E B y M ichael T. G iBBons ngineering bachelors degrees remained - PDF document

E nginEEring by thE n umbErs E B y M ichael T. G iBBons ngineering bachelor’s degrees remained virtually which have not abated since the mid-1990’s. unchanged since last year, edging slightly Foreign nationals received a higher proportion of master’s higher to 74,387 in 2009. The past five years’ degrees for the second consecutive year. The 44.1 percent totals have been remarkably steady, growing representation is the highest share since 2004. The share of only 1 percent since 2005. Growth from 2000 to 2005 was doctoral degrees awarded to foreign nationals dipped for the a more robust 14 percent. Undergraduate enrollment second consecutive year, falling to 55.1 percent. This is virtually reached 427,503 full-time students in the fall of 2009. the same percentage seen in 2003 before it reached a high point After fluctuating during the mid 2000’s, enrollment of 61.7 percent in 2006. rose steadily over the past four years, which accounts for Although the fraction of degrees awarded to women at the a 16 percent growth since 2005. Degrees in electrical/ master’s (23 percent) and doctoral (21.2 percent) levels is at an computer engineering and computer science continued all-time high, the percentage of women receiving bachelor’s to fall, although enrollment in these fields ticked upward degrees declined again for the seventh consecutive year. The slightly over the past two years. While mechanical, 17.8 percentage of engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded to metallurgical and materials engineering degrees remained women in 2009 is the lowest since 1995. This declining trend flat last year, the aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil and might begin to reverse since undergraduate female enrollment environmental fields flourished. The energy-related fields of ticked slightly higher for the second straight year, rising to 18.2 mining, nuclear, and petroleum engineering have grown by over percent in fall 2009 from 17.5 percent in 2007. 150 percent since 2003. African-American and Hispanic representation remained Master’s degrees reached an all-time high of 41,632 in unchanged for years at all degree levels. Although this largely 2009. This represents a 6.7 percent growth from 2008 and a persists for graduate degrees, African-Americans received a 38 percent growth over the past ten years. Indications are that smaller share of degrees in 2009 (4.6 percent) than in 2000 (5.6 the trend will continue, judging from the increasing enrollment percent). The opposite is true for Hispanic graduates, as they totals, which leapt by over 7 percent in fall 2009 to 99,382. now receive 6.6 percent of bachelor’s degrees, compared with However, while master’s enrollment has increased for all fields in 5.8 percent in 2000. Asian-Americans have seen their proportion dip slightly to 12.4 percent of bachelor’s degrees from a high of recent years, that has not yet translated into wholesale degree 14.2 percent in 2004. growth. Chemical engineering and engineering science master’s Diversification in the faculty ranks continued with degrees are down 23 percent and 40 percent respectively slightly more women and minorities in tenured and tenure- since 2005. Electrical/computer and petroleum engineering track positions. The percentage of women faculty members also each dropped by 14 percent during that time. Biomedical reached 12.7 percent in fall 2009, up from 8.9 percent in 2001. engineering, general engineering, and nuclear engineering are This trend should continue due to the higher percentage all up 35 to 45 percent since 2005. of women receiving doctorates and the notable increase of Doctoral degree totals have plateaued at an all-time high women at the assistant professor level, which now stands at 21.6 over the past three years. The 9,083 degrees awarded in 2009 percent. African-American and Hispanic faculty also continue to were three fewer than last year and 28 more than 2007. Most grow, although very slowly. Their respective shares were 2.5 and fields have changed little over this time. The main positive 3.5 percent. Asian faculty members comprised 23.3 percent of exception is the 35 percent growth in biomedical engineering. the total, up from the 17 percent posted in 2001. The combined 3,107 degrees awarded in electrical/computer More detailed data for 343 U.S. and 10 Canadian engineering engineering and computer science represent a 7.5 percent colleges can be found in the following pages of our 2009 Profiles decline since 2007. Overall, engineering doctorates are up by of Engineering and Engineering Technology Colleges book or over 50 percent since 2000. Degree growth will likely continue online at www.asee.org/colleges in the future based on enrollment trends. Doctoral enrollment jumped 7.6 percent this year after four years of 1.5 percent Michael T. Gibbons is the director of data research and programs for the American average annual growth. This continues the enrollment increases, Society for Engineering Education. He can be contacted at m.gibbons@asee.org.

12 For more information, visit the ASEE Web site at www.asee.org/colleges By the Numbers B achelor ’ s D egrees , 2008-2009 B ACHELOR ’ S D EGREES A WARDED BY E NGINEERING D ISCIPLINE : 74,387 20,000 17,375 15,000 10,508 9,859 10,000 5,652 5,185 5,000 3,644 3,510 3,394 3,351 3,057 2,402 2,194 1,246 1,035 723 654 631 558 503 431 378 309 190 0 Mechanical Computer Sci. (inside eng.) Civil Electrical Industrial/Manufacturing Chemical Biomedical Electrical/Computer Other Aerospace Engineering (general) Metallurgical & Materials Architectural Biological & Agricultural Petroleum Civil/Environmental Eng. Science & Eng. Physics Environmental Engineering Management Computer Sci. (outside eng.) Nuclear Mining Computer Engineering P ERCENTAGE OF B ACHELOR ’ S D EGREES A WARDED TO W OMEN BY D ISCIPLINE : 17.8% OF T OTAL 50% 43.7% 40% 36.9% 35.0% 32.6% 30.2% 30% 29.0% 25.2% 21.4% 20.2% 20.1% 19.8% 20% 18.8% 17.9%18.5% 14.2% 14.2% 13.9% 11.4% 11.5%10.5% 11.2% 11.1% 10% 7.9% 0 Mechanical Computer Sci. (inside eng.) Civil Electrical Industrial/Manufacturing Chemical Biomedical Computer Engineering Electrical/Computer Other Aerospace Engineering (general) Metallurgical & Materials Architectural Biological & Agricultural Petroleum Civil/Environmental Eng. Science & Eng. Physics Environmental Engineering Management Computer Sci. (outside eng.) Nuclear Mining