Factors Associated with Students Graduating with STEM Degrees at a Military Academy: Improving Success by Identifying Early Obstacles

Autor/inn/en	Dwyer, Jessica H.; González-Espada, Wilson J.; de la Harpe, Kimberly; Meier, David C.
Titel	Factors Associated with Students Graduating with STEM Degrees at a Military Academy: Improving Success by Identifying Early Obstacles
Quelle	In: Journal of College Science Teaching, 50 (2020) 1, S.28-35 (8 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0047-231X
Schlagwörter	STEM Education; Military Schools; College Students; Withdrawal (Education); College Graduates; Intention; Student Motivation; Grades (Scholastic); Prerequisites; Required Courses; Bachelors Degrees; Predictor Variables; Majors (Students); Colorado + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? STEM; Militärschule; Collegestudent; Kursabbruch; Hochschulabsolvent; Hochschulabsolventin; Schulische Motivation; Notenspiegel; Voraussetzung; Pflichtkurs; 'Bachelor''s degrees'; Bachelor-Studiengang; Prädiktor
Abstract	The United States is not graduating enough science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors for the increasing number of available employment opportunities and national security needs. The purpose of this study was to quantify the magnitude of STEM attrition at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA), a military service academy and one of the three commissioning sources of officers for the United States Air Force. Also, the study identified factors associated with STEM attrition among students. Despite strong academic preparation, of the students who reported their intention to major in a STEM discipline as incoming freshmen, 36.4% switched and graduated with a non-STEM degree. Two binary logistic regressions revealed that the best predictors associated with students graduating with a STEM major were their initial intention and motivation to major in these disciplines upon arrival at the USAFA and course grades in Calculus I, Calculus-based General Physics I, and Applications of Chemistry I. These findings suggest that, as in many other universities, students motivated to major in STEM may switch out if they struggle with prerequisite quantitative courses. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	National Science Teaching Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: https://www.nsta.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01