Subjective Culture and Possible Selves: How Predominantly White Institutions Impact Black Engineering Students' Career Pathways

• In Event: Marginalization in STEM

Abstract

Researchers have been concerned with the under-representation of African Americans in the Engineering workforce for decades. Primarily they have examined differences in academic preparation and Black-White achievement gaps. Given that Black Engineering students are twice as likely to select Engineering Technology majors, which excludes them from pathways to the engineering workforce, this study engages a decision theory framework linked to Critical Race Theory to qualitatively describe factors influencing Black engineering students’ motivations for choosing Engineering majors. Preliminary findings drawn from in-depth interviews with 23 Black Engineering students (13 Technology majors and 10 Engineering majors) suggest that students’ perceived options are influenced by difference in their reactions to perceived discrimination, their career goal clarity, and subjective cultural experiences.

Authors

• Revathy Kumar, University of Toledo

• Aaron Allen Baker, University of Toledo

• Darrell Hunter, University of Toledo

• Lesley Berhan, University of Toledo