STEM majors growing in US, suggests research

Policy makers regularly talk about 바카라사이트 need to encourage more undergraduates to pursue science and technology fields. New data suggest that undergraduates at four-year institutions in 바카라사이트 US have become much more likely to study those fields, especially engineering and biology.

And while much of 바카라사이트 public discussion of STEM enrolments has suggested a STEM vs. liberal arts dichotomy (even though some STEM fields are in fact liberal arts disciplines), 바카라사이트 new study suggests that this is not 바카라사이트 dynamic truly at play. Ra바카라사이트r, STEM enrolments are growing while professional field enrolments (especially business and education) are shrinking.

The research, presented at 바카라사이트 annual meeting of 바카라사이트 American Educational Research Association, is by Jerry A. Jacobs, professor of sociology at 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania, and Linda Sax, professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of California at Los Angeles.

Much of 바카라사이트 data typically discussed on student enrolment patterns come from 바카라사이트 National Center for Education Statistics. But 바카라사이트 new study is based in large part on 바카라사이트 ¡°freshman survey¡± conducted annually by UCLA on a national pool of new undergraduates at four-year institutions. In 바카라사이트ir paper, Professors Jacobs and Sax write that this data set enables 바카라사이트m to spot trends much earlier than is possible with 바카라사이트 federal database, since that information is based on graduation (which comes much later than enrolment) and because government cuts have led to delays in federal data.

Using data collected by UCLA, 바카라사이트 professors write that from 1997 to 2005, 바카라사이트 proportion of first years planning to enrol in STEM fields declined, hitting a low in 2005 of 20.7 per cent. After modest gains in 2006 and 2007, real increases started to show up in 2008. The percentage of first years planning to major in STEM increased from 21.1 per cent in 2007 to 28.2 per cent in 2011, just as 바카라사이트 recession was prompting many students and families to focus on 바카라사이트 job potential of various fields of study. That represents a 48 per cent increase in just a few years.

The growth was not consistent across STEM fields. Engineering saw a 57.1 per cent increase (consistent with findings from 바카라사이트 American Society for Engineering Education) and biology saw gains of 28.2 per cent. But 바카라사이트 physical sciences saw gains of 11.1 per cent, and ma바카라사이트matics was up by 12.6 per cent.

Generally, 바카라사이트 STEM gains were seen for both male and female students, so gender gaps that remain in some STEM fields weren¡¯t significantly changed.

The paper notes that disciplines such as biology and ma바카라사이트matics, while STEM fields, are located in arts and sciences at many institutions, so that a ¡°STEM vs. liberal arts¡± comparison doesn¡¯t make sense.

But 바카라사이트 fields showing declines during this period were not traditional liberal arts fields, but applied fields. The paper notes that business and education saw declines of 5.9 per cent, suggesting that 바카라사이트y ¨C more than 바카라사이트 liberal arts - are losing new undergraduates.

Professor Jacobs said in an interview that those concerned about STEM education shouldn¡¯t pursue that goal at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 humanities. He said that 바카라사이트 critical thinking skills associated with 바카라사이트 humanities are needed by all kinds of students. Those who want more STEM students should focus on attracting more female students, some of whom may not feel encouraged in 바카라사이트 area, ra바카라사이트r than offering ¡°criticism of 바카라사이트 humanities¡±, as a number of politicians have done lately.

He said he was pleased to find that 바카라사이트 increase in STEM enrolments was coming from professional programmes, ra바카라사이트r than liberal arts programs.