The number of students pursuing degrees and graduating in political science is growing again after the discipline experienced falling or stagnant enrollment numbers at all academic levels in the 1990s, according to data in the latest Digest of Education Statistics (2005). After experiencing a growth in enrollments and degrees awarded in the 1980s, political science departments reported falling enrollments in the early 1990s and stagnant numbers of degrees awarded in the later half of the 1990s (Mann 1996; 2002). Political science departments began to report increasing enrollments starting in 1998–1999 (Mann 2002), reflected in the increase in graduation numbers beginning in 2002.

In 2004, a total of 45,273 Bachelor's degrees in political science¹

were awarded, a 5% increase from 1990, and the highest graduation number reported since 1992. The number of Bachelor's degrees awarded has increased since 2002, a trend that appears to be continuing, perhaps due to the events of September 11 (Figure 1).

At the Master's level, there has been generally steady growth in the number of political science and public administration candidates since 1990, with a stagnant period corresponding from 1998 to 2000. In 2004, a total of 14,682 Master's degrees in political science were awarded, up from 8,628 in 1990, a 70% increase (Figure 2).

At the Doctoral level, growth has also been steady. In 2004, 961 doctorates were awarded, up from 737 in 1990, a 30% increase. Much of that growth however occurred in the first part of the 1990s, reflecting the popularity of a political science Ph.D. in the 1980s. Since 1994, the number of doctorates awarded has remained constant (Figure 3).