Enrollments and Degrees Awarded to Physics Majors

Abstract

Data are presented showing the enrollments of undergraduate and graduate students in physics in approximately 500 colleges and universities in the United States. In the academic year 1949–50, 12,670 undergraduate and 5,560 graduate physics majors were enrolled. These numbers are about twice those of four years previous. During 1948–49 the number of degrees in physics granted were: bachelors, 3,495; masters, 920; doctors, 274. For 1949–50 the number of degrees to be granted was estimated as: bachelors, 4050; masters, 1,000; doctors, 340. The production of doctorates in physics has now reached a “normal” output, based on previous trends which indicated a rapid increase. A tabulation is presented of the bachelors, masters, and doctors degrees granted in 1948–49 by each of the 500 colleges and universities in the United States.