Science Resources Studies Division | |
DATA BRIEF |
Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences |
Doctorate Awards Increase in S&E Overall, but Computer Science Declines for First Time |
by Susan T. Hill
|
Universities in
the United States awarded a record 27,230 doctorates in science and engineering
(S&E) fields in 1996, about 3 percent more than the number awarded the previous
year. This increase continues a pattern of slower growth in S&E doctorate
awards seen since 1991; annual increases have ranged from 1 to 3 percent.
From 1987 to 1991, annual increases in S&E doctorate awards were 4 to 5
percent.
Doctorate awards in engineering increased 5 percent over the 1995 level, compared to 2 percent for the sciences. Among engineering fields, there were increases in doctorates awarded in most subfields; the largest numerical increases were in chemical, civil, aeronautical, and biomedical engineering. Among science doctorate awards, most of the 1995-96 increase was found in the biological sciences. Both mathematics and computer science had significant declines in the number of doctorate awardscomputer science for the first time ever. Doctorate awards in the rest of the science fields remained relatively stable between 1995 and 1996 (table 1).
The slower growth in S&E doctorate awards from U. S. universities in recent years occurred among both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. In 1996, non-U.S. citizens still accounted for 40 percent of all S&E doctorate recipients in U.S. universities. Among non-U.S. citizens, there were significant increases, however, in doctorate recipients from India, Brazil, and China. In 1996, China outnumbered each world region in the number of S&E doctorate recipients earning degrees in U.S. universities (chart 1).
For further information on doctorate recipients from China, see the forthcoming SRS Issue Brief on S&E Doctorate Recipients From China.
User Notes This Data Brief was prepared by Susan T. Hill, who may be reached at the following address:
National Science Foundation This Data Brief is based on detailed data available in the forthcoming report Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards: 1996. For free printed copies of this Data Brief or the reports cited above, write to the above address, call (301) 947-2722, or e-mail to pubs@nsf.gov. |