By the Numbers
Post-Secondary Health Sciences Degrees Conferred
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of post-secondary degrees earned in the health sciences over the last four decades. This reflects the growing demand for trained professionals in fields such as nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. It also reflects the increasing complexity of these fields and the development of advanced educational programs to meet the clinical and research needs of the medical community.
| Degree | 1971 | 1981 | 1991 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s | 25,226 | 63,600 | 59,268 | 73,490 |
| Master’s | 5,749 | 16,515 | 21,228 | 43,617 |
| Doctoral | 466 | 842 | 1,614 | 2,855 |
Source: U.S. National Center for Education Statistics
One way to document the continuing and increasingly important role women play in the health professions is to look at the number of post-secondary degrees awarded to women in the field of health sciences. The following charts show the percentage of men and women earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in the health sciences from 1971 to 2001. While the percentage of women receiving bachelor’s degrees in the health sciences has remained relatively stable, the percentage of women earning advanced degrees has increased sharply – most dramatically between 1971 and 1981.
Source: U.S. National Center for Education Statistics
Source: U.S. National Center for Education Statistics
Source: U.S. National Center for Education Statistics
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