A novel intervention to introduce undergraduate students to bioinformatics, provide authentic research opportunities, and support student retention in science majors and careers is presented in the Characterizing Our DNA Exceptions (CODE) project. The need to increase the number of qualified STEM graduates, particularly in the fields of…

There is a lack of literature that has investigated the relationships between stereotype threat, impostor phenomenon, and other related constructs on career development, particularly for women in STEM. While various resources (National Science Foundation, 2013; Sax, Kanny, Jacobs, Whang, Weintraub, & Hroch, 2016; US Department of Labor, 2014)…

The choice of academic major is one of the most important decisions an undergraduate student makes at a university. Many of the "best and brightest" math and science students in America are shunning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) majors. The point in the STEM pipeline where the highest losses occur is between high…

Institutions of higher learning are recently being held more accountable for the learning outcomes of their students. As such, universities have begun to actively measure and evaluate student learning and motivational outcomes in an effort to improve the successful outcomes of their students. To support this work, two studies were conducted to…

Science education at the postsecondary level is essential to building a foundation for increasing support, participation, and interest in STEM occupations and careers. This current study uses a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences and perspectives of eight post-secondary science majors while enrolled in a university 200-level…

The prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among school aged children in the US has increased exponentially, compared to estimates from the year 2000. Increased numbers of elementary students with ASD are spending 80% or more of the school day in general education settings, which may pose challenges for both veteran and beginning…

Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs) have become more commonly incorporated in laboratory courses in undergraduate education. Because CUREs incorporate research within the context of a course, the benefits of mentored research (self-efficacy, science identity, persistence, and more) are extended to each student enrolled. CUREs…

Presented is a quantitative study on top-performing undergraduate science majors at a mid-size, master's large, public institution in the United States' South for the purpose of improving understanding of how motivation to learn science affects a student's decision to leave or remain in the sciences. The Science Motivation Questionnaire (SMQII)…

Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) courses are undergraduate biology prerequisite courses that cover many topics about human biology, including anatomy, histology, organ systems, and homeostasis. The purpose of the course is to equip students aiming to enter nursing and allied health education programs with an understanding of basic biological…

Despite the odds, African American women are achieving some success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). However, a dearth of empirical evidence exists on the mechanisms that contribute to their persistence. This study contributes to understanding how African American women are successful in obtaining baccalaureate degrees…

This collected papers dissertation explores students' academic interactions in an active learning, introductory physics settings as they relate to the development of physics self-efficacy and interest. The motivation for this work extends from the national call to increase participation of students in the pursuit of science, technology,…

Student enrollment in undergraduate online education continues in an increasing trend toward the creation of new virtual degree programs. Academia and university faculty have observed comparable learning outcomes in both traditional and online classrooms, but minimal research exists discussing student perspectives of science-based coursework in…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how online female undergraduate STEM students at three higher education institutions in the southwestern United States described their academic self-efficacy in relation to the four sources of efficacy information. This study was theoretically supported by social cognitive theory…

Female students are underrepresented in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) academic courses. The problem is a lack of understanding of how female college students' perceptions of course climate and instruction affect their representation in STEM courses. A gap in the literature exists related to how female…

Mentoring programs are not uncommon. In fact, they are more common than we think. Most mentoring programs and/or mentorship opportunities are informal and happen daily. While mentorship programs are common, some programs, specifically Pre-Pharmacy related, are overlooked. The lack of formalized opportunities impacts prospective students'…