Directorate Profiles: Technical Notes
Overview
The Directorate Profiles series presents data on research doctorate recipients from U.S. academic institutions by field of degree, using survey data from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). There are seven profiles, one each for the following NSF Directorates: Biological Sciences (BIO), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), STEM Education (EDU), Engineering (ENG), Geosciences (GEO), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE).
Data Sources
The data were derived from two NCSES survey sources: the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) and the Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR). The data presented for both SED and SDR were derived by NCSES analysts from restricted-use microdata files. SED data used in these Directorate Profiles reflect the characteristics of research doctorate recipients at the time of their graduation in academic years 2002, 2012, and 2022. SDR data used reflect the characteristics for the population of science, engineering, or health research doctorate recipients under age 76 as of 1 February 2021.
SED
The SED is an annual census of all individuals who earned a research doctorate from an accredited U.S. institution in a given academic year. For more detailed information about the SED and its methodology, please see the survey’s Technical Notes (available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/earned-doctorates/2022).
SDR
The SDR is a biennial survey that collects longitudinal data on demographic and general employment characteristics of individuals who have received a research doctorate in a science, engineering, or health field from an accredited U.S. institution. The SED provides the sampling frame for the SDR through its annual update of the longstanding Doctorate Records File (DRF), a cumulative listing of all U.S.-earned doctorate recipients dating back to 1920. For more detailed information on the SDR and its methodology, please see the survey’s Technical Notes (available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/surveys/doctorate-recipients/2021#methodology).
Defining Field of Degree
The fields of degree included in each Directorate Profile are those related to the work of the respective NSF Directorates. Because of overlapping interests among some NSF Directorates, several degree fields were included in more than one profile. (Table 1.)
Doctorate fields included in each profile, by NSF Directorate
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics.
Degree fields in visualizations based on SED data use the SED trend fields that facilitate data comparability over time amid survey field taxonomy changes. See SED 2022 Technical Notes, “Data Comparability.” The SDR degree field data were based on the SDR field of study (FOS) codes.
Efforts were made to harmonize the degree fields between the two data sources. However, there are differences in the eligible degree fields for each survey (all fields in SED versus only science, engineering, or health fields in SDR), due to the respective surveys’ differing target populations. The differences are most notable in the education degree data found in the profile for the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU). SDR data include only a single education field (educational psychology). SED data are available across six degree categories: 1) education administration, 2) education research (which includes the detailed field of educational psychology), 3) non-science and math education, 4) science and math education, 5) teacher education, and 6) other education.
Graphics: Data and Methodology
The following sections provide the data source, tabular view, and other relevant methodological information for each visualization topic presented across the Directorate Profiles.
Number
The Directorates Profiles column chart visualization for the number of research doctorate recipients for the academic years 2002, 2012, and 2022 is based on SED data. This visualization’s data are also presented below in tabular form, as Table A-1.
Research doctorates: 2002, 2012, and 2022
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
Sex
The 100% stacked column chart showing the distribution of research doctorate recipients by sex for the academic years 2002, 2012, and 2022 is based on SED data. The 2022 SED has two response options for sex: male and female. The distribution calculation excludes respondents who did not report sex. (Table A-2.)
Share of research doctorates, by sex: 2002, 2012, and 2022
Note(s):
Excludes respondents who did not report sex.
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
Race and ethnicity
The 100% stacked column chart showing the distribution of research doctorate recipients by race and ethnicity for academic year 2022 is based on SED data. The distribution calculation excludes respondents who did not report ethnicity or race. (Table A-3.)
Share of research doctorates, by race and ethnicity: 2022
Note(s):
Excludes respondents who did not report ethnicity or race. Hispanic or Latino may be of any race; race categories exclude Hispanic origin. Other includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and more than one race.
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2022.
In the 2022 SED, doctorate recipients who report Hispanic or Latino heritage, regardless of racial designation, are counted as Hispanic or Latino, and those who do not answer the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity question are counted as “ethnicity not reported.” Respondents who indicate that they are not Hispanic or Latino may select one or more of the following race options: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White. In these profiles, respondents who indicated a single race of Asian, Black or African American, or White are reported in their respective racial groups. Respondents who indicated American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, or more than one race are reported as the category “Other.”
Field of degree
The 100% stacked column chart showing the distribution of research doctorate recipients by field of degree for academic year 2022 is based on SED data. (Table A-4.) Each profile presents data on the degree fields of interest to the NSF Directorate; see “Defining Field of Degree” for more information.
Share of research doctorates, by field of degree: 2022
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2022.
Citizenship status and field of degree
The 100% stacked bar chart showing the distribution of research doctorate recipients by citizenship status for academic year 2022 is based on SED data. SED data have the following options for citizenship status: U.S. citizen, permanent resident, and temporary visa holder. For these profiles, responses were collapsed into two categories: U.S. citizens and permanent residents and temporary visa holders. The distribution calculation excludes respondents who did not report citizenship. (Table A-5.)
Share of research doctorates, by citizenship status and field of degree: 2022
Note(s):
Excludes respondents who did not report citizenship.
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2022.
Definite non-postdoctoral employment commitments, by sector
The 100% stacked column chart showing the distribution of research doctorate recipients with definite non-postdoctoral employment commitments by employer type for academic years 2002, 2012, and 2022 is based on SED data. The 14 employer types included as response options in the employment commitments variable were collapsed to create three categories: educational institution, government, and business or industry. The educational institution category includes U.S. 4-year colleges or universities, U.S. medical schools, U.S. university-affiliated research institutes, U.S. community or 2-year colleges, U.S. elementary or secondary schools, and foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) educational institutions. Government includes U.S. federal, state, and local governments. Business or industry includes for-profit industries or businesses, not-for-profit organizations, those who are self-employed, foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) governments, and other. The distribution calculation excludes respondents who did not report employer type. (Table A-6.)
Share of research doctorates with definite non-postdoctoral employment commitments, by sector: 2002, 2012, and 2022
a Educational institution includes U.S. 4-year colleges or universities, U.S. medical schools, U.S. university-affiliated research institutes, U.S. community or 2-year colleges, U.S. elementary or secondary schools, and foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) educational institutions.
b Government includes U.S. federal, state, and local governments.
c Business or industry includes for-profit industries or businesses, not-for-profit organizations, those who are self-employed, foreign (i.e., non-U.S.) governments, and other.
Note(s):
Excludes respondents who did not report employer type.
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2022.
Employment sector, by field of degree
The 100% stacked bar chart showing the distribution of the population of research doctorate recipients under age 76 by employment sector and field of degree as of 2021 is based on SDR data. (Table A-8.) The SDR includes data on three employment sectors: 1) education institution, 2) business or industry, and 3) government. Educational institution includes 4-year colleges or universities, medical schools (including university-affiliated hospital or medical centers), university-affiliated research institutes, 2-year colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, precollege institutions, and other educational institutions. Business or industry includes private for profit, private not for profit, self-employed or business owners in incorporated or nonincorporated business, non-U.S. governments, and employers not broken out separately. Government includes U.S. federal, state, and local governments.
Share of research doctorates, by employment sector and field of degree: 2021
a Educational institution includes 4-year colleges or universities, medical schools (including university-affiliated hospital or medical centers), university-affiliated research institutes, 2-year colleges, community colleges, technical institutes, precollege institutions, and other educational institutions.
b Government includes U.S. federal, state, and local governments.
c Business or industry includes private for profit, private not for profit, self-employed or business owners in incorporated or nonincorporated business, non-U.S. governments, and employers not broken out separately.
Note(s):
Educational psychology is the only detailed education field of degree available in the Survey of Doctorate Recipients.
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2021.
Median salary, by field of degree
The bar chart showing the median salary for the population of research doctorate recipients under age 76 by field of degree as of 2021 is based on SDR data. (Table A-9.)
Median salary of research doctorates, by field of degree: 2021
Note(s):
Educational psychology is the only detailed education field of degree available in the Survey of Doctorate Recipients.
Source(s):
National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2021.
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