Chapter: 2 Science & Engineering Indicators 93

Planned Majors by Sex and Race/Ethnicity

For the last 20 years, about 30 percent of all freshmen in 4-year colleges and universities have said that they intend to major in science and engineering. Additionally, freshmen of every race/ethnicity have high aspirations for majoring in science and engineering: In 1992, about 44 percent of Asian, 35 percent of black and Hispanic, and 30 percent of white and Native American freshmen intended to major in science and engineering. (See appendix table 2-11.)

Choice of major within S& E fields differs by sex and race/ethnicity. Data on freshmen intentions for the last 20 years show that, regardless of race/ethnicity, all females--except Asians intend a major in the social sciences more than in any other science field; (Click here for footnote 15.) males of all races intend to study engineering above all other S& E fields. Minority females intend to major in the natural sciences and engineering more than do white females. Between 1971 and 1991, underrepresented minorities (Click here for footnote 16.) have shown an increasing interest in S& E majors. (See figure 2-9.)

Despite high levels of freshmen intentions for an S& E major, in actuality, the percentage of students majoring in natural science, mathematics, and engineering fields declines from 27 to 17 percent between freshman and senior years (Astin, Astin, and Dey 1992). (Click here for footnote 17.) Women and minorities experience even higher rates of attrition.

Footnote 15:

Asian females intend to study the natural sciences more than any other S& E field.

Footnote 16:

Underrepresented minorities in S& E include blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans.

Footnote 17:

Compare the freshman intentions data in appendix table 2-11 with the earned degree data in appendix tables 2-19, 2-20 , and 2-21.

ContentsSearchContinue