Pathways to Doctoral Degrees in Computing (2025)
Chapter: Appendix A: Statement of Task
A
Statement of Task
A National Academies study will assess implications for the health of computing disciplines (inclusive of computer and information science and engineering) and academic programs, for economic competitiveness, for national security, and for other societal objectives of trends in:
- Supply and demand—the supply of those attaining doctoral degrees in computing and demand to meet national needs in academia (including in tenure and teaching tracks and across different types of institutions), industry, government, non-profits, and elsewhere as well as how well graduate programs are keeping up with changes in computing research and the skills needed in industry.
- Flows and pathways toward advanced degrees in computing and computing careers including flow (a) from 2- and 4-year undergraduate programs (in computing and in other fields) and master’s degrees and combined bachelor’s/master’s degrees into doctoral programs or serving as final degrees, (b) from undergraduate and graduate computing programs to academia and industry, and (c) between academia and industry as well as (d) the role of traditional postdoctoral appointments in these flows, and (e) the implications for faculty attrition of nascent 1- to 2-year “prebatticals” in industry before starting previously landed faculty positions.
- The balance between doctoral degrees awarded to U.S. and international students including (a) trends in foreign and domestic student applications, admissions, and completion of doctoral studies and entry into
- the U.S. computing workforce; (b) implications of systemic or experiential distinctions between U.S. and international undergraduate programs; that cause differences in admissions rates into doctoral programs; and (c) the impacts of such factors as changes in immigration policy and global competition for talent on foreign enrollment and completion of doctoral studies and entry into and retention in the domestic workforce.
- Financial, time-related, and workplace perceptual factors such as (a) the financial trade-offs students may face regarding selecting undergraduate research experience over industry internships, and how such financial trends and decisions affect admission rates into graduate programs; (b) the influence of actual and perceived time requirements to complete a doctorate; and (c) the influence of actual and perceived differences in computing jobs in academia, industry, government, and other sectors.
- Areas of potential shortfall such as in technical areas where demand may outstrip supply or for careers in which U.S. citizenship or an ability to hold a security clearance is required.
The study will consider trends and interventions more broadly in STEM fields but will focus on the challenges faced in computer and information science and engineering. It will also consider whether existing data are adequate for assessing trends and impacts and identify what additional data might be required.
Based on its assessment of these and related factors, the study will provide recommendations for measures that colleges and universities, scientific and professional societies, industry, and federal, state, tribal, and local governments could take to address anticipated shortfalls.
