ERIC Number: EJ988070
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
Reference Count: 41
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1557-5284
Impact of a Sophomore Seminar on the Desire of STEM Majors to Pursue a Science Career
Sweeder, Ryan D.; Strong, Philip E.
Journal of STEM Education: Innovations and Research, v13 n3 p52-61 May-Jun 2012
This study focuses on the impact of a sophomore seminar on STEM majors desire to pursue a science career. This seminar was a component in a broader scholarship program and focused on helping students gain a broader understanding of the process of science, expose students to a range of career options and provide opportunities for outside of class student-faculty/scientist interactions. Interviews and reflection papers by the fifteen students who completed the seminar suggest that the most common benefits from the course involved development/refinement of a career decisions, fomenting of self confidence and empowerment, and awareness of available resources to assist in the pursuit of a STEM career. The students very clearly indicted the importance and impact of a wide range of informal interactions between themselves and faculty or other scientist, helping the students put a personal face on those who have previously pursued a science career. Additionally, the exposure to these scientists and their stories along with a more complete discussion about the process of science (including funding, dissemination and ethics) spurred five of fifteen students to reconsider the possibility of research as a career option. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Majors (Students), Student Attitudes, Ethics, Self Esteem, Scholarships, Seminars, Scientists, Science Careers, College Students, STEM Education, Science Education, Science Instruction
Institute for STEM Education and Research. P.O. Box 4001, Auburn, AL 36831. Tel: 334-844-3360; Web site: http://www.jstem.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Michigan