Physics and astronomy degree production in the US is growing, according to a new report by the American Institute of Physics.
The number of bachelor’s degrees in physics granted in 2003 was 4553, up 25% from the recent low in 1999. In astronomy, the increase was even sharper, with the 325 degrees awarded representing a 61% jump in three years. That increase was due largely to more women earning astronomy bachelor’s degrees. Physics bachelor’s degrees accounted for less than 0.4% of the 1.3 million bachelor’s degrees awarded in the US in 2003.
At the PhD level, 1106 physics degrees were conferred in 2003, a 1% increase over 2002. This slight increase followed eight years of steady decline. Based on first-year graduate enrollments, steady growth in PhD production is expected in the coming years. In recent years, the proportion of new physics PhDs accepting postdocs has grown, from 45% in the...
