An Examination of the Role of College-Level Mathematics on STEM Major Persistence

• In Event: 47.040 - Cultivating and Supporting Diverse STEM Talent

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between first-term college-level mathematics course-taking and STEM major persistence for first-time freshman students entering college with a declared STEM major. The study utilized data from a 4-year, open access, public institution on the West Coast of the United States. Decreasing logistic regression was used to identify significant variables likely to increase students’ persistence in a STEM major through their second college year. Findings indicated that students with a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and students who passed a first-term college-level mathematics course were at significantly greater odds of being retained in STEM majors.

Authors

• Jaimi Paschal, California State University - Bakersfield

• Amanda Taggart, Utah State University