More U.S. high-school students are taking physics than ever before, and the number of physics bachelor’s degree recipients in the nation has increased 31 percent since 2000, according to new data presented today by the American Institute of Physics (AIP).
In addition, physics bachelor’s degree recipients are eight times more likely to go on to earn any kind of PhD than those with non-physics bachelor’s, the new data show.
The data show more than 30 percent of high school seniors have taken physics classes, more than ever before. This percentage has been rising steadily since the mid-1980s.
Girls and minorities are also enrolling in high school physics classes at higher rates. Female students who made up only 39 percent of high school physics students in 1987 now represent 47 percent. The percentages of African Americans and Latinos taking high school physics classes have more than doubled since 1990, moving from 10 percent of African Americans and 10 percent of Latinos to 23 percent and 24 percent, respectively.
There’s no magic bullet, here, bringing dramatic overnight results. Rather, a long and consistent emphasis on science brings this result after 20 years of steady growth.
It’s great news for education, for science, potential for our economy. All the more reason to maintain the fightback against those who would counter science education with superstition.
In addition, physics bachelor’s degree recipients are eight times more likely to go on to earn any kind of PhD than those with non-physics bachelor’s, the new data show.
They’re eight times more likely to NEED a PhD to get a real job, too.
I originally majored in physics in college, which was a good choice at the time, because I got a great advisor who only had a few other undergrads to supervise.
Or you could be a sociology major — like most of the waiters around town.
It’s great news for education, for science, potential for our economy. All the more reason to maintain the fightback against those who would counter science education with superstition.
Amen to that Eideard. There might still be hope.
Actually, I was much more interested in Biology and Anatomy/Physiology back when I was in high school. I’m not sure if focusing on physics in particular means much of anything other than showing a possible shift in student preference among the sciences.
It’s nice that some youngsters show an interest in reality.
This is somewhat good news, however there is definitely a palpable war on science in the conventional “wisdom” these days.
As a high school physics teacher, I’m glad this is the case, but at the same time some of this is due to the “physics first” movement, which enrolls students in physics in 9th grade. At my school, every 9th grader is required to take physics (all 450 of them), and there are also three AP classes, and three Astronomy classes. Although I like the idea (for physics first) to some extent, there are two problems:
1) Because it is ninth grade, the mathematical rigor goes way down. My non-honors classes never even see trigonometry in the class, and a lot of people would say that you aren’t really taking physics if you don’t even include trig.
2) Probably 30% of the students are not ready for the class. Solving multiple-step problems (i.e., not plug-and-chug type problems) is beyond the capability of many ninth graders, unfortunately.
So, while more students are taking “physics”, many of them don’t learn much during the year…
-Chris
Lets see more of these stories…
I know the sky is falling… It’s been falling for as long as I’ve been old enough to understand the BS people spew…
It’s nice to read a story about the sky NOT falling and something going right in education (which is closer to the norm than all the other whacky posts)
When dinosaurs still walked the earth and I was in high school, you could pretty well sort out the inquisitive from the brain-dead by who took physics.
I LOVED physics in high school — I took the full two years they offered.
I don’t use it much professionally but I find it personally helpful when I read science stories and once-in-a-while in practical application.
In high school back in the 60s, I took two semesters of chemistry, and two semesters of physics. In college I got a chemical engineering degree, which required three semesters of physics (two classical, one “modern”) and classes in physical chemistry and thermodynamics.
Physics has always been important, but I have a feeling that #7 is right. You really need to be comfortable with algebra before you can truly understand high school physics.
Some knowledge of chemistry is important too, even if it’s just the basics. Someone saying they want to have food with no chemicals in it drives me nuts. People, everything we eat drink or breathe is made of chemicals….
#1 I agree. I preferr physics, but opted for chemistry as it’s easier to find employment with only a bachelors degree.
As for being good for the economy, until scientists are better compensated, more students will opt for business degrees rather than science degrees. I often wonder why I worked so hard to get a chemistry degree when I saw my former business-major class mates making 30 to 50% more than I did after graduation. There is very little economic incentive for studying science; only those with a passion for science pursue a science degree.
After ten years working in the science industry, I’m appalled at seeing some of the brightest minds I’ve met making significantly less than $30K a year (I live in Chicago – hard to make it on that salary around here).
I’ve opted out and moved into the administrative end of science. I’m making considerably more than I used to but I’m not able to use my scientific knowledge, I just make a living now – doing business.
Funny actually, I’m in my high school AP physics class while writing this.
I have to agree with #7, from personal experience my 3 years of Algebra (Algebra 1, 2 And College Algebra) definetly gives me an edge over the other students who aren’t as good in math or haven’t completed those classes.
I am physics major and make good money, mostly because of the industry I am in, and yes I use my physics every day.
I would like see graph of average income by major.