Astronomy & Astrophysics• Order-of-magnitude issue:
– 25% of U.S. population– 2-3% of physics and astronomy
PhD’s (~ 4 individuals/year)
• Average among PhD granting institutions:– 1 every 13 years
Aero/Astronautical engineering
• In 2002: 201 PhD’s– 4 PhD’s to underrepresented
minorities– 77 PhD’s to foreign nationals
Number of African- and Hispanic-Americans Earning Astronomy PhDs by Year
0
1
2
3
4
5
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986
1984
1982
1980
1978
Year of PhD
Nu
mb
er
African Americans Hispanic Americans
Percentage of Astronomy PhDs Earned by African- and Hispanic-Americans by Year
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986
1984
1982
1980
1978
Year of PhD
Pe
rce
nt
African Percent Hispanic Percent Total Percent
Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program
Get the preparation you need to earn a PhD
1. Earn a Masters degree in physics at Fisk, with full funding support.
2. Get valuable, paid research experience.
3. Receive preparation for the GRE.
4. Get fast-track admission to the Vanderbilt PhD program, with full funding support.
• Astronomy, astrophysics, space science
• Biophysics
• Materials science, nanophysics, detector development
• Imaging science
Nashville, Tennessee
Current Fisk-Vanderbilt Bridge Students
