A&S Reaches Record Enrollment

Since its inception, Boston College's School of Arts and Sciences has never had as many undergraduate students enrolled as it has this year.

According to the Office of Student Services, A&S's enrollment weighed in at 6,153 students, a 16-student increase from the milestone count of two years ago.

In 2007, undergraduate enrollment first surpassed the 6,000 mark, a benchmark that took 30 years to reach. The three-decade period saw a fairly steady rise in enrollment from 5,000. In 1981, enrollment was 5,024, in 1991 it was 5,563, and in 2001 there were 5,850 undergraduates.

This landmark achievement for BC's oldest school is timely in its arrival, said A&S Dean David Quigley.

"Coming at a time when the College of Arts and Sciences has returned to its historic home," Quigley said, referring to the completed renovation of Gasson Hall, in a statement, "it is reassuring to see how the enduring power of a classic arts and sciences education continues to draw students. At a time of high enrollments across the University, the rising quality of A&S students is a testament to the way A&S departments and programs bring timeless ideas and principles into conversation with contemporary society."

This enrollment record comes alongside other achievements for BC.

Making a 45-student increase, the School of Theology and Ministry continues to gain students, reaching 342 this year.

Additionally, the Office of Student Services reported a snapshot of the most popular majors at BC.

The communication major, which consistently ranks as the most popular major at BC, maintains its position with 916 students. Economics follows close behind, including students from both A&S and CSOM, with 847.

Biology and biochemistry, whose majors have 827 students and 165 students respectively, are at a record level of enrollment for the past 25 years. Biology ranks as the third most popular major at BC this year.

Romance languages and applied psychology and human development, with 145 and 384 students respectively, have also reached their highest enrollment in 25 years. Applied psychology and human development is now the largest major ever for the Lynch School.

For the graduate programs at BC, a 1,003-student enrollment ranks education as the most popular program, with arts and sciences and management following with 864 and 839, respectively.