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ERIC Number: ED528766
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Dec
Pages: 12
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Astronomy Degree Recipients: Initial Employment. Data from the Degree Recipient Follow-Up Survey for the Classes of 2007, 2008 and 2009. Focus On
Mulvey, Patrick; Shindel, Brandon
Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics
Each fall the Statistical Research Center conducts its Survey of Enrollments and Degrees, which asks all degree-granting physics and astronomy departments in the US to provide information concerning the numbers of students they have enrolled and counts of recent degree recipients. In connection with this survey, the authors ask for the names and contact information for their recent degree recipients. This degree recipient information is used to conduct their Follow-up Survey in the winter following the academic year in which they received their degrees. The post-degree outcome data in this "focus on" come from that survey. Within the private sector, astronomy bachelor's degree recipients employed in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) had a median starting salary that was nearly $25K higher than those employed in non-STEM positions. Virtually all astronomy bachelor's recipients employed in colleges and universities worked in STEM jobs and they too had higher starting salaries than their colleagues in the private sector working in non-STEM fields. Forty-one percent of astronomy bachelor's recipients graduated with a double major. About half of new astronomy bachelor's recipients enter the workforce after earning their degrees. Half of all new astronomy bachelor's recipients employed in the private sector are working in a STEM field. Almost half of exiting astronomy master's degrees were earned by women. Seventy percent of new astronomy master's recipients immediately entered the workforce. U.S. citizens made up 71% of new astronomy PhD recipients. Over three-quarters of new astronomy PhD recipients accepted postdoc positions. The median starting salary for astronomy PhDs in academia and government were $50,000 & $55,300 respectively. (Contains 3 tables and 6 figures.)
Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3067; Fax: 301-209-0843; e-mail: stats@aip.org; Web site: http://www.aip.org/statistics
Publication Type: Numerical/Quantitative Data; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: American Institute of Physics, Statistical Research Center
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A