February 23, 2012 | 2:37 pm
Lots of Different Disciplines Top State Doctorates
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Joe Wertz
Source: State Regents for Higher Education
We’ve been examining the types of degrees granted most recently at state colleges and universities. When it comes to fields of study, doctorates appear the most diverse, data show.
Like it was with master’s degrees, education was the most-common doctorate degree granted in 2008-2009, the most recent data from the State Regents for Higher Education show.
Considerably fewer doctorates are granted, so the range is significantly narrower. For example: 1,257 master’s in education were awarded in 2008-2009, but only 59 doctorate degrees.
The doctoral track also changes the range of studies. Business and management, for example, which ranked No. 2 in most-common master’s degrees but slid to the No. 7 slot when it comes to doctorates.
Conversely, physical sciences — physics and chemistry, primarily — rank No. 5 on the doctorate list and No. 10 when it comes to master’s.
Top 10 Doctorates Granted by State Universities
| Rank | Field | Number | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Education | 59 | 14.8 |
| 2. | Psychology | 53 | 13.3 |
| 3. | Biological and Biomedical Sciences | 51 | 12.8 |
| 4. | Engineering | 42 | 10.5 |
| 5. | Physical Sciences | 40 | 10.0 |
| 6. | Social Science | 23 | 5.8 |
| 7. | Business and Management | 17 | 4.3 |
| 8. | Family and Consumer Sciences | 14 | 3.5 |
| 9. | Visual and Performing Arts | 13 | 3.3 |
| 10. | Agricultural Business and Management | 12 | 3.0 |
