Upon knowing that the giant pandas, tigers, whales, and marine turtles were in danger of extinction, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) took measures to ensure that these animals will be around for future generations to see. Part of its campaign was to promote awareness.
Certain undergraduate degree programs in the Ateneo—though not awaiting imminent extinction—have a comparatively low student population. Some say that this is because of certain misconceptions about the programs. Can measures like that of the WWF’s prevent these programs’ dwindling student population? Here is what the undergraduates and the deans have to say.
Why do you think should your degree program be important?
Kasi yung literatura sa kabuoan, kahit sa ibang bansa, malaking parte talaga sa kultura ng komunidad. Labas sa ating kaalaman rin siguro ito nangyayari. So kung baga, ang pag-iisip natin, yung mga paniniwala natin, nahuhulma ng panitikan. Tapos mismo, yung mga natutunan mo sa literatura, sa pag-aaral mo sa mga teorya, nagiging kritikal ka sa mga bagay na hindi mo alam. (Literature as a whole, even in other countries, plays a big role in a community’s culture. Perhaps this happens in our subconscious. See this way, our way of thinking and our beliefs are molded by literature. And precisely, the things you learn in literature, in your studying of theories, you become critical of things you [once] didn’t know.)
— Maki Lim (IV AB Lit Fil), Matanglawin editor in chief
Why do you think a degree program like Theater Arts is deemed unpopular?
“Many believe that it is not practical to take courses like Theatre Arts because of the perceived unstable life after graduation. But I don’t believe that. Since the curriculum of the Ateneo includes a lot of core subjects, I am still getting the same Ateneo education just like everyone else.”
— John Yap (II BFA TA)
How do you think others see Chemistry?
“I think a lot of people think Chemistry is too difficult or advanced. I always hear from my friends that their experience with Chemistry in high school wasn’t that nice. I think it’s really that early experience in Chemistry that defines your interest in it. So if you don’t like it in high school, it is less likely for you to take it in the future.”
— Evan Yap (IV BS Ch MSE), Ateneo Chemical Society president
What do you enjoy most about your degree program?
I like that I get to understand what constitutes products like bio fuel, lipstick, and plastic. I especially [enjoy discovering the components of] products we usually ignore such as what causes potato chips to taste like vinegar. It makes you look at [everyday] things in a whole new light. I also like [the fact] that we have management subjects so that we could create these products [and at the same time] sustain them through a business enterprise.
— Kirsten Co (IV BS MAC)
How do you think your degree program can be improved?
When you choose a course, you really choose it [because it is] your passion. So you can’t really say that it is improvable. But if you look at it in a bigger picture, if you’re going into a fine arts program, it would be more practical for you to get into a course that would give you a more stable future such as engineering. That is the reason why a few people consider arts.
— Jesse Castillo (III BFA AM)
Why does SOH have a lower student population compared to the other schools?
All over the world, school of humanities really has a low student population. So we’re not an isolated case. The humanities is being challenged everywhere, in fact, I think in the Philippines, the Ateneo is still the bastion for humanities. I’ve heard in other schools that their philosophy [class] is not part of the curriculum anymore and it’s a pity actually.
—Ma. Luz Vilches, PhD, dean of the School of Humanities
Why are the degree programs with low student population retained?
First of all, the academic programs we have need to be measured against the needs of society. [For example, in the case of AB History], does a society need historical memory? Can we afford to forget? If it can’t, then you have to have a history program regardless of the low numbers. [Meanwhile], there are certain specializations such as Eco-H that you have to maintain simply because our competition is not just the local players but the global players as well. If [the Philippines does] not have people with compassion and competence to deal with our counterparts abroad, our country will sink. So even if the numbers are low, we simply have to invest.
— Fr. Jose Cruz, SJ, dean of the School of Social Sciences
What can you say about degree programs with low student population?
Well, if you ask most students why they entered their specific degree program, the reason would be just because their friends are there. Those who take the [so called unpopular courses], on the other hand, are the few who are more determined on what they want. You can have a course with 200 students—but are they committed? So it’s not a popularity contest. You’re here [in the Ateneo] to develop yourself. (…) So I would tend to think that those who go in these [unpopular] courses know more about themselves compared to those who flock to the popular programs.
— Fabian Dayrit, PhD, dean of the School of Science and Engineering
