ERIC Number: EJ1165126
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Feb
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1521-0251
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Experience and Persistence of College Students in STEM Majors
Xu, Yonghong Jade
Journal of College Student Retention: Research, Theory & Practice, v19 n4 p413-432 Feb 2018
In this study, an online survey was constructed based on the extant literature on college student success. The survey was used to collect data from a sample of college students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors in order to examine their learning experiences and to identify the factors that may influence their persistence to degree completion. The findings support the theoretical modeling of the academic and social aspects of student college experience. Nonetheless, it is the institutional conditions, particularly the quality of academic program and faculty teaching and accessibility, which dominate the STEM students' college experience and their persistence in academic major and to graduation. Therefore, it is critical for academic institutions to invest in a supportive learning environment by emphasizing quality teaching, accessible academic advising, and related functions in order to successfully engage STEM students in college education and increase their likelihood of degree completion.
Descriptors: STEM Education, Majors (Students), Academic Persistence, Online Surveys, Learning Experience, Intervention, Student Attitudes, Preferences, Educational Experience, Undergraduate Students, Statistical Analysis, Student Surveys, Influences
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Tennessee
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A