Figure 5-22 



Doctoral degrees awarded, 1965-74 



(Thousands) 

 35, 



30- 



25 - 



.^^ Another 



J L 



1965 '66 '67 '68 '69 70 71 72 73 74 



Science and engineering doctorates, 

 by field, 1965-74 



(Thousands) 



Social sciences 



Life sciences 



Engineering 



Mathematical sciences 



J L 



J L 



J I 



1965 '66 '67 '68 '69 '70 '71 '72 '73 '74 

 SOURCE: National Academy of Sciences. 



the sharp drop in physics and astronomy 

 doctorate recipients, down 23 percent from 1971 

 through 1974, and to a nearly 20 percent 

 decrease in chemistry doctorates over the same 

 period. 



Graduate student support 



During the 1967-74 period, there were 

 significant shifts in the patterns of support of 

 graduate science students. In 1974, Federal 

 support for full-time graduate science students 

 in doctorate-granting institutions was provided 

 at a level only slightly more than one-half that of 

 1967. While Federal support was being reduced, 

 institutional and self-support increased, as 

 shown in the table below. 



Percent distribution of full-time 



graduate science students in doctorate 



departments, by source of major support, 



1967 and 1974" 



Major source of support 1967 1974 



Federal support 42 25 



Institutional support 34 40 



Other outside support 10 9 



Self-support 14 26 



Among the various Federal programs for 

 financial aid to graduate students, major reduc- 

 tions occurred in the number of awards for 

 fellowships and traineeships.^s By 1974, the 

 number of graduate science students on federal- 

 ly supported fellowships and traineeships was 

 reduced to approximately one-third of the 1967 

 level. There was also a decrease in the employ- 

 ment of graduate students on research projects, 

 with the result that research assistants receiving 

 Federal support declined by almost 20 percent 

 during the same period. Since Federal R&D 

 obligations to academic institutions rose 11 

 percent in constant dollars from the base year of 

 1967, it appears that occupational categories 

 other than research assistants were given 

 greater priority by these institutions. 



There have been marked changes in patterns 

 of Federal support of fellowships, traineeships. 



'~ Graduate StmienI Support and Manpower Resources in Science 

 Education. 1969, National Science Foundation (NSF 70-40) and 

 Graduate Science Education: Student Support and Postdoctorah, Fall 

 1974, National Science Foundation (NSF 75-322). 



" Graduate Science Education: Student Support and Postdoctorah, 

 National Science Foundation, annual series, and special 

 tabulations. 



137 



