Brief 67 Health Physics Enrollments and Degrees Survey, 2009 Data Page: 1 of 4

                                
SURVEY UNIVERSE

The survey includes degrees granted between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009. Enrollment
information refers to the fall term 2009. Twenty-four academic programs were included in the survey
universe, and all 24 programs provided data. Two programs within engineering departments that have
provided data for health physics options programs in past years reported all data in the nuclear
engineering survey starting in 2009. The enrollment and degree data includes students majoring in
health physics or in an option program equivalent to a major.
DEGREE DATA
Bachelor's Degrees. The number of B.S. degrees granted in 2009 was slightly higher than in 2008
(based on the comparable data shown in parentheses) and continued the higher numbers reported since
2004. (See Table 1.) The current number of B.S. degrees is still approximately 25% below the number of
B.S. degrees reported in the mid-1990s. Health physics programs accounted for over 90% of all B.S.
degrees. (See Table 2.)
Graduate Degrees. The number of master's degrees granted in 2009 (based on the comparable data)
was 21% less than in 2008 and similar to the numbers reported prior to 2008. The number of doctorate
degrees granted in 2009 and 2008 are the lowest reported since the survey began over 40 years ago.
(See Table 1.) Health physics programs accounted for 59% of the master's degrees and 44% of the
doctorate degrees. (See Table 2.)
Table 1. Health Physics Degrees, 2003 - 2009'
Degrees
Year     B.S.    M.S.    Ph.D.
2009     69      76        9
2008    73 (64) 108 (96)  8 (8)
2007    79 (66)  91 (79)  28 (18)
2006    71 (55)  90 (76)  12 (9)
2005    78(57)  77(65)   14(11)
2004    54 (44)  64 (56)  14 (9)
2003    56 (47)  73 (64)  25 (20)
The degree data in parentheses has been adjusted to be comparable to the 2009 data
that does not include data from two programs that were reported in earlier years.
Table 2. Health Physics Degrees by Curriculum, 2009
Curriculum           B.S.    M.S.   Ph.D.
Health Physics Program         63      45      4
Medical Health Physics          1      29      4
Other Health Physics Option     5       2       1