In a move that Goucher College in Maryland is describing as a way to “revitalize academics”, the college is cutting math and physics degree programs even though these vary same programs lead not only to multiple job opportunities, but also a high median wage.
What is more, the college had admitted that it didn’t even consider salary data for jobs in various fields when deciding which programs to chop and which to retain. Naturally, the programs remaining in place are graduate degree programs that one would expect from a liberal arts college, including M.A. courses in cultural sustainability, historic preservation and non-fiction.
Unfortunately, Goucher College isn’t the only educational institution putting a low priority on math and physics. Just a few days ago, the University of Akron in Ohio announced that it was also eliminating masters and bachelor’s degree courses in physics and math. Over half a dozen universities in Texas have axed their physics programs over the last eight years. The University of the District of Columbia removed bachelor degree courses in not only physics, but also marketing, economics and finance back in 2013.
While universities opting to ax STEM-related programs are unwilling to cite financial concerns, it is clear that money does play a role. It’s a known fact that UA is struggling financially, and Goucher College has not denied that it is cutting programs in order to cut costs even though it has clearly denied being in financial trouble.
At the same time, both educational institutions also note that a lack of demand has also played a major role in deciding to eliminate math and physics from their course line-up. As fewer students show an interest in these all-important programs, the universities are deciding to shut them down rather than look for new ways to promote them.
Unfortunately, in the end it will be the students who lose out by failing to learn valuable skills that would allow them to earn a good living in the future. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics notes, the median pay for mathematicians is nearly $41.00 per hour and job demand in the field is set to grow by an astounding 33%. Physicists earn a mean hourly wage of well over $56.00 per hour, and job demand will grow by 14% up to the year 2026. Those who study historical preservation, on the other hand, will enter a job market with growth ranging from 2% to 7%. In order to earn a mean annual wage of over $50,000 in this field, one would need to obtain a Master’s degree and most likely accumulate tens of thousands of dollars in student debt in the process.
Given the fact that many educational institutions are far more concerned about issues such as microaggressions and the policing of free speech than in providing a solid education to the next generation, it is not surprising that many colleges and universities are eliminating programs that have real economic merit.
Naturally, math and physics aren’t for everyone as some do better in other fields; however, the fact that important STEM courses are being eliminated throughout the nation while unimportant, even insipid courses are allowed to remain in place explains a lot about the current state of young Americans.
~ Conservative Zone
This is the reason graduate degrees are becoming necessary. Then again, maybe this will highlight the ridiculousness of many undergraduate programs.
The dumbing down of American kids continues !! The only “math” that needs to be eliminated is “Common Core” !!
This is ridiculous — and outrageous! Just a few (like 5) years ago we were dropping liberal arts programs in colleges so that we could concentrate more on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) courses that were supposed to lead to the “good” jobs. As a liberal arts grad and believer in teaching history, literature, and languages, I was upset, but I know everyone has to learn to use/program computers nowadays, so I took a deep breath and accepted it.
So NOW they say Physics and Math don’t matter, EITHER?
I guess that leaves gender studies, ethnic studies, and not much else — nothing but the NON-ACADEMIC courses that any moronic kid can master. For THIS they go to college? WHY?
If this nonsense continues, we will be producing the most thoroughly UNEDUCATED generation in modern history!
I thought it was only the “scholarship” athletes – who couldn’t even spell athlete – that took these easy courses to pretend they were enrolled in “school” and not there only to play a sport. I guess college degrees are becoming “Participation Trophies”.
Colleges and Universities offer courses base on demand. If American kids are deciding to go for the easy courses and parents are willing to pay for them it makes economic sense for them to offer them instead of the STEM courses.
If you are going for a math of physics degree chances are you are not enrolling in Grover College.
Besides we have plenty of Asian and Indian kids with plenty of Math skills willing to migrate to the USA for those good jobs
The best solution here would be to make these classes a requirement of the college curriculum. It is sad to see so many people of this generation who can’t even perform simple mathematics without a calculator/smart phone. Without these devices they are clueless.
George, Get your syntax and word usage correct and I MIGHT believe you are an American and NOT a bot.
You know that facebook blocking this ,report. Try to share on facebook , facebook block it. That means the left, other wise know as demoncrates, don’t want anyone to know what in this . The truth will set you free.
Yes, anything from Conservative Zone is blocked on facebook as “unsafe.” However you can cut and paste it to facebook!
This is insanity. Math and Physics are foundation blocks for a nation’s greatness. We need these now desparately more than ever. Close down these SJW institutes that waste our students’ time.
An extremely important subject is not discussed in this article. Yes HISTORY! it teaches how not 2 make stupid mistakes that have caused past problems. Unfortunately this subject has most likely been eliminated some time ago. If u r ignorant of the past it’s easier 2 control you.
So to be a designer of the next space shuttle you will only need a fine arts degree? Thank G-d at 76 I am near the end of my lifespan.! The cows may come and the cows may go but the bull goes on forever. Its akin to picking up a piece of crap by the clean end. Sorry I made a living with my B.Sc degree in electrical engineering for 48 years. Are we now going to certify a set of blueprints with a violin bow? I love classical music but to each his/her own
This is a reason our country will fail. We are falling behind in all sciences to countries like Russia, China, Japan and then economically behind most other countries. The dumbing down of our next generation so they can be controlled.
Tried to share with my FB friends but it was blocked. An example of the type of information they do not want displayed on their socialist website.
There are two paths to a college degree:
1. Take STEM courses that require actually working at them and studying the material and;
2. Take gender, ethnic, and other feel good studies that a chimp could pass.
Naturally the demand for STEM courses is down. Either path gets you a degree, and what 18 year old is worried more about his future earning potential than about being away from home for the first time and partying all night long?
This is because the little snowflakes don’t feel comfortable studying anything other than their feelings. The left wing loons teaching in these colleges are hell bent on the destruction of the U.S. Every other country in the world is getting better educated than our kids are today. We already have some of the laziest kids on the planet more interested in video games than anything else. It is up to the parents to stop the madness the government and schools are being manipulated by the least qualified people (?) on the planet.
I have heard this generation be called the “Mars Generation”. How the hell do they plan to get to Mars by studying “gender identity”?
There are at least nine organizations that say there is no STEM shortage.
They are: Duke University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, The Center for Immigration Studies, The IEEE Organization, Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the Rand Corporation, the Urban Institute, and the National Research Council. In fact, the Rand Corporation went as far back as 1990 and concluded that there was no STEM shortage that far back.
So, why do people keep pushing this outdated notion?
The only STEM shortage we ever had was Computer Science in the 1960s-1980s. I read that fully1/3 of all Computer Science graduates will never get a software job. This is likely because the Gig Economy is growing. The average software jobs used to last about 4 years back in the 1990s. Now, it is about 1-2 years. So, they will need about 20-25 jobs or more to remain fully employed for 40-50 years.
They count Accounting and Economics, for example, as STEM jobs. Why? It is only because they use computers and software in those fields but you do not need to know Computer Science though.
You do not need to know Physics or Mechanical Engineering to drive car or Electrical Engineering to use a phone,
So, why are these jobs considered STEM?
eric is right. There is no ‘STEM’ shortage – and there has never been one over the last 60 years – save for a few brief ‘tight’ spots such as software code writers in the 60s.
What we have had is a shortage of STEM jobs for STEM qualified professionals without ‘Victim-Cards’ or other Special Privileges. No one – lacking one of these Special Privilege cards would dare to enter a job market where the few available jobs will NEVER go to Joe Sixpack, and other Americans will only be considered if the job is either government, defense, or an essential job with a utility. …
Consider – me – I spent 38 years doing a half dozen engineering jobs, and not once was I hired b/c of an expansion or a boom: I was only hired b/c I was one of the few morons who could actually handle thermodynamics, nuclear physics, advanced mathematics, etc. – all of which netted an average income barely more than the average double income family of illegal migrants in DFW. Not to focus on sour grapes – but the humiliation convinced exactly everyone I knew to avoid engineering like the plague. Obviously if you’re smart enough to be an engineer, you should no better than to throw away your life in a field where Americans can only do the job foreigners and Quota Quacks cannot or will not do.
That said – even now most of the actual labor pool in STEM is still White guys. Albeit they’re only about 1/3 of the hired, they’re the ones pulling the weight. This is well known in some industries – and only a fool would try a startup in those industries in America. Happily, for the Left, there are a few exceptions, mostly in narrow software/IT niches, to let them crow about how wonderful everything is. But in my field, Chinese hold over 90% of the planet’s jobs, and there is very little chance any such jobs will be available any time soon here in America.
Meanwhile – math and physics have already been dumbed down. Most of these programs are ‘shells’ anyway: They cannot find enough Quota Quacks to fill the slots in their schools, and a math class – even 9th grade algebra – is too tough for our future ‘leaders’ to handle. Math, like Latin, French, rhetoric, and a science course or two used to ensure that anyone – other than athletes – could at least pretend to have a brain before spewing their Leftist nonsense. But now even that is too much for the Left b/c their fantasy land is deep in the swamp it cannot stand the light from a match much less the light of day.
Just inspired by eric’s spot-on comment …
Really?
In my humble experience, a knowledge of math and physics is the route to understanding the physical realm wherein we reside. It is also the route to a mastery of deductive logic.
When I taught a class of 32 students thermodynamics at Wichita State, I learned that 28 of them were Boeing engineers, one was a Boeing machinist, and 3 were from Saudi Arabia.
When I designed the retarding potential analyser for the main engine for the manned Mars mission, I utilized my knowledge of both subjects. That design worked perfectly for measurement of the ion flux.
Someone said years ago “What do you get when you send an idiot to Harvard?” Answer: A Harvard educated idiot. To wit Barack Obama – Loretta Lynch – Mark Zuckenberg (thats where he stole the idea for FaceBook from 2 seniors) – Conan O’Brien – Al Franken-
What’s the point in going to college if the basic courses necessary to keep our nation competitive with other nations around the world are being discarded by liberals? More globalist thinking in order to bring additional immigrants into our country? Maybe but, those wanting to go back to school should be looking at construction, metal working, welding, electrical and plumbing trades for example, to learn instead. We as a country must bring back our core jobs as well as the engineering, scientific and tech heavy positions. We need to start making steel here and stop buying substandard steel from China. We could forgo a lot of the import tariff issues if things were made here versus having to buy everything from overseas. The core jobs earn almost (if not more in some case) money than those kids coming out of college with degrees. Plus you are learning trades you can use in real life at home, etc. I realize that not everyone is cut out to do core jobs but that doesn’t make them any less important.
They obviously don’t think that English is necessary either, has anyone received a memorandum from a new graduate recently?
No wonder the Chinese are running rings around us in math and science. We are raising a generation of “pussy minded” morons!
It is clear. If you want your son or daughter to have a good education do not send them to Goucher.
Because of “racism” of being forced white man subjects. Have heard that excuse for years, even after mandatory GPA for college entranced lowered more than once from 4.0 to 2.0, and books on subjects made easier they still complain against blacks. Notice they the only saying this? Not those handicapped, little or no English, etc. Just blacks, proving stupidity & laziness
But our President has no room for science. He would probably call them “fake news”.
There are a lot of Computer Programs where Math is very important. Most individuals would get very upset if they discovered that after working 40 hours, they really only got paid for 39 hours due to a Computer Math error. As for Physics , Miss-calculations can cause People to Die for no ‘Good” reason.
So, let’s see… He wants to form a space corps. I guess there’s no science there. Well…, uh…. Maybe you had better go back and re-enroll in the beginner’s course. Only, this time, don’t sign up for the fake science course taught by Schumer.
So, let’s see, Richard B. … He wants to form a space corps. I guess there’s no science there. Well…, uh…. Maybe you had better go back and re-enroll in the beginner’s course. Only, this time, don’t sign up for the fake science course taught by Schumer.
I have to disagree with this being the most educated generation. They are the most brainwashed generation, and it starts in grade school.
When I graduated from high school (a long time ago), I got a job in a Northern California saw mill. I was working alongside 4 guys, one with a bachelor’s degree, two with master’s, and one with a doctorate…all in “Diversified Studies”.
Most college kids these days read at a level well below what was once considered sub-ninth grade.
What is generally considered “Educated” now is what the comedian Jerry Clower once said about a liberal woman: “It’s plain to see that you are educated far beyond your intelligence”.
I think that covers most democrats (and some who claim to be Republicans) in congress quite well!
These liberal colleges aren’t in the business of education; what they’re about is indoctrination.