A longitudinal study of the educational paths of humanities majors was conducted with a sample of high school seniors who participated in the National Longitudinal Study (NLS) of the High School Class of 1972. Comparisons to the 1980 NLS seniors cohort were also made. Students completed a survey as seniors as well as four follow-up surveys. The following concerns were investigated for 1972 seniors who attained a bachelor's degree in the humanities by October 1979: pathways to the degree, differences between students earning humanities degrees and students earning degrees in other fields, differences between humanities and nonhumanities majors that were evident in 1972, and differences between 1972 and 1980 humanities majors. Student pathways were: the extent of high school academic studies, college entry and attendance at two- or four-year colleges, enrollment in a four-year college after two years of study, majors, and field of work students expect for themselves at age 30. Results were also assessed by student characteristics: sex; socioeconomic status; race (White, Black, and Hispanic); ability, and educational attainment (graduate and professional school studies). Finally, characteristics of students changing majors (joining/leaving the humanities) were considered. Numerous tables and figures are interspersed throughout the text. Information on data processing steps is appended. (SW)