Replenishing STEM Pipelines: Factors That Contribute to Undecided Students' Completion of STEM Bachelor's Degrees

• In Event: 31.092 - Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: 31.092-7 - Poster Session: College Student Learning and Development (1)

Abstract

As national reports prioritize increasing the number of STEM bachelor’s degrees among colleges and universities in the United States, one method to reach this goal that has not been examined extensively is attracting students undecided about their major into STEM fields. The purpose of this study is to identify the entering characteristics and environmental factors that contribute to STEM bachelor’s degree completion among students who enter college undecided about their major. Using data from the 2004 CIRP Freshman Survey, the National Student Clearinghouse, IPEDS, and HERI Faculty Survey, this study uses multinomial hierarchical generalized linear modeling to identify characteristics of undecided students most likely to complete a STEM degree, and the contextual factors that foster these outcomes.

Authors

• Sylvia Hurtado, University of California - Los Angeles

• Bryce Edward Hughes, Montana State University

• Tanya Figueroa, University of California - Los Angeles

• Kevin Eagan, University of California - Los Angeles

• Ashlee Wilkins, University of California - Los Angeles