Figure 5-21 



Master's degrees in science and engineering, 1960-72 



Number 



(Thousands) 

 55 I 



45 



All sciences and engineermg 



Engineering ^ ^ ^ * 



^^ Social sciences «• 



• ■ 



, • * Life sciences 



Physical sciences 



Mathematical sciences 

 J \ \ \ \ I \ I I 



As a percent of all 

 master's degrees 



(Percent) 

 30 r 



All sciences and engineering 



Engineering 



^-%. 



Social sciences 



Mathematical sciences 



J \ \ \ \ L 



1960 '62 '64 '66 '68 70 '72 1960 '62 '64 '66 '68 '70 



SOURCE: National Center for Educational Statistics and National Science Foundation. 



percent in 1965 to 21 percent in 1972; the largest 

 proportional declines occurred in engineering 

 and the physical and life sciences. 



Doctoral degrees awarded 



Annual awards of doctorates are shown in 

 figure 5-22. Science and engineering degrees 

 accounted for the majority of all doctorates 

 awarded between 1965 and 1974, but their share 

 fell from a high of 64 percent in 1964 to 56 

 percent in 1974. The number of men receiving 



doctoral degrees decreased in 1974, and 

 although there was an increase in women 

 doctorates it was not great enough to offset the 

 drop for men. 



Changes in major areas of science over the 

 1965-74 period are shown in figure 5-22. The 

 physical sciences exhibited the slowest growth 

 throughout the period and the largest decline in 

 recent years; the number of physical science 

 doctorates awarded dropped almost 20 percent 

 from 1971 to 1974. Much of this decline is due to 



136 



