Women earn 49.5% of citizens' doctorates. (Newswatch).(Brief Article)

Although the percentage of doctorates awarded in the United States in 200l declined 4.5% from those awarded in 2000 to the lowest level since 1993, women now earn 49.5% of doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens, up one tenth of a percent over 2000.

Decreases of 6.5% in doctorates in science and engineering since 1998 lead the overall decline, while for all other fields it was only 0.9%. Susan T. Hill, director of a doctorate data project for the National Science Foundation, called the decline systematic, "affecting almost every single science and engineering field."

In 1998 the number of doctorates reached an all-time high of 42,650 and has declined steadily to 40,744 last year; 17,901 of them went to women and 22,769 to men. The figures include international students, who are more likely to be males.

Reasons for the decline are mixed. "Students are becoming more sophisticated in looking at what it takes to get a doctorate," said Jody Nyquist, associate dean of ...