Dissertation Volume Declines in Humanities and Social Fields
A new report shows a 28 percent drop in humanities and social science dissertations since 2015 despite overall doctorate growth.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Social Sciences
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The American Academy of Sciences and Letters reports that doctoral dissertation volume in the humanities and social sciences has fallen by 28 percent since 2015. While these specific fields are shrinking, overall doctorate completion across all disciplines increased by 8 percent in 2025.
Why it matters
The analysis offers a window into the evolving language and conceptual assumptions within academic fields over the last several decades. By tracking vocabulary shifts, the study highlights how academic focus has transitioned toward themes of identity and power.
The study analyzed 445,000 dissertations from 700 colleges, noting that the top 20 institutions accounted for over 150,000 completions. It specifically categorized text into clusters involving facts, truth, power, evaluation, identity, and aesthetics.
The players
American Academy of Sciences and Letters
This academic nonprofit society began its operations in 2023 to promote research.
The details
Humanities dissertations saw a 49 percent decline since 2015, while social sciences experienced a more modest 4.5 percent drop. Researchers used the ProQuest TDM Studio archive to map the rise of identity-focused vocabulary starting in 1980 and a surge in power-related terminology beginning in 1988.
Timeline
1960 marked the start of the data analysis period for the report.
1980 was when identity-related vocabulary began to rise steadily in dissertation texts.
1988 signaled a surge in the use of vocabulary related to power.
2015 served as the peak volume year for the humanities and social sciences.
2025 represents the final year of the data collection period for the report.
The Big Picture
The report uses data from the Survey of Earned Doctorates to contextualize the decline in humanities volume against the broader growth in total doctorates. This findings marks a significant shift in academic output that contrasts with the record of the past 65 years.
These trends suggest a shift in the conceptual landscape of higher education that may influence future interdisciplinary research and funding priorities. Academics and students may see a change in the thematic focus required for successful doctoral research in these fields.
The takeaway
The sharp decline in humanities dissertations since 2015 underscores a pivot toward other fields of study in the American academic landscape. Students and researchers should note that vocabulary trends reflect a long-term transition in conceptual focus toward identity and power.
Further reading
Learn more about evolving academic research in the Social Sciences section.
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Do you believe traditional humanities studies remain as vital to university education as they once were?
