Published 6 issues per year
ISSN Print: 1072-8325
ISSN Online: 1940-431X
Indexed in
STEM SWITCHING: EXAMINING DEPARTURES OF UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN IN STEM FIELDS
ABSTRACT
This study uses longitudinal data of undergraduate students from five public land-grant universities to better understand undergraduate students’ persistence in and switching of majors, with particular attention given to women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The study examines patterns of behavior of women in relation to students’ initial choice of college major and major field persistence. Of particular interest is what fields students enter upon departing from an initial STEM major, rather than assuming that such movements are a loss to the STEM fields. Factors that impact major field persistence are also examined, as well as how switching majors affects students’ time-to-degree. Using a broad definition of STEM, data from nearly 17,000 undergraduate students was analyzed using descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations. The results highlight women’s retention in STEM through their movement between a variety of STEM majors, challenging common notions of departure from the STEM fields. The study calls for researchers to use a broad definition of STEM and highlights the need to follow students upon switching majors.
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