2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The choice of academic major is a critical juncture in a student's academic and professional journey. Unfortunately, this decision is often plagued by uncertainty and indecision, leading to a higher attrition rate among students who think they have made a definite choice. [1]
Selecting an academic major is a complex process that is influenced by various factors such as personal interests, family and peer pressure, and access to reliable information. The information available to students can be outdated, unreliable, or inaccessible to underrepresented groups, leading to ill-informed decisions. To address these challenges, we must understand engineering students' information-seeking behaviors when making their major selection.

This research paper aims to delve into the academic major selection process among engineering students at two Midwest universities. In Fall of 2022, an online survey was distributed to nearly 2,000 students who were part of an introductory engineering orientation program across two midwest universities [3]. To build upon and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges students face in selecting a major, we conducted in-depth interviews with a diverse range of students who participated in the survey.
Ten undergraduate students enrolled in various engineering programs were interviewed. The participants were selected using purposive sampling criteria, including their race, major, and gender. There were 3 male and 7 female participants. All participants gave their informed consent to participate in the study.

The qualitative data obtained through the interviews was analyzed using thematic analysis [4]. Thematic analysis involved identifying patterns and themes in the data and coding them into sub-themes. Additionally, a survey was conducted to collect quantitative data, which was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics, including correlation and regression analysis.
Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed five major themes that influence undergraduate students' decision-making process when choosing an engineering major. Five themes that emerged are Personal Interest and Passions, Family and Peer Influence, Career Prospects and Financial Considerations, Pre-university Experiences, and Access to Resources and Information.

The results of this study provide valuable insights into the factors that influence undergraduate students when choosing an engineering major.