Student and High-School Characteristics related to completing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) major in college

Education
Mixed Models
Background: The importance of increasing the number of US college students completing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) has prompted calls for research to provid…
Authors

Brandon LeBeau

Michael R. Harwell

Debra Monson

Danielle Dupuis

Amanuel Medhanie

Thomas R. Post

Published

March 19, 2012

Abstract

Background: The importance of increasing the number of US college students completing degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) has prompted calls for research to provide a better understanding of factors related to student participation in these majors, including the impact of a stu- dent’s high-school mathematics curriculum. Purpose: This study examines the relationship between various student and high-school characteristics and completion of a STEM major in college. Of spe- cific interest is the influence of a student’s high-school mathematics curriculum on the completion of a STEM major in college. Sample: The sample consisted of approximately 3500 students from 229 high schools. Students were predominantly Caucasian (80%), with slightly more males than females (52% vs 48%). Design and method: A quasi-experimental design with archival data was used for students who enrolled in, and graduated from, a post-secondary institution in the upper Midwest. To be included in the sample, students needed to have com- pleted at least three years of high-school mathematics. A generalized linear mixed model was used with students nested within high schools. The data were cross-sectional. Results: High-school predictors were not found to have a significant impact on the completion of a STEM major. Significant student-level predictors included ACT mathematics score, gender and high-school mathematics GPA. Conclusions: The results provide evidence that on average students are equally prepared for the rigorous mathematics coursework regardless of the high-school mathematics curriculum they completed.

Citation

LeBeau, Brandon, Harwell, Michael R., Monson, Debra, Dupuis, Danielle, Medhanie, Amanuel, Post, Thomas R. (2012). Student and High-School Characteristics related to completing a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) major in college. **Research in Science & Technological Education, 30:1, 17 - 28.