Enrollment trends
MAR 01, 1967
Statistics show that enrollments of physics majors, measured as fractions of registered students, are dropping. Some compensation is available in declining dropout rates. But many causes of the dropouts remain, and teachers suggest several remedies to cure them.
A PHYSICIST CAN BE defined on many bases, and so far no unique definition has been agreed upon. Yet it can probably be said with certainty that a large fraction of the physics community consists of individuals who have a bachelor’s, master’s or doctor’s degree in physics. Most of those physics‐degree holders were undergraduate physics majors at one time or other. Therefore an analysis of those college juniors and seniors who have declared themselves physics majors should give the reader a comprehensive view of what has happened to the physics profession and where it is headed if no drastic changes occur. At the same time the analysis may suggest desirable changes or the strengthening of existing policies in the present educational structure to accomplish various goals set by the physics profession.
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References
1. Physics Manpower 1966 (AIP Pub. No. R‐196) Appendix B, American Institute of Physics, New York (1966).
2. Digest of Educational Statistics (OE‐10024), US Office of Education (1964, 1965). (Available from US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402).
3. Subjects, Offerings and Enrollments in Public Secondary Schools (OE‐24015‐61), US Office of Education (1961). (Available from US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402).
4. Op. cit. ref. 1, page 56.
5. Op. cit. ref. 1, pp. 32–33.
6. Earned Degrees Conferred (OE‐54013), US Office of Education (published annually). (Available from US Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402).
More about the authors
Susanne D. Ellis,
American Institute of Physics.
© 1967 American Institute of Physics
