The number of first time, full time students enrolled in science and engineering programs has increased approximately 50 percent since 2000, from 78,400 to 118,500. However, a recent study by the National Science Foundation indicates that growth in STEM programs (science, technology, engineering, and math) peaked in 2008 and has since declined. In 2008, the growth rate for science programs was 8.2 percent, and for engineering programs, 6 percent. Both rates have since decreased; science programs are now growing at a rate of 1.7 percent, and engineering, 4 percent. Although overall growth has slowed in recent years, the rate for women’s enrollment in STEM programs has continued to increase. However, women continue to be vastly underrepresented in STEM fields; in 2009, only 11 percent of engineers, 19 percent of technicians, and 25 percent of mathematicians or computer scientists were women.