'Ec 10' Attracts 972, Leads Again in Fall Enrollment

Once again, Social Analysis 10, "Principles of Economics," has topped the list of largest classes, with 972 students, the Office of the Registrar announced yesterday.

Moral Reasoning 22, "Justice," came in second with 732, as it did when it was last offered in 1994.

But the enrollments of other courses in the top 10 were not entirely predictable.

Historical Study B-61, "The Warren Court and the Pursuit of Justice," attracted 561 students, making it number three and suprising the registrar's office, which did not expect such a high enrollment.

The turnout prompted a lottery which admitted only 323 students, 264 of whom are seniors who have not taken Historical Study B courses and thus received preference.

"I feel that it was right thing to do because we are seniors," said Josh M. Shulman '97, "We deserve it."

Literature and Arts A-40, "Shakespeare, The Early Plays," was fourth in size with 439 students.

Fifth was Computer Science 50, "Introduction to Computer Science," which enrolled 430 students--107 more than last year, when 323 took the class. Top 10 Biggest Classes Course Title  Enrollment Social Analysis 10  972 Principles of Economics   Moral Reasoning 22  732 Justice   Historical Study B-61  561 The Warren Court   Literature and Arts A-40  439 Shakespeare, The Early Plays   Computer Science 50  430 Intro. to Computer Science   General Education 105  355 Lit. of Social Reflection   Mathematics 21a  310 Multivariable Calculus   Chemistry 5  304 Principles of Chemistry   Biological Sciences 2  299 Evolutionary Biology   Biological Sciences 10  291 Intro. to Molecular Biology   Crimson Christian R. Goldsmith

"It's an interesting field--there's a lot going on," suggested Visiting Professor of Computer Science Brain W. Kernighan as a reason why enrollment has gone up both now and over the years it has been offered.

His students offer an additional reason: the professor.

Kernighan is one of the experts in the programming language C, which is taught in the course, and co-authored one of the two programming textbooks used in the class.

"He is not [just] an academic. He's been out of the classroom for eight years," said Paul H. Freedman '99, citing the new professor's experience as an incentive to take the class this semester.

Not all classes in the top 10 grew in size.

General Education 105, "The Literature of Social Reflection," shrank to 355, a decrease of about 25 percent from an enrollment of 477 last semester. This brought the course from second to sixth.

Why the course dropped is a mystery to some of its current students.

"People might have been turned off by the long reading list, but you don't have to read it all," said Liz W. Schoyer '97.

But other students said they were attracted to the course by that very list.

"I thought it sounded interesting," said Karen A. Gudeman '98 after attending yesterday's lecture. "I'm taking it for the reading."

Elton W. Carter '97 shopped the class and decided not to take it. "It seemed like [Agee Professor of Social Ethics Robert Coles '50] increased the difficulty a lot. Maybe he was sore about a CUE Guide rating."

The course received a difficulty rating of 2.3 in this year's CUE Guide.

Chemistry 5, "Introduction to Principles of Chemistry," also fell, shedding 75 students and placing eighth with 304 courses.

Biological Sciences 2, "Organismic and Evolutionary Biology," placed ninth with 299 students, followed by Biological Science 10, "Introduction to Molecular Biology," which enrolled 291.

"All the enrollments in all the biology classes are down. I don't know the reason," said Otto T. Solbrig, one of the three faculty members who teaches Biological Sciences 2, the enrollment of which is down by 57 from last term.

Math 21a, "Multivariable Calculus," ranked seventh with 310, close to its previous enrollment of 331.

Althougth large class size was one of the primary reasons Harvard dropped from first to third in this year's U.S. News an World Report survey of American colleges and universities, not everyone objects to a large class size.

"It doesn't bother me at all," said Stacey L. Serafini '97, a student in "Warren Court."

"It's not what I expected," said Juan E. Garcia '99, referring to "Justice." "It's kind of strange because [Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel] allows people to speak up in class. You'd think that it would be chaotic, but it's not."

Kernighan said he does not think the large enrollment will hinder his teaching of CS 50.

"We have enough TFs to handle the students at this point," he added, calling the material "a lot of fun."

One of his students, Jason I. Comander '97, said he is looking forwrd to the class. "Some of my worst teachers have been some of the most famous ones. But so far, Professor Kernighan seems like a great teacher.

"It's an interesting field--there's a lot going on," suggested Visiting Professor of Computer Science Brain W. Kernighan as a reason why enrollment has gone up both now and over the years it has been offered.

His students offer an additional reason: the professor.

Kernighan is one of the experts in the programming language C, which is taught in the course, and co-authored one of the two programming textbooks used in the class.

"He is not [just] an academic. He's been out of the classroom for eight years," said Paul H. Freedman '99, citing the new professor's experience as an incentive to take the class this semester.

Not all classes in the top 10 grew in size.

General Education 105, "The Literature of Social Reflection," shrank to 355, a decrease of about 25 percent from an enrollment of 477 last semester. This brought the course from second to sixth.

Why the course dropped is a mystery to some of its current students.

"People might have been turned off by the long reading list, but you don't have to read it all," said Liz W. Schoyer '97.

But other students said they were attracted to the course by that very list.

"I thought it sounded interesting," said Karen A. Gudeman '98 after attending yesterday's lecture. "I'm taking it for the reading."

Elton W. Carter '97 shopped the class and decided not to take it. "It seemed like [Agee Professor of Social Ethics Robert Coles '50] increased the difficulty a lot. Maybe he was sore about a CUE Guide rating."

The course received a difficulty rating of 2.3 in this year's CUE Guide.

Chemistry 5, "Introduction to Principles of Chemistry," also fell, shedding 75 students and placing eighth with 304 courses.

Biological Sciences 2, "Organismic and Evolutionary Biology," placed ninth with 299 students, followed by Biological Science 10, "Introduction to Molecular Biology," which enrolled 291.

"All the enrollments in all the biology classes are down. I don't know the reason," said Otto T. Solbrig, one of the three faculty members who teaches Biological Sciences 2, the enrollment of which is down by 57 from last term.

Math 21a, "Multivariable Calculus," ranked seventh with 310, close to its previous enrollment of 331.

Althougth large class size was one of the primary reasons Harvard dropped from first to third in this year's U.S. News an World Report survey of American colleges and universities, not everyone objects to a large class size.

"It doesn't bother me at all," said Stacey L. Serafini '97, a student in "Warren Court."

"It's not what I expected," said Juan E. Garcia '99, referring to "Justice." "It's kind of strange because [Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel] allows people to speak up in class. You'd think that it would be chaotic, but it's not."

Kernighan said he does not think the large enrollment will hinder his teaching of CS 50.

"We have enough TFs to handle the students at this point," he added, calling the material "a lot of fun."

One of his students, Jason I. Comander '97, said he is looking forwrd to the class. "Some of my worst teachers have been some of the most famous ones. But so far, Professor Kernighan seems like a great teacher.

"It's an interesting field--there's a lot going on," suggested Visiting Professor of Computer Science Brain W. Kernighan as a reason why enrollment has gone up both now and over the years it has been offered.

His students offer an additional reason: the professor.

Kernighan is one of the experts in the programming language C, which is taught in the course, and co-authored one of the two programming textbooks used in the class.

"He is not [just] an academic. He's been out of the classroom for eight years," said Paul H. Freedman '99, citing the new professor's experience as an incentive to take the class this semester.

Not all classes in the top 10 grew in size.

General Education 105, "The Literature of Social Reflection," shrank to 355, a decrease of about 25 percent from an enrollment of 477 last semester. This brought the course from second to sixth.

Why the course dropped is a mystery to some of its current students.

"People might have been turned off by the long reading list, but you don't have to read it all," said Liz W. Schoyer '97.

But other students said they were attracted to the course by that very list.

"I thought it sounded interesting," said Karen A. Gudeman '98 after attending yesterday's lecture. "I'm taking it for the reading."

Elton W. Carter '97 shopped the class and decided not to take it. "It seemed like [Agee Professor of Social Ethics Robert Coles '50] increased the difficulty a lot. Maybe he was sore about a CUE Guide rating."

The course received a difficulty rating of 2.3 in this year's CUE Guide.

Chemistry 5, "Introduction to Principles of Chemistry," also fell, shedding 75 students and placing eighth with 304 courses.

Biological Sciences 2, "Organismic and Evolutionary Biology," placed ninth with 299 students, followed by Biological Science 10, "Introduction to Molecular Biology," which enrolled 291.

"All the enrollments in all the biology classes are down. I don't know the reason," said Otto T. Solbrig, one of the three faculty members who teaches Biological Sciences 2, the enrollment of which is down by 57 from last term.

Math 21a, "Multivariable Calculus," ranked seventh with 310, close to its previous enrollment of 331.

Althougth large class size was one of the primary reasons Harvard dropped from first to third in this year's U.S. News an World Report survey of American colleges and universities, not everyone objects to a large class size.

"It doesn't bother me at all," said Stacey L. Serafini '97, a student in "Warren Court."

"It's not what I expected," said Juan E. Garcia '99, referring to "Justice." "It's kind of strange because [Professor of Government Michael J. Sandel] allows people to speak up in class. You'd think that it would be chaotic, but it's not."

Kernighan said he does not think the large enrollment will hinder his teaching of CS 50.

"We have enough TFs to handle the students at this point," he added, calling the material "a lot of fun."

One of his students, Jason I. Comander '97, said he is looking forwrd to the class. "Some of my worst teachers have been some of the most famous ones. But so far, Professor Kernighan seems like a great teacher.