NRC Program QuestionnaireMedian Time to Degree (TTD)

Columbus, OH October 2007

Chad Muntz SR. Research and Policy Analyst

University of Marylandcmuntz@umd.edu

Median Time To Degree2003/04 – 2005/06

• Time To Degree All Students (TTDALL)• Some programs (6) reported “0”• Some programs (31) did not report• Non-zero range 2.1 (Colorado; Cognitive Science) to 16.3 (Washington; Music)

• Time to Degree Full Time Only (TTDFULL)• Some programs (73) reported “0”• Some programs (152) did not report• Non-zero range 2.0 (Arizona; East Asian Studies) to 12.8 (Missouri; Classics)

• 955/1716 (56%) of fields had the same TTD for All and Full• 189/368 (51%) in Arts and Humanities• 289/493 (59%) in Life Sciences• 328/550 (60%) in Physical Science, Mathematics and Engineering• 149/305 (49%) in Social Sciences

Analyses

• Mean—average of all reported median TTD (non-zero or missing)• Median—median of all reported median TTD (non-zero or missing)• Min—minimum TTD (non-zero or missing)• Max—maximum TTD• Range—difference between the max and min• 90th—90th percentile of TTD scores (non-zero or missing)

– Used to determine if 90% of the graduates will be reported in the completions tables

The following are used to determine if meaningful reductions in TTD are found:• Master’s Policy (C4 on Program Questionnaire)• Continuous Enrollment (C6 &C7)• Candidacy Requirements (C13 and C14)• Teaching Assistantship Requirements (D5 & D6)• Size of the degree cohorts used in the TTD calculation• Size of the Core/New Faculty

TTD By NRC Area

Time To Degree ALL (C2a) Excludes missing and zero

NRC AREA N MeanMedia

n MIN MAX Range 90th

Arts and Humanities 358 7.3 7.0 3.4 16.3 12.9 9.0

Life Sciences 481 5.5 5.6 2.8 9.0 6.2 6.5

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering 544 5.3 5.3 3.0 8.5 5.5 6.3

Social and Behavioral Sciences 296 6.3 6.0 2.1 12.4 10.3 8.5

Total 1679 6.0 5.8 2.1 16.3 14.2 7.8

Time To Degree FULL (C2b) Excludes missing and zero

NRC AREA N MeanMedia

n MIN MAX Range 90th

Arts and Humanities 305 6.8 6.8 2.0 12.8 10.8 8.7

Life Sciences 425 5.4 5.5 2.8 9.0 6.2 6.3

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering 489 5.1 5.0 3.0 8.6 5.6 6.0

Social and Behavioral Sciences 272 6.0 5.8 2.1 12.4 10.3 7.9

Total 1491 5.7 5.6 2.0 12.8 10.8 7.5

TTD By NRC Area(TTD ALL ≠ TTD FULL)

Time To Degree ALL (C2a) Excludes missing and zero

Excludes TTD ALL = TTD FULL

NRC AREA N MeanMedia

n MIN MAX Range 90th

Arts and Humanities 173 7.7 7.0 4.0 16.3 12.3 9.0

Life Sciences 196 5.6 5.7 3.0 9.0 6.0 6.5

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering 217 5.5 5.5 3.4 8.4 5.0 6.6

Social and Behavioral Sciences 147 6.5 6.3 3.5 11.0 7.5 8.5

Total 733 6.1 6.0 3.0 16.3 13.3 8.0

Time To Degree FULL (C2b) Excludes missing and zero

Excludes TTD ALL = TTD FULL

NRC AREA N MeanMedia

n MIN MAX Range 90th

Arts and Humanities 120 6.2 6.2 2.0 11.7 9.7 8.0

Life Sciences 140 5.2 5.1 2.9 9.0 6.1 6.3

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering 162 5.0 5.0 3.0 8.6 5.6 6.1

Social and Behavioral Sciences 123 5.8 5.8 3.0 9.2 6.2 7.4

Total 545 5.5 5.3 2.0 11.7 9.7 7.1

The purpose of this analyses is to get the true difference between TTD ALL and TTD Full for programs that reported differences. In these tables, it can be seen that there is a larger difference for the students who were full-time. However, when the entire data set is used (including the 56% of the data where TTD ALL = TTD Full), measures of Central Tendency show very little differences as seen in the previous table. Therefore, it is difficult to use all of the data to make meaningful conclusions about full-time enrollment.

Master’s Policy

Time To Degree ALL (C2a) By Master's Policy

Excludes missing and zero

Master's Policy N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th

Master's Required For Admission 210 6.1 5.9 2.9 11.4 8.5 8.5

Earn Master's in doctoral program 465 6.4 6.0 2.9 12.8 10.0 8.4

Neither of the Above 985 5.7 5.7 2.1 16.3 14.2 7.0

1660 6.0 5.75 2.1 16.3 14.2 7.8

Time To Degree FULL (C2b) By Master's Policy

Excludes missing and zero

Master's Policy N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th

Master's Required For Admission 177 5.6 5.3 2.0 10.7 8.7 7.7

Earn Master's in doctoral program 427 6.1 5.9 2.9 12.8 10.0 8.0

Neither of the Above 884 5.5 5.5 2.1 12.4 10.3 6.7

1488 5.7 5.57 2 12.8 10.8 7.5

Master’s Policy By NRC Area

NRC AREA Master's Policy N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th Arts and Humanities Master's Required For Admission 87 6.9 6.7 4.0 11.4 7.4 8.8

Earn Master's in doctoral program 148 7.5 7.5 3.4 12.8 9.4 9.3Neither of the Above 119 7.2 7.0 4.0 16.3 12.3 8.9

Life Sciences Master's Required For Admission 32 5.2 4.9 3.3 9.0 5.7 7.0Earn Master's in doctoral program 55 5.6 5.8 2.9 7.7 4.9 7.0Neither of the Above 386 5.5 5.6 2.8 7.8 5.0 6.3

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Master's Required For Admission 42 5.2 5.0 3.4 8.2 4.8 6.4Earn Master's in doctoral program 150 5.4 5.3 3.0 7.7 4.7 6.3Neither of the Above 346 5.3 5.3 3.0 8.5 5.5 6.2

Social and Behavioral Sciences Master's Required For Admission 49 5.9 5.9 2.9 9.6 6.7 8.7Earn Master's in doctoral program 112 6.5 6.3 3.7 10.7 7.0 8.5Neither of the Above 134 6.2 6.0 2.1 12.4 10.3 8.3

Total 1660 6.0 5.75 2 12.8 10.8 7.8

NRC AREA Master's Policy N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th Arts and Humanities Master's Required For Admission 68 6.5 6.7 2.0 10.7 8.7 8.7

Earn Master's in doctoral program 131 7.2 7.0 3.4 12.8 9.4 9.0Neither of the Above 105 6.6 6.5 3.5 10.0 6.5 8.3

Life Sciences Master's Required For Admission 26 4.8 4.6 3.2 7.0 3.8 5.7Earn Master's in doctoral program 53 5.4 5.5 2.9 7.3 4.5 6.5Neither of the Above 344 5.4 5.5 2.8 9.0 6.2 6.3

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering Master's Required For Admission 37 4.7 4.7 3.0 8.2 5.2 5.8Earn Master's in doctoral program 138 5.1 5.0 3.0 7.3 4.3 6.0Neither of the Above 314 5.2 5.1 3.0 8.6 5.6 6.1

Social and Behavioral Sciences Master's Required For Admission 46 5.4 5.2 2.9 8.7 5.8 7.4Earn Master's in doctoral program 105 6.3 6.0 3.7 10.7 7.0 8.0Neither of the Above 121 5.9 5.7 2.1 12.4 10.3 7.6

Total 1488 5.7 5.57 2 12.8 10.8 7.5

Time To Degree ALL (C2a) By Master's Policy Excludes missing and zero

Time To Degree FULL (C2b) By Master's Policy Excludes missing and zero

Continuous Enrollment

NRC AREA Continuous Enrollment N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th Arts and Humanities No 70 7.1 7.0 4.0 11.4 7.4 8.8

Yes 286 7.3 7.2 3.4 16.3 12.9 9.0

Life Sciences No 76 5.6 5.7 3.0 7.5 4.5 6.8Yes 405 5.5 5.6 2.8 9.0 6.2 6.4

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering No 81 5.6 5.5 4.1 8.0 3.9 6.8Yes 462 5.3 5.2 3.0 8.5 5.5 6.1

Social and Behavioral Sciences No 41 6.4 6.2 3.5 9.6 6.1 8.5Yes 255 6.3 6.0 2.1 12.4 10.3 8.5

1676 6.0 5.8 2.1 16.3 14.2 7.8

NRC AREA Continuous Enrollment N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th Arts and Humanities No 39 6.3 6.2 3.8 8.6 4.8 7.7

Yes 265 6.9 6.9 2.0 12.8 10.8 8.7

Life Sciences No 44 5.4 5.3 3.3 7.5 4.2 7.0Yes 380 5.4 5.5 2.8 9.0 6.2 6.3

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering No 48 5.3 5.2 4.0 7.3 3.3 6.1Yes 441 5.1 5.0 3.0 8.6 5.6 6.0

Social and Behavioral Sciences No 25 5.6 5.8 3.0 7.5 4.5 6.2Yes 247 6.0 5.8 2.1 12.4 10.3 8.0

1489 5.7 5.6 2.0 12.8 10.8 7.5

Time To Degree ALL (C2a) By Continuous Enrollment Policy Excludes missing and

zero

Time To Degree FULL (C2b) By Continuous Enrollment Policy Excludes

missing and zero

Continuous Enrollment Applies To:

NRC AREA Continuous Enrollment Applies to: N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th Arts and Humanities All Students 251 7.3 7.1 4.2 16.3 12.1 9.0

Candidacy Students 29 7.2 7.3 3.4 12.8 9.4 10.0Other 5 7.7 8.2 6.5 9.0 2.5 9.0

Life Sciences All Students 323 5.6 5.7 2.8 9.0 6.2 6.4Candidacy Students 56 4.9 5.0 3.3 7.7 4.4 5.8Other 17 5.6 6.0 4.0 6.7 2.7 6.7

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering All Students 384 5.3 5.3 3.4 8.5 5.2 6.2Candidacy Students 62 4.7 4.7 3.0 8.2 5.2 5.9Other 16 5.7 5.7 4.5 7.7 3.2 7.0

Social and Behavioral Sciences All Students 204 6.5 6.1 2.1 12.4 10.3 8.5Candidacy Students 44 5.5 5.5 2.9 9.0 6.1 8.0Other 7 5.8 5.7 4.3 7.7 3.3 7.7

1406 5.9 5.7 2.1 16.3 14.2 7.8

NRC AREA Continuous Enrollment Applies to: N Mean Median MIN MAX Range 90th Arts and Humanities All Students 235 6.9 7.0 2.0 11.7 9.7 8.7

Candidacy Students 24 7.0 6.7 3.4 12.8 9.4 10.0Other 5 6.0 5.7 4.3 8.2 3.8 8.2

Life Sciences All Students 302 5.5 5.5 2.8 9.0 6.2 6.3Candidacy Students 54 4.8 4.9 3.0 7.6 4.6 5.8Other 17 5.4 5.7 4.0 6.0 2.0 6.0

Physical Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering All Students 366 5.2 5.1 3.0 8.6 5.6 6.0Candidacy Students 59 4.6 4.4 3.0 8.2 5.2 5.9Other 16 5.2 5.7 3.7 6.3 2.7 5.8

Social and Behavioral Sciences All Students 200 6.2 6.0 2.1 12.4 10.3 8.1Candidacy Students 40 5.2 5.2 2.9 8.7 5.8 7.2Other 7 5.7 5.7 4.0 7.3 3.3 7.3

1333 5.7 5.6 2.0 12.8 10.8 7.5

Time To Degree FULL (C2b) By Continuous Enrollment Policy Excludes

missing and zero

Time To Degree ALL (C2a) By Continuous Enrollment Policy Excludes missing and

zero

Other Comparisons

• Faculty Award for Mentoring

– About 0.10 year reduction in time to degree (TTDALL)

• Size of Core/New Faculty

– No significant correlation with time to degree (alpha >.05)

• Size of Degree Cohort

– Significant (small) correlation (corr=-.101; alpha <.0001) for TTD All

(More grads who graduated in a program, the shorter TTD)

• Required Teaching Assistantships with Median TTDALL

– 511 programs with 0 semesters (5.74); 257 programs w/ 1 semester (5.72); 275 programs w/ 2 semster (5.70)

– Nonlinear relationship that median TTDALL peaks with 4-7 semesters required for TA

Note: That most 1,043 of 1,311 reported 2 or fewer semester requirements

• Programs with Candidacy Requirements shortened time to degree by .25 for TTDALL

(Median All: 5.74 versus 6.00)

– Written Exams (Median 5.72)

– Oral Exams (Median 5.70)

– Master’s Degree (Median 5.98)

– Defense of Dissertation Proposal (5.75)

Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)Data from the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED)

1978 1983 1988 1993 1998 2003Field of Study Median

TTDMedian

TTDMedian

TTDMedian

TTDMedian

TTDMedian

TTDSince starting graduate school 6.3 6.9 7.1 7.3 7.5 7.5

Since starting graduate school 5.9 6.1 6.3 6.7 6.7 6.8

Since starting graduate school 5.8 5.9 6.0 6.5 6.7 6.9

Since starting graduate school 5.9 6.2 6.7 7.0 7.0 7.0

Since starting graduate school 6.2 7.0 7.6 7.7 7.6 7.8

Since starting graduate school 7.5 8.2 8.7 8.5 8.8 9.0

Since starting graduate school 6.8 7.6 8.3 8.5 8.7 8.3

Since starting graduate school 6.3 7.0 7.5 7.8 8.0 8.3

Humanities

Self-Reported Time to Degree Since Starting Graduate School for All SED Respondents Nationally, graduating with a PhD between 1978 and 2003

Education

Professional/Other

All fields

Physical Sciences

Engineering

Life sciences

Year

Social sciences