<p>What are ND's academic strengths? Just out of curiosity. Specifically I'm interested in political science or jounalism.</p>
<p>To answer your question, the political science major here is one of the largest majors I believe for the undergraduates students in terms of size....actually I just went and looked that fact up for you. I remember reading the winter edition of Notre Dame magazine wherein the top 10 majors in terms of size were listed for here. Political science is at the top with 569 students enrolled in it. I'll link the chart below...</p>
<p>As to your questions about journalism. Here is the link to the information about the journalism minor here at ND. It is easier for me to direct you to that site than to retype all the information over and risk forgetting to transcribe something. Hope this info helps you.</p>
<p>Sorry I can't be of more help, but the above two programs are ones that I really only have peripheral knowledge about. They are not two that I have ever really had dealings with surprisingly....</p>
<p>In case the above post didn't put some things into perspective I will attempt to do so with this one...</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Is ND known for its journalism program? It is not a true journalism degree, nor is this a school like Mizzou with a nationally ranked journalism degree. So if that is what you are looking for, I am afraid this is not it. I don't actually know anyone who is in the Journalism minor, perhaps Irish68178 will be able to help out there. On the subject of the faculty who would be teaching the classes though I do have one comment - They will likely be top notch. A large number of the American Studies classes crosslist and allow English majors to take them. I've seen from first hand experience that they are some very intelligent, and highly qualified profs. Just my thoughts....</p></li>
<li><p>Poly Sci dept....well if size is any indication of quality, then the answer to your question should be simple. I don't know if this ends up being true or not though. I do know that a lot of the Political science classes might be medium sized (60-100) students. But that there are a lot of smaller seminars offered to...I'm basing those statements on observations I just made when I pulled up the online course catalog for this semester. I would guess that the faculty is probably pretty good, considering I haven't heard of too many people hating their polysci profs...I think this major is most often used by lots of students considering going to Law School...</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Sorry I can't be of more help other than general commentary. I know a couple of poly sci majors who I can ask some more information of though, so I'll try to do that and if I get anything relevant, I'll post it...</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies</p>
<p>I can't provide much help, just my opinion as an outsider. Poly Sci seems really strong and it is a major I strongly considered. We have some great professors (though most lean left, not sure if that is good or bad for you) and my Poly Sci friends all love it. Overall I think it is a good program.</p>
<p>We don't really have a journalism program as much but most of those that are interested in journalism will do an English degree with a journalism minor. How that compares with a program at a Mizzou, I really can't tell you, but I think it prepares people pretty well. I do know of quite a few people that are here hoping to be journalists and we do have quite a few journalists that have come through ND. For example, if you count her, Hannah Storm is a ND grad. The sports reporter in my hometown (Denver) is a ND grad... there are a lot of ways to get into Journalism with how we have it setup, and I think it will most likely meet your needs. I would look at the requirements here and at a place like Mizzou and just see how the programs differ. </p>
<p>Another option is that they are really stressing the "build your own major" option. If we have the same types of classes that Mizzou has but ust don't have them connected in a major then you can talk to Arts and Letters and chances are get something worked out. They are really pushing this option so if you are interested they really want to help you do it!</p>
<p>I hope that helps some at least. Sorry I can't help more.</p>
<p>Nemo thanks for posting the ND magazine link to 10 Most Popular majors! The link to the article about ENROLLMENT TRENDS is very interesting, and addresses the colleges challenge of balancing the various departments. </p>
<p>Every student is accepted into the First Year Studies program and declares their major later.
So it is challenging for the school to maintain enough majors in the various programs, especially engineering and science. </p>
<p>Business has had the challenge of having too many kids switch to their programs, and the goal is to maintain 1500 business majors.</p>
<p>SJCM,</p>
<p>The trouble with engineering programs everywhere, not just ND, is that it has a high attrition rate. In some engineering disciplines up to 50%. Often these students transfer or declare for a business degree generating the issue you note. To balance this you have to recruit many more who have a predisposition to engineering to generate the target balance.</p>
<p>The thing is most schools are trying to recruit these types of students and are expanding their student bodies in this direction. Note the planned expansions at Harvard and Princeton will be primarily in Science and engineering.</p>
<p>Eagle, I was impressed with the article entitled Enrollment Management that I linked to from Nemo's link.</p>
<p>It seems that around 2000 ND had more than 'expected" attrition and they revamped the computer course which was part of the Engineering first year experience, and caused some problems.
Apparently, they are focusing on the engineering/ science majors (especially the women) offering Special Open Houses, better advising, smoothing out the first year engineering courses, and it sounds successful. The engineering/ science numbers have been climbing steadily since then. </p>
<p>But, as you noted Engineering has notoriously HIGH attrition rates everywhere, but it sounds like ND has made it a priority.</p>
<p>Also, the new science building opens soon :), or has opened ?<br>
Thanks Eagle.</p>
<p>that $70 million dollar building will be opening this August 2006 for classes....hopefully it will be done before then, but most of the undergraduate classes for science will be shifting over there.</p>