Completion of Research Doctorates by UWSP Alumni: 2000-2009
BACKGROUND
Source
Survey of Earned Doctorates, National Science Foundation
Overview
 The survey is administered to individuals upon completion of a research
doctorate and respondents indicate their baccalaureate institutions.
 Research doctorates include 18 types of degrees and exclude
professional degrees.
 A total of 49,554 research doctorates were awarded in the U.S. in 2009.
It marked the seventh consecutive year with an increase and the greatest
number reported by NSF.
RESULTS
Compared to
University of
Wisconsin System
Institutions
(Table 1)
 Of the UW regional universities, UWSP had the highest number of alumni
completing research doctorates during this ten-year period (n=271). UWEau Claire had 270 alumni complete research doctorates and the UW
regional universities average was 141.
 UWSP alumni comprised 24% of all STEM doctorates awarded to alumni
of UW regional universities during this ten-year period. One hundred fifty
six UWSP alumni completed STEM doctorates, which is much higher than
the UW regional universities average of 58 and also higher than UWMilwaukee (n=139).
 A majority of the doctorates completed by UWSP alumni were in STEM
fields (58%). This is second only to UW-River falls (60%), but higher than
both UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison.
Compared to
Masters Level
Institutions
(Table 1)
 During this ten-year period, 59,026 doctorates were earned by
individuals who completed their baccalaureate degrees from master’s
degree granting institutions, 20,013 of which were in the STEM fields.
 A greater proportion of UWSP alumni research doctorates were in the
STEM fields (58%) compared to 34% among all master’s degree granting
institutions.
 Life Science was the number one discipline in which research doctorates
were earned (n=116) by UWSP alumni. This accounts for 43% of all
doctorates earned by UWSP alumni and 18% of all STEM doctorates
earned by alumni of UW regional universities.
 Education was the second highest disciplinary total (n=46) for research
doctorates completed by UWSP alumni. This accounts for 17% of
doctorates earned by UWSP alumni.
By Field
(Table 2)
CONCLUSION
 UWSP is a leader among its UW System peers in the completion of
research doctorates by its alumni, particularly in the STEM fields.
 UWSP excels as a doctoral preparatory institution.
Policy Analysis and Planning
March 2012
Table 1: Research Doctorates Completed by Students Earning their BA/BS at a University of Wisconsin System
Institution, 2000-2009
Number of
1
Doctorates
Percentage of UW
Regional Total
Number of STEM
2
Doctorates
Percentage of UW
Regional STEM Total
STEM Percentage of
Institutional Total
Stevens Point
271
17%
156
24%
58%
Eau Claire
270
17%
94
15%
35%
La Crosse
196
13%
90
14%
46%
Whitewater
171
11%
37
6%
22%
Oshkosh
149
10%
45
7%
30%
River Falls
122
8%
73
11%
60%
Green Bay
101
6%
37
6%
37%
Platteville
85
5%
49
8%
58%
Parkside
74
5%
28
4%
38%
Stout
67
4%
12
2%
18%
Superior
48
3%
19
3%
40%
TOTAL
1,554
100%
640
100%
UW-Madison
UW-Milwaukee
2501
468
1285
139
51%
30%
58,722
20,013
34%
UW Institution
All Master's Degree
Granting Institutions
Source: NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates
1
Includes research doctorates only, such as Ph.D., Ed.D., D.M.A. Excludes professional degrees such as M.D., D.D.S., O.D., D.V.M., and J.D.
2
Includes Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Math and Computer Sciences, and Physical Sciences.
Policy Analysis and Planning
March 2012
Table 2: Research Doctorates Completed by Discipline of Students Earning their BA/BS from UW System Institutions1,
2000-2009
STP
UW
% of
Regionals
STP EAU GBY LAC OSH PKS PLT RVF STO SUP WTW Subtotal MAD MIL
All UW
TOTAL
7
3%
7
1
5
2
3
17
4
6
0
4
56
262
24
342
1
<1%
2
0
2
5
0
1
6
0
3
0
20
50
11
81
116
43%
59
29
48
27
13
17
43
5
8
21
386
747
69
1202
5
2%
3
4
5
3
4
3
2
1
1
3
34
82
14
130
27
10%
23
3
30
8
8
11
18
0
7
9
144
144
21
309
Architecture and Environmental Design
0
0%
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
3
Arts and Music
5
2%
9
0
5
2
3
3
2
0
4
3
36
60
15
111
Business and Management
1
<1%
6
4
5
3
1
1
2
4
0
10
37
38
8
83
Communication and Librarianship
10
4%
3
0
1
2
0
1
0
1
0
3
21
41
7
69
Education
46
17%
64
11
44
52
16
18
24
39
12
76
402
290 132
824
Humanities
13
5%
27
13
13
11
9
2
3
1
3
7
102
261
50
413
Law
0
0%
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
2
Other Non-sciences or Unknown Disciplines
0
0%
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
5
31
11%
34
24
11
16
9
3
8
6
4
25
171
218
62
451
Religion and Theology
2
1%
3
3
1
2
0
1
1
1
1
0
15
19
4
38
Social Sciences
7
3%
28
9
24
14
8
7
9
2
4
10
122
260
47
429
Social Service Professions
0
0%
0
0
1
2
0
0
0
1
0
0
4
21
4
29
Vocational Studies and Home Economics
0
0%
100%
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
0
3
Engineering
Geosciences
Life Sciences
2
Math and Computer Sciences
Physical Sciences ³
Psychology
Source: NSF Survey of Earned Doctorates
Note: Highlighted cells denote disciplines used in STEM field calculations
1
Includes research doctorates only, such as Ph. D., Ed.D., D.M.A. Excludes professional degrees such as M.D., D.D.S., O.D., D.V.M., and J.D.
² Includes agricultural sciences, natural resources, biological sciences and health sciences.
3
Includes astronomy, chemistry, and physics.
Policy Analysis and Planning
March 2012