Trends in Geoscience Degrees Conferred to Women

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The percentage of geoscience doctorates conferred to women has increased by 5% since 2007 (to 43%) while the percentage of bachelor’s and master’s degrees conferred to women has remained steady (~ 43% and 44% respectively) over the same time period.

Percentage of geoscience degrees conferred to women by degree level (1990-2009). Source: AGI Geoscience Workforce Program, data derived from AGI's Directory of Geoscience Departments.

In comparing gender parity degree trends to other discplines, the geosciences rank consistently ahead of all physical science and engineering degrees. Additionally, the geosciences had the largest increase in the percentage of degrees conferred to women between 1993 and 2006 for all science and engineering (S&E) degrees.

View an in-depth discussion of this information in the corresponding Geoscience Currents Discussion Webinar.

Percentage of degrees conferred to women by degree level between 1993 and 2006, including the percent change in degrees conferred to women over this time period. Source: AGI Geoscience Workforce Program, data for geoscience degrees derived from AGI's Directory of Geoscience Departments, data for all other degree fields derived from NSF/SRS SESTAT 1993 and 2006 datasets.