Indicator 19. First University Degrees by Field of Study

In 2008, the United States awarded the lowest percentage of first university degrees in science,mathematics, and engineering-related fields of all the G-8 countries.

Higher education programs that prepare students for advanced university research and highly qualified professions are called first university degree programs. First university degree programs vary in duration in different countries in different programs of study. In the United States, this corresponds to a bachelor's degree but excludes associate's degrees. This indicator compares the percentage of first degrees awarded in four major fields of study: social sciences, business, and law; science, mathematics, and engineering; the arts and humanities; and education.

In 2008, a greater percentage of first university degrees were awarded in the field of social sciences, business, and law than in any other field in all G-8 countries except Germany (figure 19-1). Twenty-seven percent of first university degrees in Germany were awarded in the combined field of social sciences, business, and law; in the other G-8 countries, from one-third to one-half of first university degrees were awarded in this field.

In science, mathematics, and engineering-related fields, the United States awarded the lowest percentages of first university degrees of all the G-8 countries. Fifteen percent of first university degrees in the United States were awarded in science, mathematics, and engineering-related fields. In the other G-8 countries, the percentages ranged from 22 percent in Canada and Italy to 29 percent in Germany.

The United States was the only G-8 country where the percentage of first university degrees awarded in science, mathematics, and engineering did not exceed the percentage awarded in the arts and humanities. In 2008, about 16 percent of first university degrees were awarded to U.S. graduates in arts and humanities (compared to 15 percent in science, mathematics, and engineering). The Russian Federation awarded the lowest percentage of first university degrees in the arts and humanities (4 percent); in the other G-8 countries, the percentages ranged from 13 percent in Canada to 22 percent in Germany.

The smallest percentage of first university degrees was awarded in the field of education in all G-8 countries except the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation was the only G-8 country to award more first university degrees in education than in the arts and humanities (12 vs. 4 percent). The United States and the Russian Federation awarded the highest percentage of first university degrees in education (12 percent), while France awarded the lowest percentage in this field (2 percent).

Definitions and Methodology

The percentage of first university degrees awarded in each of the fields shown is the share of these degrees awarded in each field relative to all first university degrees awarded in all fields for a given year.

The fields of study shown follow the 1997 revision of the Interna- tional Standard Classification of Education Major Field of Study (ISCED97 MFS) (UNESCO 1997). The social sciences, business, and law combined field of study includes social and behavioral sciences (ISCED97 31), journalism and information (ISCED97 32), business and administration (ISCED97 34), and law (ISCED97 38). The science, mathematics, and engineering combined field of study includes life sciences (ISCED97 42), physical sciences (ISCED97 44), mathematics and statistics (ISCED97 46), computing (ISCED97 48), engineering and engineering trades (ISCED97 52), manufacturing and processing (ISCED97 54), and architecture and building (ISCED97 58). The arts and humanities combined field of study includes arts (ISCED97 21) and humanities (ISCED97 22). The education combined field of study includes teacher training (ISCED97 141) and education science (ISCED97 142). “Other” fields of study include agriculture, forestry, and fishery (ISCED97 62); veterinary (ISCED97 64); health (ISCED97 72); social services (ISCED97 76); personal services (ISCED97 81); transport services (ISCED97 84); environmental protection (ISCED97 85); security services (ISCED97 86); and fields of study not known or unspecified. For more information on the ISCED97 levels, see appendix A in this report.