Degree AttainmentsGender GapResearch/Study

Academic Disciplines With Huge Gender Gaps in Doctoral Degree Awards

nsf1According to the latest Survey of Earned Doctorates from the National Science Foundation, in 2013, women earned 46.2 percent of all doctorates awarded by American universities. While the gender gap in doctoral degrees is significant, it is not large.

But there are many academic disciplines in which the gender gap in doctoral degrees is substantial. Here are some of the academic fields where women earn less than one third of all doctorates awarded:

phd 1 copy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In contrast, there are a number of academic fields where women earned at least three quarters of all doctoral degree awards in 2013. Some examples include:

phd2 copy

3 COMMENTS

  1. The statistic on women earning doctorates in theology is misleading. I, for example, have a Ph.D. In Religion but taught theology at a Christian seminary. In Catholic instituions, Biblical studies, ethics and church history are considered theological disciplines. Women with degrees in Religious Studies also sometimes specialize in theology. There has been an explosion of Catholic women going into theologically related disciplines since they were excluded from the possibility of ordination in 1976.

    • Thanks for the clarification. We are simply reporting numbers supplied to us by the National Science Foundation for one particular year.

  2. As an educator of young children who also has three nieces interested in STEM fields I will continue to push them and also my classroom students towards these fields. Thanks for the update

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Related Articles

Latest News

Sherry Kollmann Named President of Vermont State University

0
With over 25 years of experience in higher education, business, and public service, Dr. Kollmann has been serving as chancellor of the New Mexico State University Global Campus. She is slated to become the next president of Vermont State University in July.

Stacy Leeds Will Be the Next President of the University of Tulsa

0
Throughout her career, Leeds has gained more than 25 years of experience as a professor and university administrator. Currently, she serves as dean of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.

Chantae Recasner Is the Sole Finalist for the Presidency of Olympic College in Washington

0
Dr. Recasner has over two decades of experience as a tenured faculty member and senior administration in higher education. She has been serving as the interim president of Seattle Central University.

Vanya Quiñones Appointed President of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

0
Dr. Quiñones, who has been serving as president of California State University, Monterey Bay, is slated to become the first Latina president of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on July 1.

Shawna Cooper Whitehead Named the First Woman President of Regis University in Colorado

0
Dr. Cooper Whitehead brings extensive experience in student affairs and academic leadership to her new role. She comes to Regis university from Boston College, where she has served as vice president of student affairs since 2021.

Latest Job Listings

Director, School of Music

0
The University of Arizona School of Music seeks a visionary and collaborative Director to lead its comprehensive music program through a time of opportunity and transformation.

Assistant Professor, Clinician Educator track, in the Division of Genomic Diagnostics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

0
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seek candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the non-tenure clinician educator track.

Communications Publications Editorial Manager (Website Content Manager)

0
The Website Content Manager serves as the primary website lead for the College, collaborating with team members across design, marketing, multimedia, public relations, and government affairs.

Assistant Senior Instructional Professor in the Social Sciences Core (Social Science Inquiry)

0
The Social Sciences Collegiate Division at the University of Chicago is now accepting applications for a full-time Assistant Senior Instructional Professor who will teach in and contribute to the management and administration of the Social Science Inquiry sequence in the Social Sciences Core.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Media Studies

0
The Department of Cinema & Media Studies at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia invites applications for a one-year Visiting Assistant Professor position in the field of media studies.