Graduates Pursuing Additional Education - 2001
Approximately 41% of the surveyed respondants indicated that they are currently pursuing additonal education or have already completed their graduate education. Of the 41%, approximately 19% of the graduates indicated that they are enrolled full-time in a graduate/professional school (see Table 25).

Table 25
Graduate/Professional School Attendance - Class of 2001


Number Percent
Have not applied   135   50.6
Have applied     18     6.7
Have been accepted       6     2.3
Am currently enrolled part-time     29   10.9
Am currently enrolled full-time      50    18.7 
Have already completed      23      8.6 
Attended but not completed        6      2.3 
Total   267 100.0 
=
Table 26 examines graduate school attendance by gender, state residency and school. The group pursuing graduate education includes those that have been accepted to graduate or professional schools, those enrolled either part-time or full-time in graduate or professional programs, and those who have already completed their graduate or professional program. The results can be summarized as follows:

Females and males are about as likely to pursue additional education (43% versus 40%).

The percentage of graduates continuing their education is higher for SC graduates than for out of state graduates (45% versus 38%).

The School of Sciences and Mathematics has the highest percentage of graduates who are continuing or have completed their education (53%).

Table 26
Graduate/Professional School Attendance
Comparison of All Groups


Group Number Pursued Education Did Not Pursue Education
Class of 2001     261            41.4                 58.6
Males       80            40.0                  60.0
Females     171            43.3                 56.7
SC Graduates     153            45.1                 54.9
Out of State Graduates       98            37.8                 62.2
School of Business       49            24.5                 75.5
School of Humanities and Social Sciences     108            43.5                 56.5 
School of the Arts       18            38.9                 61.1
School of Science and Mathematics       49            53.1                 46.9
School of Education        37             43.2                 56.8

College of Charleston graduates are pursuing graduate education in several states. Table 27 lists the institutions where five or more graduates are currently enrolled. For a complete list of institutions see Appendix C at the end of the report.

Table 27
Institutions with 5 or more CofC Graduates


Institution       Number of Graduates
Citadel                         6
Graduate School at College of Charleston                         6
MUSC                       14
University of South Carolina                       11


Approximately 72% of those pursuing graduate education are enrolled in a Master's degree program (Table 28); over 26% received a graduate assistantship or fellowship (Table 29).

Table 28
Graduate Degree Completed or Sought


Degree  Number Percent
Masters      68   72.3
PhD       26    27.7
Total      94 100.0

Table 29
Graduate Assistantship/Fellowship


Number Percent
No     73    73.7
Yes      26     26.3 
Total     99  100.0

The majority of those pursuing graduate education are enrolled in Humanities programs (22%). The next largest group is represented by Education fields (16%) (see Table 30). For a complete list of study programs pursued by the 2001 graduates see Appendix D.

Table 30
Summary of Graduate Programs Attended


Discipline  Number Percent
Arts        6     5.5
Business     16   14.6
Education     18   16.4
Humanities     24   21.8
Law     14   12.7
MD/DMD    10     9.1
Medicine/Other     12   10.9
Math & Sciences       7     6.4
Other       3     2.7
Total  110 100.0
Of those who chose to pursue graduate education and explained their decision, 74 reported having done so because their ‘career goal can only be obtained through further education' (see Table 31).

Table 31
Reasons for Pursuing Graduate Education


Reasons Number
My career goal can only be obtained through further education.     74  
I want to enhance my earning potential.     49  
I want to further my personal growth.     43   
I could not secure employment.     11  
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