support@accepted.com
Get Your Free Consultation!

Which program are you applying to?

  • - Select a program -
  • MBA/EMBA
  • Law School
  • Grad School, PhD
  • MD/DO, Residency
  • Other Healthcare Programs
  • College
  • About Accepted
    • About us
      • The Accepted Advantage
      • Clients Accepted At
      • In The News
    • Client Feedback
    • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
    • MBA Admissions Consultants
    • Med School Admissions Consultants
    • Grad School Admissions Consultants
    • Law School Admissions Consultants
    • College Admissions Consultants
  • Free Resources
    • MBA
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants
      • MBA Deadlines
    • Med School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Essay Tips
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Med School Applicants
    • Healthcare Programs
      • Free Guides
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Healthcare Applicants
    • Grad School
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Grad School Applicants
    • Law School
      • Free Guides
      • Selectivity Index
      • Sample Essays
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Law School Applicants
    • College
      • Free Guides
      • Sample Essays
      • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for College Applicants
  • Services
    • MBA
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Resume Services
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Med School
      • Premed Packages
      • Primary App Packages
      • Secondary App Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • Healthcare
      • Postbac Packages
      • MPH Packages
      • NursingCAS Packages
      • PharmD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
    • Grad School
      • Complete Packages
      • PhD Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • CV/Resume Assistance
      • MORE
    • Law School
      • Complete Packages
      • Essay Editing
      • Interview Prep
      • MORE
    • College
      • Complete Packages
      • Common App Package
      • Essay Editing
      • MORE
  • Blog
    • MBA Blog Posts
    • Medical School Blog Posts
    • Other Healthcare Blog Posts
    • Grad School Blog Posts
    • Law School Blog Posts
    • College Blog Posts
    • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
Accepted

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

September 27, 2015

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Enrollment Down In Humanities PhD Programs

Want more PhD admissions advice? Check out our PhD admissions 101 page!We’ve posted before about the challenging job market for humanities PhDs and the disparities in funding between doctoral programs in the humanities/social sciences and those in fields like business and engineering. A new article in the Chronicle of Higher Education, citing research by the Council of Graduate Schools, reports that new enrollment in humanities PhD programs declined 0.5 % from 2013-14, continuing a downward trend over the past several years (humanities enrollments dropped an average of 1 percent a year between 2009-2014).

Over the same period, overall doctoral enrollment (across all fields) has increased, with especially strong gains in Engineering (up 6.4% in 2013-14) and the Health Sciences (up 9.4% in 2013-14, and an average of 11.1% between 2009-14).

There are a few explanations for the decline in humanities PhD enrollment. Part of the falloff is due to some departments adjusting their class sizes downward and increasing stipends— which is, at many universities, a move to fund students fully/competitively (and closer to what students in other fields are paid). And some is likely due, as the CHE’s piece points out, to applicants making a serious assessment of the state of the academic market in the humanities, and simply deciding not to pursue grad school.

However, the CHE simultaneously explores some of the forces that make a true “market correction” unlikely: a strong graduate program enhances the reputation of a university, so many schools are more likely to grow their grad programs rather than shrink them; and universities rely on grad student instructors to teach their undergraduates.

As a humanities PhD who counsels graduate school applicants across fields, I am keenly interested in these developments. Given the contraction of the academic market, it seems not just logical but also humane to reduce class sizes and ease (somewhat) the oversupply of humanities PhDs. At the same time, these moves won’t affect the deeper systemic problems with the academic job market (such as an increasing reliance on badly paid contingent faculty). In my experience, PhD applicants are a thoughtful bunch, and I hope they’ll evaluate the changing landscape of humanities grad training and the academic market with care.

Plotting Your Way to a Phd - download your guide today!

Rebecca BlusteinBy Dr. Rebecca Blustein, Accepted.com consultant since 2008, former Student Affairs Officer at UCLA’s Scholarship Resource Center, and author of the ebook, Financing Your Future: Winning Fellowships, Scholarships and Awards for Grad School. Dr. Blustein, who earned her Ph.D. at UCLA, assists our clients applying to MS, MA, and Ph.D. programs. She is happy to assist you with your grad school applications.

Related Resources:

• Choosing a PhD Program: 3 Tips [Free Guide]
• Is a PhD a Good Idea? 
• Does UCI’s 5+2 For PhDs Add Up?

Article by Accepted / Grad School Admissions

Get Accepted!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Blog Categories

  • Admissions Consulting
  • Admissions Straight Talk Podcast
  • College Admissions
  • Grad School Admissions
  • Law School Admissions
  • MBA Admissions
  • Medical School Admissions
  • Other Healthcare Admissions
  • Uncategorized

Most Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

3. How to Write About Your Research Interests

4. Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2022-2023]

5. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

6. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

7. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023]

8. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in