09 January 2003
America engineers the world
Washington, D.C. - According to a nationwide survey conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the number of engineering doctorates awarded -- following a peak of more than 6,300 in 1996 -- stands at some 5,500 in 2001. Just 41 percent of the 2001 engineering degrees went to U.S. citizens, NASA Tech Briefs reported this morning.
The report also notes that for the first time in nine years, the total number of doctoral degrees awarded by U.S. universities dropped to below 41,000. U.S. citizens earned almost 70 percent of the doctorates in all science and engineering fields for 2001.
In all areas of science and engineering, 25,500 doctorates were awarded in 2001, down from a high of 27,300 in 1998. Forty one percent of the 2001 physics degrees went to non-U.S. citizens.
In physics, a 23% decline in doctorate degrees from 1994 through 2001 was recorded, as was a 12% decline in chemistry. Only earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences showed increases in doctorate awards.
Read the the complete NSF report on the 2001 science and engineering doctorate awards at: http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/nsf03300/start.htm
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