Academic Engagement of Undergraduate Students Majoring in STEM

• In Event: Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: College Student Learning and Outcomes Poster Session 2

Abstract

This paper draws upon data from an on-line survey distributed to undergraduate students at nine large, public, research universities in 2010. The study investigates the academic engagement of undergraduate students majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, compared to students in non-STEM fields. Comparisons are also made by gender and race/ethnicity to examine how engagement levels may differ for women and students of color in STEM, as compared to their peers. Results suggest that differences in engagement exist by gender, race/ethnicity, and type of major, including women in STEM being more academically engaged than their male counterparts. The findings seek to inform programmatic interventions of academic engagement, particularly in STEM fields.

Authors

• Derek A. Houston, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Casey E. George-Jackson, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign