A Longitudinal Study on High School Students' STEM College Major Intentions: Results From the Third Year

• In Event: 67.069 - Sheraton Roundtable 14 - Osgoode Ballroom
  In Roundtable Session: 67.069-3 - Roundtable: Research on Science Learning and Higher Education

Abstract

It is not news that the United States is experiencing and will continue to experience a shortage of qualified professionals in STEM areas, which makes it crucial to identify the factors affecting high school students’ intentions to matriculate in STEM majors in college. This paper presents the results from the third year of a four-year longitudinal study investigating—using a social cognitive career theoretical perspective—how students’ high school STEM experiences, teacher and parental expectations, and students’ motivational beliefs affect their interest in majoring in STEM areas in college. Results draw attention to important factors such as self-efficacy, GPA, participation in STEM clubs, and teacher expectation that had positive impacts on students’ intentions to pursue a STEM major in college.

Authors

• Adem Ekmekci, Rice University

• Alpaslan Sahin, Harmony Public Schools