According to data compiled by the National Science Foundation, in 2011 there were 1,586 doctorates awarded at universities in the United States in the fields of animal science, fishing sciences, bacteriology, botany, computational biology, entomology, evolutionary biology, zoology, atmospheric physics, robotics, paleontology, geometry, chemical and physical oceanography, ocean and marine science, medical physics, nuclear physics,, nuclear engineering, and structural engineering.
Not one of these doctorates was awarded to an African American.
I want to report that not many schools offer the programs especially when we look at the historically black colleges and universities. A Ph.D in the biological sciences is offered or biology. Most of these disciplines are found in majority white colleges and universities. At most HBCU’s a broad approach is taken in biology, engineering, physics, and marine science. At majority white institutions they tend to get more specialized. I feel that the broader approach still provides enough background that is comparative to a more specialized area. I also feel that we shouldn’t fall victim to word games a major of physics will give you enough foundation and in depth exposure that a Ph.D in nuclear physics, or medical physics may not be necessary. A good article to read is “What it’s worth”, which is a great expose on the worth of certain degrees.
Academic excellence can lead to a brighter future with many options!!!
The person with previous comment must understand that a scholar that receives a Ph.D. is a specialist and specializes in a specific area of a curriculum. I have sat on the Engineering Dean’s Advisory Board of a few HBCU’s, and I remind students that a doctorate from a majority school is a better way to go in most cases. Far too many students limit their scholarly success by not excelling in their undergraduate years. Your undergrad GPA plus a few other elements will determine the quality of grad program that will accept you.
Its unfortunate about those 2011 statistics. I predict 2012 will show similar trends. As a side note, I have a Ph.D., in public policy and have had much difficulty in landing a full-time job in or outside of academia. Several peers and colleagues are experiencing the same. Although, I have significant adjunct and over 30 years of experience, the return on investment of time and dollars spent on my terminal degree has not been fully realized. The fields mentioned in the survey do not appear to be highly marketable positions on various search engines.
The point is and will remain…after obtaining the coveted degree…who will hire me?
The answer is the same as it has been for years….not our people.
If we bought out a bio-tech firm with existing government and private contracts, only then can we hire those bright minds and justify their educational endeavor.