Ashley L. Frey started classes at Albright College, she set her sights on becoming a secondary school math teacher.

But a few Spanish and Latin American studies courses reinforced the love of the Spanish language and culture she had developed during a year studying in Ecuador.

The Reading resident changed her concentration to focus on those fields and follow what she really cared about.

In today’s poor economy, some college students feel pressed to switch majors and chase hot jobs. While that might be happening elsewhere, it doesn’t appear to be a trend in Berks County, local colleges officials said.

More often, local students are like Frey: They’re continuing to study what they love, while still keeping an eye on future job prospects by adding electives in fields such as business and foreign languages.

Frey, a junior majoring in Spanish and Latin American studies, no longer wants to teach but said the economy has her thinking about bolstering her transcript with courses that could open more job prospects.

“It’s actually making me consider adding communications to my major because it’s more flexible with what I can do with it, like human resources and stuff,” she said. “Human resources is a growing field right now, especially with everything that’s going on in the economy.

“I figure if I have communications, it kind of backs me up a little bit.”

Across the nation, college graduates with degrees in nursing, health care, accounting, computer science, economics, general science and engineering report the most success in finding jobs, according to college placement officials.

The job market has been tougher on those with degrees in fields such as finance, journalism, graphic design and international relations.

Still, career experts say students should major in whatever area most interests them, even if it’s a less specialized liberal arts field, such as English or sociology.

Tyler J. Parmer, an Albright sophomore from Spring Township, is studying what he’s passionate about.

Parmer wants to become a sports commentator for a major television network and is majoring in English/communications with a concentration in journalism.

He’s planning to add business courses as a backup to the competitive field he’s pursuing.

While his parents have questioned his career goal, Parmer said he’s going to try to reach his dream because he loves sports.

Amanda G. Haeckler, an Albright sophomore from Boyertown, is studying fashion merchandising and Spanish. After graduation, she aspires to become a fashion consultant.

“I’m really into fashion and I just recently picked Spanish,” she said. “I thought it would probably give me a leg up.”

The academic programs students pursue don’t always follow the job market, said Dr. William J. Stahler, director of admissions at Kutztown University.

For example, forensics and sports management were briefly popular. But mainly, students are continuing to focus on fields that they’re most interested in.

“It really comes down to the passion and the interest that students have,” said Jeff A. Dittman, dean of undergraduate admissions at Alvernia University. “Students today, they want to be happy in their careers.”

While that’s the case, some parents are telling the Albright College admissions staff that they want their children to graduate with a degree that will get them a job immediately, said Chris H. Boehm, Albright director of admission.

“Before the dip in the economy, they had a little more opportunity to have a year or two where they worked odd jobs, worked part time or took internships that led to other jobs,” he said.

Pam N. Swope, an Albright junior from Lower Alsace Township, is studying art education to reach her goal of becoming an art teacher.

Swope said her parents are teachers, and she’s comfortable teaching people, so the field is a good fit for her.

She doesn’t worry much about the teaching job market, but she is a bit concerned about districts cutting art programs.

“There’s always going to be teachers,” she said.

Donald H. Wonnie, an Albright sophomore from Reading, is studying computer science and digital media.

Wonnie would like to work in marketing and be creative, but he’s expecting there will be more demand for computer skills.

He’s studying what he loves in digital media, but also is studying a more secure field.

“I felt like with those two I should be set,” he said.

Initially, some students may pick a job in a promising field but end up changing their minds, said Maria N. Mitchell, Reading Area Community College associate vice president for enrollment management/student development.

“They may pick that high-salary major, then when students find out that that’s not what they’re passionate about, then they switch their majors,” she said.

Also, freshmen have at least four years to finish their degree, and a lot can change in that time. The jobs that are hot today could cool off in that time, too.

“There’s always the promise that the economy will change,” said Dr. Mary Lou A. D’Allegro, senior director of planning, research and assessment at Penn State Berks. I think there’s some enthusiasm from these students that when they’re ready to graduate that there will be jobs available.”