there are more students than have been recognized and provides infor- 
mation on the rate of increase in their number. 
Our data and ICO-NSF data show that the number of oceanography 
students has increased exponentially for the past 3 years. Moreover, 
students from these separate studies were proportional during 1964 
and 1965. Using this relationship to extrapolate data back to 1960, 
the number of students at that time would be 220. On this basis, the 
number of students in 1954 would be 100; the number in 1947 would 
be 30. These figures seem reasonable in terms of the experience of 
Panel members. If these extrapolations can be accepted, the number 
of students increased exponentially for almost two decades at about 
the same rate that it has during the past few years. 
The rate of increase for the past few years is 18 percent per year, 
and the doubling time is 414 years. If this trend, which probably has 
continued for a considerable length of time, prevails for only one more 
doubling period to fiscal year 1970, the number of students will exceed 
1,500. 
Degrees. The Interagency Committee on Oceanography and the 
National Science Foundation have determined the number of degrees 
granted in oceanography, defined with the same restrictions used in 
determining the number of students. They find the number of M.S. 
degrees is increasing sharply, but the number of Ph. D.’s is relatively 
constant (fig. 8.3). We have polled 12 degree-granting institutions. 
In 1962 and 1963, 17 and 16 Ph. D.’s, respectively, were granted, which 
is somewhat larger than the ICO-NSF determinations but indicates 
the same constant rate. In 1964 and 1965 a striking growth occurred 
to 28 and then 57 degrees, respectively. This growth is reflected in 
several individual institutions. The series for 1962 through 1965 at 
the University of Miami is 1, 3, 6, 10; at Scripps Institution of 
Oceanography it is 3, 2, 11, 17. 
Growth in Ph. D.’s is exponential with a doubling time of about 1 
year. That it may continue for another year is indicated by numer- 
ous spontaneous comments received in the course of the polling. For 
example at certain institutions more students received degrees at the 
middle of the present year than the whole of last year. At others 
which do not grant midterm degrees, many students have had theses 
accepted, although in the past theses have rarely been completed so 
early. Growth cannot continue for very long, because degrees are 
currently being granted to almost as many students as entered the in- 
stitutions only 6 years ago. Presumably, the time required to earn a 
degree in oceanography has declined sharply in the last few years, as 
the number of students increases. Perhaps after 1 more year the rate 
of increase will drop to 18 percent, parallel to the increase in number 
of students. Even with such a dramatic drop, some 200 new Ph. D.’s 
will be granted in oceanography in 1970. Thus, the annual production 
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