Quantitative Skills and Core Science Courses Taken by Geoscience Graduates, Spring 2013

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Date updated: 2013-10-02
Data Brief 2013-011
Written and compiled by Carolyn E. Wilson for AGI, October 2013

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AGI’s National Geoscience Student Exit Survey measures the relevant experiences in school and the immediate career plans upon graduation of recent geoscience degree recipients. In spring 2013, AGI distributed this survey nationally and received 428 responses from 71 geoscience departments. This Currents examines the results from questions focused on the survey participants’ courses in quantitative and supplemental science classes.

There has been increased attention towards the quantitative knowledge and skills that recent graduates gained while working on their degree. Over 70% of all participants have taken Calculus I, and the majority of participants have taken Calculus II. Beyond Calculus II, bachelor’s and master‘s students’ participation in high level mathematical courses drops dramatically. Interestingly, this same pattern also appears among graduates that are immediately planning to attend graduate school. Geoscience graduate programs are not attracting students with higher skill levels in math.

Nearly all geoscience graduates take at least one chemistry course, and a majority take at least one physics course during their postsecondary education.

Check out the Status of Recent Geoscience Graduates, 2013 report for more data from AGI's Geoscience Student Exit Survey. The report can be accessed at http://www.agiweb.org/workforce/reports.html.

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