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April 3[edit]

Rise of statistics as a popular concentration at Harvard College[edit]

From 17 students to 163 in 2016. [1] Is this trend typical at top colleges in the US? At top undergrads in the rest of the developed world? What explains the rise? There's a fair wind for all math and science majors but that in no way fully accounts for the 10x rise of statistics. Muzzleflash (talk) 18:20, 3 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I don't think you can draw any inferences from the fact the number of students enrolled in one specific program at one specific university increased significantly. It is most likely the result of a change in the program itself that has made it more attractive. Indeed, I see in this document [2] that a new Data Science track was introduced in 2016. It is likely that this new curriculum proved to be attractive to students and resulted in a big increase of interest in the statistics program. --Xuxl (talk) 18:56, 3 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

2008-16 there is a steady rise in concentrators so it doesn't appear to be a sharp rise due to a single course change. It is just one college but it's also Harvard. Ideas that become popular at Harvard have a tendency to blossom further outside of the university. Muzzleflash (talk) 20:06, 3 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

How long have the terms "concentration" and "concentrator" been used in educational contexts? These are new to me.
Our article concentration knows them not. Neither does wikt:concentrator. But wikt:concentration admits that word as "A field or course of study on which one focuses, especially as a student in a college or university." -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 20:49, 4 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Harvard, however, does know the term - and defines it here [3] Wymspen (talk) 21:45, 4 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Why was there a need to create a new term? -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:03, 4 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

It's a well-established term in the U.S. to refer to a sub-discipline within a Major. For example, one can be a chemistry major with a concentration in environmental chemistry; it merely indicates the sub-discipline within the department you have chosen to specialize in. While all undergraduate students in the U.S. usually have a major, not all of them will have a concentration; it's merely an indication of an extra level of specialization. It is definitely not a new term. It is explained at Major (academic)#Difference from academic concentration--Jayron 32 12:58, 5 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks, Jayron. I stand enlightened. For all I know they may now use such terms Down Here, but it's been 35 years since I got my degree and it's marginally possible I am slightly out of the loop. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 23:37, 5 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

It's been 20 years since I got mine, and it was well established then. Perhaps its a term that developed in the interim. --Jayron 32 12:38, 6 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Possibly. I read a lot both here and in the real world, about a wide array of subjects; I am a keen observer of language changes (most of which incur my displeasure); and service on these desks brings one into contact with all manner of strange things, new terminology etc. But as I said, these particular words had never crossed my path until now. First time for everything. -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 14:58, 6 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Interesting. I find that tying my pleasure to the universe remaining static in anything is a 100% guarantee of disappointment. Expect change in everything, and you'll never be disappointed... --Jayron 32 15:11, 6 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Oh, I welcome change when it's in a positive direction, makes an improvement, fills a gap, etc. But change in the opposite direction, no thanks. For example, you will never catch me speaking or writing about "transitioning to [whatever]". Let others join that particular bandwagon (and may it convey them straight to the hell they so richly deserve). -- Jack of Oz ^{[pleasantries]} 22:44, 6 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]