Growing subfields
The subfields of doctoral study showing the largest relative growth in numbers of female doctorate recipients over the past decade have been within engineering, led by bioengineering and biomedical engineering (figure F).
Fastest growing subfields of study for female U.S. doctorate recipients, by broad field of study: 2005–15
| Field | % change 2005–15 |
|---|---|
| Life sciences | |
| Agricultural sciences and natural resources | 67.3 |
| Biological and biomedical sciences | 50.9 |
| Physical sciences and earth sciences | |
| Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences | 87.3 |
| Physics and astronomy | 82.3 |
| Mathematics and computer sciences | |
| Computer and information sciences | 91.4 |
| Mathematics and statistics | 59.5 |
| Psychology and social sciences | |
| Other social sciences | 89.1 |
| Sociology | 37.6 |
| Engineering | |
| Bioengineering and biomedical engineering | 285.6 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineering | 119.5 |
| Education | |
| Teaching fields | 44.6 |
| Education research | 3.5 |
| Humanities and arts | |
| History | 33.6 |
| Foreign languages and literature | 13.9 |
| Other non-S&E fields | |
| Communication | 50.9 |
| Business management and administration | 38.2 |
S&E = science and engineering.
- SOURCE: Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities 2015. Related detailed data: table 15.
