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Growth in Number of Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded, by Field of Study, 1981-2010

August 26, 2012

Computer science was the only major in the area of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that made it into the top 10 for growth.

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Growth in Number of Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded, by Field of Study, 1981-2010

Computer science was the only major in the area of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that made it into the top 10 for growth.

Number of degrees awarded, 1980-81 Number of degrees awarded, 2009-10 30-year change
Transportation and materials moving 263 4,998 1,800%
Parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies 5,729 33,318 482%
Legal professions and studies 776 3,886 401%
Security and protective services 13,707 43,667 219%
Area, ethnic, cultural, and gender studies 2,887 8,621 199%
Multi/interdisciplinary studies 12,986 37,648 190%
Communication and journalism 29,428 81,266 176%
Computer and information sciences 15,121 39,589 162%
Communications technologies 1,854 4,782 158%
Psychology 41,068 97,216 137%
Visual and performing arts 40,479 91,802 127%
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities 21,643 46,953 117%
Health professions and related clinical sciences 63,665 129,634 104%
Biological and biomedical sciences 43,078 86,400 101%
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics 11,638 21,516 85%
Philosophy and religious studies 6,776 12,504 85%
Business 200,521 358,293 79%
Social sciences and history 100,513 172,780 72%
English language and literature/letters 31,922 53,231 67%
Public administration and social services 16,707 25,414 52%
Theology and religious vocations 5,808 8,718 50%
Mathematics and statistics 11,078 16,030 45%
Engineering technologies 11,713 16,075 37%
Military technologies 42 56 33%
Agriculture and natural resources 21,886 26,336 20%
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences 18,370 21,818 19%
Engineering 63,642 72,654 14%
Architecture 9,455 10,051 6%
Physical sciences and science technologies 23,936 23,379 -2%
Education 108,074 101,265 -6%
Library science 375 85 -77%
Precision production 0 29 n/a

Note: Percentages are rounded, but fields are ranked by unrounded percentages.

Source: U.S. Education Department
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
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