Evening star., 1948-08-29
i. S. Screens
Its Scholars
Worlds Population Expected Approach Half Billion 1885,
and Showing Only oderote Increases
New Data Indicates
What Careers '48
\ Graduates Want
By Bruce Biossot

l. y W llG" llU uCCul dlt answer mas
been possible except in limited fields.
The atomic age has lifted the
'rained scientist to new eminence.
NE troubled worlds of business and
politics have brought mounting de-
nands for more experts in these
complex matters.
Leaders in numerous walks of life
decry shortages of trained man.
power. Yet no one has really known
whether they are right or wrong.
Lack Data on Training
We have had no way of knowing
how many people actually were be-
ing readied as chemists, aeronau-
tical engineers, astronomers, econ
omists, even as teachers.
We have not been able to say
Nnether we were training enough of
them, or too many.
But the United States Office of
Education has just completed a
survey that may be the first shalt
Of light. This Office has canvassed
al. colleges and universities to learn
exactly what fields of study their
graduates have focused upon.
This kind of information has beer
available in such realms as medicine
law, dentistry and, to some extent,
engineering. But the schools gen.
orally have Jumped all other grad
yates together under such vague
headings as liberal arts" students.
The new survey covers only gradu-
ates in the school year completed
last June. But 1t is to be an annual
affair, and gradually the Nation
will come to realize the true shape
of its trained manpower resources
DR.. John Dale Russell, director of
tne Division of Higher Education,
points out that to be fully useful
this continuing study must be
matched by an equally careful ap-
praisal of manpower needs.
But, granting that it is just a
'ough sketch, what does this first
picture drawn by the education
Office show us?
First of all, the returns are re-
markably complete. Out of 1908
schools polled. only Is failed to re-
port. OF those, just three are big
institutions.
Record Crop of Graduates
Nothing illustrates the ground
Sreaking aspect of this venture
more than the reply of one great
Western university. Although its
commencement was in June, it re-
>orted it would not know until
Yearly September how many de-
ices 1t had granted. 1t wouldn't
ven guess in what specific fields
ley were awarded.
The survey results?
For one thing, they show a record
rop Of graduates. DR.. Russell de-
cribes the total as "startlingly
ligh."
In the school year just closed,
United States colleges and univer-
stiles awarded more than $4,000 de-
grees on all levels This was 100000
more than in the previous record
ear of 1939-40.
There were 266763 bachelors
'four-year) degrees, 41,7l6 masters
egrees and 1888 doctors Cthe most
dvanced degrees. All these were
ecords. Degrees were awarded in
2out 10 different fields.
DR.. Russell estimates that vet
ans studying under the CT bill
armed about 100000 of the four
ear degrees
Men accounted for 65 per cent of
hose degrees. In prewar times,
hey received about So per cent.
This change is probably another re-
lection of the veterans influx.
What did these graduates spe-
cialize in?
Business bulks largest as a topic
cf study. Colleges granted 35,268
tachelors' degrees and 2,318 ad-
yanced degrees in that subject.
In engineering, there were 29,-
33S four-year and 4,o82 advanced
diplomas. For the first time rea-
sonably full data are available on
how many graduates concentrated
on each phase of engineering.
Teacher Supply Improves
Bachelors degrees in education
totaled 28,81s, with 1853 students
earning advanced degrees. Says Dr. /
Russell; This augers well for the
future supply of we'll = trained
teachers"
Chemistry? Four-year degrees
totaled 7.l66. the higher awards
1929. In physics 1915 bachelors
diplomas and 806 advanced.
Manpower- hungry industries, lab
oratories, schools and governments
will probably study the figures Gag
erly.
Some will find unexpected en-
couragement Others may be dis
mayed.
Take the astronomers. Last year
only II bachelors degrees went to
students of the stars, and Just IL
more got higher degrees. The men
probing the mysterious universe say
they must have more help than
that.
More Engineering Graduates
The number of engineering grad
yates was double the yearly prewar
crop, but the engineering profession
has been expanding rapidly for more
than 60 years.
In 1880 there were 131 engineers
to every 100000 workers In this
country. In 1910 the ratio was 1900