Graduates Pursuing Additional Education - 2000
Approximately 20% of the graduates surveyed indicated that they are enrolled full-time in a graduate/professional school (see Table 25).  Approximately 7% are currently pursuing graduate studies on a part-time basis. 

Table 25
Graduate/Professional School Attendance - Class of 2000


Number Percent
Have not applied   202   59.9
Have applied     27     8.0
Have been accepted       7     2.1
Am currently enrolled part-time     22     6.5
Am currently enrolled full-time      65    19.3 
Have already completed      12      3.6 
Attended but not completed        2      0.6 
Total   337 100.0
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 part-time and those that are enrolled full-time in graduate or professional programs. The results can be summarized as follows:

Females are more likely to pursue additional education (31% versus 21%).

The percentage of graduates continuing their education is higher for SC graduates than for out of state graduates (32% versus 24%).

The School of Sciences and Mathematics has the highest percentage of graduates continuing their education (42%).

Table 26
Graduate/Professional School Attendance
Comparison of All Groups


Group Number Pursued Education Did Not Pursue Education
Class of 2000     323            29.1                 70.9
Males       81            21.0                  79.0
Females     224            31.3                 68.8
SC Graduates     180            31.7                 68.3
Out of State Graduates     125            24.0                 76.0
School of Business       54            18.5                 81.5
School of Humanities and Social Sciences     158            29.8                 70.3 
School of the Arts       22            13.6                 86.4
School of Science and Mathematics       50            42.0                 58.0
School of Education        39             33.3                 66.7

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                 12
MUSC                 12
University of Charleston                 12
Webster University                   6


Approximately 74% of those who have continued their education are enrolled in a Master's degree program (Table 28); Over 25% received a graduate assistantship or fellowship (Table 29).

Table 28
Graduate Degree Completed or Sought


Degree  Number Percent
Masters      72   74.2
PhD       25    25.8
Total      97 100.0

Table 29
Graduate Assistantship/Fellowship


Number Percent
No     69    70.4
Yes      29     29.6 
Total     98  100.0

The majority of those pursuing graduate education are enrolled in Humanities programs (28%). The next largest group is represented by Education fields (19%) (see Table 30). For a complete list of study programs pursued by the 2000 graduates see Appendix D.

Table 30
Summary of Graduate Programs Attended


Discipline  Number Percent
Arts        3     3.3
Business     11   12.1
Education     17   18.7
Humanities     25   27.5
Law     11   12.1
MD/DMD       6     6.6
Medicine/Other     16   17.6
Sciences       2     2.2
Total     91 100.0
Of those who chose to pursue graduate education and explained their decision, 64 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.     71  
I want to enhance my earning potential.     55  
I want to further my personal growth.     46   
I could not secure employment.       7  
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