What’s in a Number? MLA Commons Posts on Measuring the Humanities

In response to reports by a commission of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and by Harvard University, commentators have lamented, sought to explain, and challenged a purported decline in the number of humanities majors. A new post by the MLA’s director of research, David Laurence, addresses two flaws in a focus on the 7% figure cited as the percentage of 2010 college graduates who received a bachelor’s degree in the humanities, and Marianne Hirsch, the president of the association, identifies resources on the debate. We encourage members to comment on both posts and to provide links to additional resources.