List of fields of doctoral studies in the United States

This is the list of the fields of doctoral studies in the United States used for the annual Survey of Earned Doctorates, conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago for the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies, as used for the 2015 survey.[1]

These are fields of research-oriented doctoral studies, leading mostly to Ph.D.s – in the academic year 2014–15, 98% of the 55,006 research doctorates awarded in the U.S. were Ph.D.s; 1.1% were Ed.D.s; 0.9% were other research doctorates.[2] Professional degrees, though they are also considered doctorates (earned, not honorary), and do entitle the holder to call themselves "Doctor", such as D.D.S., D.Min., M.D., D.Pharm., D.V.M, J.D., Psy.D., and Th.D., are not included in the survey.[3]

  1. ^ "Survey of Earned Documents questionnaire 2015 – Field of Study listing" (PDF). NORC/NSF. pp. 6 & 7. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Research degrees included in the Survey of Earned Doctorates: 2011–15" (PDF). Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2015. NSF. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Technical Notes". Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2015. NSF. Survey Design. Retrieved 9 May 2017.