Choose Wisely: A Study of College Major Choice ... - RAND Corporation

Choose Wisely

Dissertation

A Study of College Major Choice and Major Switching Behavior

Cameron Wright

This document was submitted as a dissertation in May 2018 in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the doctoral degree in public policy analysis at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. The faculty committee that supervised and approved the dissertation consisted of Charles A. Goldman (Chair), Trey Miller, and Dermot Forde.

PARDEE RAND GRADUATE SCHOOL

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments........................................................................................................................... v Abstract .......................................................................................................................................... vi Chapter One: Introduction & Research Design .............................................................................. 1

Research Questions .................................................................................................................................. 3 Research Design ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Organization of the Dissertation............................................................................................................... 7

Chapter Two: Literature Review and Conceptual Models ............................................................. 9

Overview .................................................................................................................................................. 9 How do Students Choose their Major?..................................................................................................... 9 What Majors do Students Choose and what is the Impact of those Choices? ........................................ 12 Why do Students Switch Majors? .......................................................................................................... 13 How Much Major Switching Occurs and What is the Effect? ............................................................... 15 Are their Differences in Major Choice Behavior between Demographic Groups? ................................ 17 Conceptual Models ................................................................................................................................. 21 Summary ................................................................................................................................................ 24

Chapter Three: Analysis of Major Selection Behavior Using Nationally Representative Data ... 26

Background............................................................................................................................................. 26 Data and Methods................................................................................................................................... 26 Results .................................................................................................................................................... 27 Limitations.............................................................................................................................................. 33 Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 34

Chapter Four: A Qualitative Exploration of Student Major Choice ............................................. 36

Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 36 Top Major Fields of Study Under Consideration ................................................................................... 39 Reasons for Being Undecided ................................................................................................................ 43 Initiation of Major Consideration ........................................................................................................... 46 Important Factors in Major Choice ........................................................................................................ 48 Sources of Information ........................................................................................................................... 57 External Influences on Major Decision Making Process ....................................................................... 64 Career and Life Planning Course............................................................................................................ 71 Potential Career Outcomes and Major Choice ....................................................................................... 73 Knowledge of Pay Levels Associated with Different Majors ................................................................ 74 Should All Students be Undecided? ....................................................................................................... 75 Initial Major Consideration Process ....................................................................................................... 77 Major Switch Consideration Process...................................................................................................... 82 Biggest Challenges ................................................................................................................................. 86 Additional Information or Resources ..................................................................................................... 89

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Advice for Incoming Major Deciding Freshmen ................................................................................... 91 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 92

Chapter Five: Academic Advisor Perspectives on Major Choice ................................................ 95

Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 95 Responsibilities and Student Load ......................................................................................................... 96 Assistance with Initial Major Selection.................................................................................................. 96 Information Used for Advisement .......................................................................................................... 98 What Factors Should Students Use to Weigh Different Majors ............................................................. 98 Biggest Challenges for Initial Major Decision Advisement ................................................................. 102 Primary Factors Driving Major Switches ............................................................................................. 105 Difference in Advisement between Initial Major Deciders and Major Switchers................................ 107 Effects of Switching on Time to Degree and Graduation..................................................................... 108 Serial Major Switchers ......................................................................................................................... 110 Difficulty of Major Switching .............................................................................................................. 110 Should All Students be Undecided? ..................................................................................................... 111 Additional Resources............................................................................................................................ 112 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 113

Chapter Six: University-specific Analysis of Major Selection Behavior ................................... 115

Data and Methods................................................................................................................................. 115 Descriptive Statistics ............................................................................................................................ 116 Prediction of Switches .......................................................................................................................... 120 Cost of Major Switches ........................................................................................................................ 122 Analysis of the Major Choice Quality of Deciding Students ............................................................... 126 Limitations............................................................................................................................................ 129 Discussion ............................................................................................................................................ 130 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 131

Chapter Seven: Policy Scan ........................................................................................................ 132

University Policies................................................................................................................................ 132 University Programs ............................................................................................................................. 134 Statewide Policies................................................................................................................................. 138

Chapter Eight: Conclusion .......................................................................................................... 140

Review of Findings............................................................................................................................... 140 Policy Implications ............................................................................................................................... 142 Areas for Future Research .................................................................................................................... 145 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 146

References................................................................................................................................... 147 Appendix A: Interview Protocols ............................................................................................... 151

Deciding Students Interview Protocol .................................................................................................. 151 Major Switcher/Senior Focus Group Protocol ..................................................................................... 152 Academic Advisor Interview Protocol ................................................................................................. 153

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Acknowledgments

It would not have been possible to complete this work without the support of many. First, to my committee members Dr. Charles Goldman, Dr. Trey Miller, and Dermot Forde for their support and advice along the way. You helped me shape my ideas into a workable methodology, kept me on the right track with targeted words of encouragement, and were an absolute pleasure to work with. To my benefactor Doug Smith, who graciously provided funding to me through the Susan Way-Smith Memorial Dissertation Award for several years. I hope that this is work that Susan would have been proud of. To my fellow fellows and researchers at Pardee RAND Graduate School and the RAND Corporation. Thank you in particular to the best office mate a man could have (at least for entertainment's sake), Dr. Jonathan Wong, and Dr. Gery Ryan, who provided methodological help on my qualitative work. To my parents, Van and Tracey, for their support during this process and fostering my lifelong curiosity. Without you, I literally wouldn't be here today. To my son Maximo and my daughter Aila, who put up with their dad working long hours without complaint. I hope that I set a good example for you to someday take your education as far as you want to. May you both choose wisely in a few years' time. Lastly, to my wife Jessica, whose level of support for this endeavor is difficult for me to put into words. One couldn't hope for a better partner in life and I couldn't have ever done this without you.

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