Understanding Division I College Athlete STEM Persistence

• In Event: 26.079 - Roundtable Session 7
  In Roundtable Session: 26.079-19 - Supporting Intercollegiate Athletes' Experiences and Outcomes

Abstract

While the challenges presented by pursuing a STEM degree are notably exacerbated for minority college students, students within college subpopulations, such as college athletes, experience similar challenges to STEM degree pursuit as well as additional challenges imposed by their subpopulation membership. This is a particularly salient experience for college athletes who are interested in STEM, with the mounting challenges resulting in far fewer college athletes who pursue STEM majors compared to other majors (Schneider, Ross, & Fisher, 2010). With this in mind, the primary purpose of this study is to utilize qualitative methods to understand achievement and persistence in Division I STEM college athletes.

Authors

• Eddie Comeaux, University of California - Riverside

• Patina Lynn Bachman, University of California - Riverside

• Rena M. Burton, University of California - Riverside