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SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DEGREES. 89 S&E BACHELORS DEGREES: ACADEMIC FIELD During the past three decades, significant shifts have occurred in the proportion of science and engineering bachelors degrees awarded in different academic fields. During the 1960s and early 1970s, degrees in the life and social and behaviorial sciences grew more rapidly than other fields. Between 1978 and 1988, engineering and computer sciences have grown in share of all S&E bachelors degrees awarded. The share within the physical sciences has slowly declined throughout the past three decades. Figure 2-88: Bachelors Degrees Awarded in S&E by Field of Study Figure 2-89: Distribution of Bachelors Degrees Awarded in S&E by Field of Study NOTE: Data series within the figures are not overlapped; top line represents total. DEFINITION OF TERMS: Physical includes astronomy, chemistry, and physics. Engineering includes aeronautical and astronautical, chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering. Environmental includes oceanography, atmospheric, and earth sciences. Mathematics/Computer includes all fields of mathematics and computer-related sciences. Social/Other includes economics, political science, psychology, sociology, and public policy-related fields. Life includes agricultural, biological, medical, and health sciences. SOURCE: National Science Foundation, Division of Policy Research and Analysis. Database: CASPAR. Some of the data within this database are estimates, incorporated where there are discontinuities within data series or gaps in data collection. Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS): Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred.