In what S&E fields are degrees awarded?

The field distribution of S&E degrees varies by level of degree. Computer sciences is the most common major at the associate’s level, whereas social sciences/psychology is the most common major at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. At the doctoral level, biological/agricultural sciences, engineering, and social sciences/psychology each account for one-fourth of S&E doctorates.

The field distribution of S&E degrees varies by level of degree. Computer sciences is the most common major at the associate’s level, whereas social sciences/psychology is the most common major at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. At the doctoral level, biological/agricultural sciences, engineering, and social sciences/psychology each account for one-fourth of S&E doctorates.

The field distribution of S&E degrees varies by level of degree. Computer sciences is the most common major at the associate’s level, whereas social sciences/ psychology is the most common major at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. At the doctoral level, biological/agricultural sciences, engineering, and social sciences/psychology each account for one-fourth of S&E doctorates.

The field distribution of S&E degrees varies by level of degree. Computer sciences is the most common major at the associate’s level, whereas social sciences/ psychology is the most common major at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. At the doctoral level, biological/agricultural sciences, engineering, and social sciences/psychology each account for one-fourth of S&E doctorates.

• Nearly half (49%) of the 84,641 S&E associate’s degrees awarded by U.S. colleges in 2012 were in computer sciences.
• Social sciences/psychology was the second largest field, accounting for 33% of all S&E associate’s degrees conferred.
• Collectively, all other fields made up 18% of the S&E associate’s degrees awarded in 2012.

• In 2012, U.S. colleges and universities awarded 589,330 bachelor’s degrees in S&E fields.
• Social sciences/psychology accounted for 49% of the S&E bachelor’s degrees, and biological/agricultural sciences accounted for 21%.
• About 14% of all S&E bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2012 were in engineering. The other fields accounted for much smaller percentages.

• Social sciences/psychology accounted for 41% of the 161,371 S&E master’s degrees conferred by U.S. colleges and universities in 2012.
• Engineering was the second largest field, making up 27% of all S&E master’s degrees awarded.
• Computer sciences (13%) and biological/agricultural sciences (11%) each accounted for more than a tenth of S&E master’s degrees, while physical sciences and mathematics/statistics together made up only 8%.

• Although biological/agricultural sciences outnumbered engineering and social sciences/psychology by a slight margin, each of these three fields accounted for 25% of the 35,360 S&E doctorates awarded in 2012.
• Physical sciences made up a much larger proportion of S&E degrees at the doctoral level (15%) than at the lower degree levels. Together, computer sciences and mathematics/statistics accounted for nearly 10% of the S&E doctorates awarded in 2012.