Record high enrollment was reached in the College of Human Sciences this semester with 5,182 students.

Pamela White, dean for the College of Human Sciences, said that the success of surpassing the 5,000-student milestone was made possible through the creation of new programs. She said, “There’s an overall increase in the interest of health and wellness.”

The College of Human Sciences was created in 2004 when the then well-established College of Education and College of Family and Consumer Sciences worked together to combine resources and reorganized into a more efficient unit.

Most of the majors in the college have existed since Iowa State began but some new programs have been added, making the College of Human Sciences a more popular choice among students.

The college added event management as a major in 2011 with 315 students. It has since increased 9.2 percent to 344 students for fall 2014.

Another recent addition to the College of Human Sciences was the culinary science major in the food science and nutrition program.

“Culinary science was a new twist on a major that was more innovative, maybe more modern, and many students have flocked to that,” White said.

She added that all the programs in the College of Human Sciences allow students to select a major that’s going to be relevant to today’s society.

White said that all of the majors offered by the college “allow students to pick something they’re going to be really passionate about for their lives. I’d say that’s probably the key.”

“All of our majors really help students to apply their passions in a way that’s going to make a difference,” said Denise Williams, diversity and orientation coordinator for the College of Human Sciences

Job placement is another key to the college’s success. According to White, over 92 percent of undergraduates and 96 percent of graduate students have been placed in jobs upon graduation.

“I think it’s huge,” Williams said. “Knowing that their peers are getting jobs and knowing that there’s a job on the other side of all this work is motivating, especially when it’s a passion for you.”

Students also may choose the College of Human Sciences for the programs and clubs that support multicultural students.

Because of the increase in multicultural students since 2005, Williams said that her department developed specific programs to help coordinate students of diversity with other students, as well as with campus resources.

The programs connect upperclassmen and new students with each other, as well as with faculty and advisors on a one-on-one basis.

“Seeing the growth in our student population in general and our multicultural students is the most exciting part because we have more people contributing to the conversation,” Williams said.

One of those contributors is Jessica Ross, a sophomore in early childhood education. She chose her major because she was enthusiastic about teaching.

“I really enjoy working with kids,” Ross said. “It’s interesting to learn about how children learn and grow.”

Ross said she’s noticed the college growing along with the the children.

“It’s awesome to see the college expanding,” Ross said, indicating the construction at MacKay Hall.

According to White, the physical expansion of the college is a necessity.

“In order to try keep up with our students we are adding faculty, adding more staff and we are undergoing some major and really relevant renovations to our physical space,” White said.

She hopes that the renovations will be an attraction for incoming students or for those who have yet to determine their major.

“There are all kinds of opportunities for them to consider,” White said.

She encourages all students to think about the things they enjoy doing in everyday life.

“Look at the majors that are available,” she said. “I am guessing that they probably have interest in one or more of the majors in the College of Human Sciences.”