Research

Based on a recent report from the National Science Foundation (Hill, 2002), in 2000, underrepresented students (African Americans, American Indians or Alaskan Natives, and Hispanic Americans) earned 16% of all bachelor's degrees in science and engineering disciplines. In 2000, underrepresented students accounted for 9% of the master's degrees awarded in science and engineering. In 2000, underrepresented students accounted for 6% of the doctoral degrees awarded in science and engineering. In terms of computer science degrees earned in 2000, underrepresented students earned 5,531 of the 36,403 bachelor's degrees. Of the 13,848 master's degrees awarded in 2000, underrepresented students earned 760 master's degrees. Of the 861 doctoral degrees awarded in computer science, underrepresented students earned 32 doctoral degrees.

In 2000, these data suggest that underrepresented students were disproportionately represented primarily at the graduate level, when compared to White students who earned 21,182 of the bachelor degrees, 4,061 of the master's degrees, and 337 of the doctoral degrees in computer science. From these findings, underrepresented students have increased their representation at the bachelor level in IT related fields; however, their representation at the graduate level is disproportionate to the bachelor level. The Scholars of the Future program aims to alleviate this representation problem as well as contribute to the body of research in this area through early exposure to IT research and mentoring.


Home Grant Overview Mission Objectives Research Benefits Eligibility Application Scholars Spring 07 Year 07-08 Projects Links Contacts	Research Based on a recent report from the National Science Foundation (Hill, 2002), in 2000, underrepresented students (African Americans, American Indians or Alaskan Natives, and Hispanic Americans) earned 16% of all bachelor's degrees in science and engineering disciplines. In 2000, underrepresented students accounted for 9% of the master's degrees awarded in science and engineering. In 2000, underrepresented students accounted for 6% of the doctoral degrees awarded in science and engineering. In terms of computer science degrees earned in 2000, underrepresented students earned 5,531 of the 36,403 bachelor's degrees. Of the 13,848 master's degrees awarded in 2000, underrepresented students earned 760 master's degrees. Of the 861 doctoral degrees awarded in computer science, underrepresented students earned 32 doctoral degrees. In 2000, these data suggest that underrepresented students were disproportionately represented primarily at the graduate level, when compared to White students who earned 21,182 of the bachelor degrees, 4,061 of the master's degrees, and 337 of the doctoral degrees in computer science. From these findings, underrepresented students have increased their representation at the bachelor level in IT related fields; however, their representation at the graduate level is disproportionate to the bachelor level. The Scholars of the Future program aims to alleviate this representation problem as well as contribute to the body of research in this area through early exposure to IT research and mentoring.
Scholars of the Future, Virginia Tech.