<p>^This is exactly why I’d like to see data on freshman-to-senior retention rates in the physical sciences. Not to mention those same retention rates at other schools. </p>
<p>Another possible setup that I’ve seen at some large schools: large lecture classes, supplemented by small undergrad seminars in various cross-discipline subjects. Planetary physics (jointly taught by the astronomy and geology departments), say or Politics of the FDA (poli sci and bio). While the large classes are going to emphasize problem sets and assimilating a corpus of knowledge, the seminars can be less quantitative, require an end-of-term paper, and encourage more in-class discussion. Or a clever professor can come up with other approaches that can work in large format–I’m thinking here of Cal’s “Physics for Presidents” course, or courses which examine the physics behind Spiderman.</p>