Selecting STEM College Majors: The Influence of High School Engineering Courses

• In Event: 70.019 - Division C Section 1e: Fostering Students' Interest and Attitudes in Computer Science and Engineering Education

Abstract

Development of the U.S. science and engineering workforce has been a recurrent and rising priority for a nearly a decade across the education, workforce, and government sectors. Most recently, the National Academy of Engineering (2014) noted that fewer than 5% of all undergraduate degrees are awarded in engineering, compared to 23% in Asia. Using data from the national Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 10th Graders, this analysis explored the relationship between high school course taking patterns and STEM college major choice in 2004. After controlling for social background, gender, academic preparation, mathematics proficiency, and students’ college intentions, students who complete Engineering and Engineering Technology credits in high school are more likely to choose STEM college majors in two- and four-year colleges.

Authors

• L. Allen Phelps, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• Eric M. Camburn, University of Wisconsin

• Sookweon Min, Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training