In 2005–06, of the 594,000 master’s degrees awarded, over 50 percent were in the fields of education (29 percent) and business (25 percent).

In each year shown (1990–91, 1995–96, and 2005–06), six fields—education, business, health professions, engineering, public administration and social services, and psychology—accounted for 72 to 77 percent of the total number of master’s degrees awarded (see table 40-1). In 2005–06, about 175,000 degrees (29 percent) were awarded in education and 146,000 degrees (25 percent) were awarded in business.

Overall, 188,000 more master’s degrees were awarded in 2005–06 than in 1995–96 (a 46 percent increase). The increase in the number of education and business degrees earned contributed to over 65 percent of this growth. Although they had less impact on the overall growth, during this time, the number of degrees earned in architecture increased by 44 percent (totaling 5,700 in 2005–06) and the number earned in mathematics and statistics increased by 30 percent (totaling 4,700 in 2005–06).

In each year shown, between 71 and 74 percent of doctoral degrees were awarded in seven fields: education, engineering, health professions, biological and biomedical sciences, psychology, physical sciences, and social sciences and history. In 2005–06, some 7,600 degrees were awarded in education, 7,500 were awarded in engineering, and 7,100 were awarded in health professions (each accounting for 13 to 14 percent of all degrees).

Overall, 11,400 more doctoral degrees were awarded in 2005–06 than in 1995–96 (a 26 percent increase). The increase in doctoral degrees awarded in health professions accounted for 48 percent of this overall growth, and the increase in education and engineering degrees accounted for an additional 21 percent of the overall growth. Although the increase in degrees awarded in computer and information sciences made a smaller contribution to the overall growth (5 percent), the number of degrees in this field increased by 63 percent (from 870 to 1,400) between 1995–96 and 2005–06. During this period, the number of degrees awarded decreased in English language and literature/letters, theology and religious vocations, and agriculture and natural resources.

The number of first-professional degrees awarded increased by 11,000 (a 14 percent increase) between 1995–96 and 2005–06. The increase in the number of degrees awarded in pharmacy (264 percent) accounted for 62 percent of this overall growth.