen Jones | Lantern File Photo