The College Major Shuffle: St. Norbert's Bold Bet on AI and Data Science
There’s something both thrilling and unsettling about watching a college reinvent itself mid-crisis. St. Norbert College, a small liberal arts institution in De Pere, Wisconsin, is doing just that. Fresh off a series of financial setbacks, staff cuts, and program eliminations, the college is now rolling out four new majors this fall: Applied Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Data Science, and Nutrition. On the surface, it’s a pragmatic move to align with workforce demands. But if you dig deeper, it’s a fascinating case study in higher education’s identity crisis—and a risky gamble on the future.
From Theology to Tech: The Great Curriculum Pivot
What strikes me most is the stark contrast between the majors St. Norbert is cutting and the ones it’s adding. Theology, Religion, Spanish, and Physics are out; AI and data science are in. This isn’t just a shift in curriculum—it’s a philosophical reorientation. Personally, I think this reflects a broader trend in higher education: the growing tension between preserving the humanities and preparing students for a tech-driven job market.
Dean Jamie Lynch calls it a “portfolio refresh,” but let’s be honest—it’s more like a survival strategy. In 2022, the college faced an $8 million operating loss. By 2025, they were cutting staff and programs to stay afloat. Now, they’re betting big on fields like AI and data science, which are undeniably in demand. But here’s the catch: these fields are also overcrowded. Every college worth its salt is launching similar programs. What makes St. Norbert’s offering unique? That’s the million-dollar question.
The AI Gold Rush: A Crowded Field
One thing that immediately stands out is the timing of this move. AI and data science are the buzzwords of the decade, but they’re also becoming commoditized. From my perspective, St. Norbert is entering a highly competitive space. What many people don’t realize is that smaller colleges often struggle to compete with larger institutions that have deeper pockets and more established tech programs.
That said, I admire the ambition. Associate Professor Jonathan Dunbar, who helped create the data science program, is right to emphasize the ethical use of data. In a world where AI is increasingly weaponized, teaching students to wield it responsibly is crucial. But here’s the challenge: can a small college like St. Norbert truly compete with tech giants and research universities in this space? I’m skeptical, but I’m also rooting for them.
The Hidden Costs of Curriculum Overhaul
What this really suggests is that higher education is at a crossroads. St. Norbert’s decision to cut humanities programs like Theology and Spanish isn’t just a financial move—it’s a cultural one. If you take a step back and think about it, we’re losing something vital when colleges prioritize marketability over intellectual curiosity. The humanities teach us to think critically, to question, to engage with complexity. AI and data science, while important, don’t necessarily foster those skills.
This raises a deeper question: What is the purpose of a college education? Is it to produce job-ready graduates, or is it to cultivate well-rounded individuals who can navigate an increasingly complex world? Personally, I think it should be both, but the balance is shifting—and not necessarily for the better.
The Future of Higher Education: A Risky Bet
St. Norbert’s new majors are a bold attempt to stay relevant in a rapidly changing landscape. But relevance comes at a cost. The college is betting that these programs will attract more students and stabilize its finances. But what if they don’t? What if enrollment numbers fall short, or if the job market for AI and data science becomes saturated?
A detail that I find especially interesting is the inclusion of Nutrition as one of the new majors. It’s an outlier compared to the tech-focused programs, but it’s also a smart move. Nutrition is a growing field with strong job prospects, and it appeals to a different demographic. This suggests that St. Norbert isn’t putting all its eggs in the tech basket—and that’s a wise strategy.
Final Thoughts: A Necessary Gamble?
In the end, St. Norbert’s decision to add these new majors is both a necessity and a gamble. It’s a necessary response to financial pressures and workforce demands, but it’s also a risky bet on fields that are already crowded and rapidly evolving. From my perspective, the real test will be whether the college can differentiate its programs and provide real value to students.
What makes this particularly fascinating is what it says about the future of higher education. Colleges are under immense pressure to adapt, but adaptation often comes at the expense of tradition and identity. St. Norbert is trying to strike a balance, but it’s a delicate one. Personally, I think this is a story worth watching—not just for what it says about one college, but for what it reveals about the challenges facing higher education as a whole.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: the college major shuffle is just beginning. St. Norbert’s move is a microcosm of a larger trend, and it’s one that will shape the future of education—for better or for worse.
