Production of Professional Physicists Decreasing

Data are presented to show the numbers of physicists-in-training graduating at various levels during the academic years from 1946–1947 to the present. Following World War II there has been a vast increase in the numbers of physics majors. The number of bachelor's degrees awarded by 525 institutions reached a maximum of 3770 in 1949–1950 and declined each year thereafter, with 3000 estimated for 1951–1952. The number of master's degrees awarded by 158 departments was highest at 1065 in 1949–1950 and has fallen off to an estimated 950 for the current year. At the doctorate level the production is continuing to increase, although at a reduced rate, with 475 estimated for 1951–1952. The total enrollment of undergraduate physics majors reached a maximum of 12,670 in 1949–1950 and has now declined to 10,200. The total number of physics graduate students has been nearly constant for the last two years at 5750.