2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

In today’s technology-driven society, there is an increasing demand for individuals who possess both computer science (CS) knowledge and expertise in non-CS domains to fill interdisciplinary computing roles. Additionally, despite decades of research, the computing field continues to show persistently low representation of women. This paper is part of a larger project aimed at understanding why women choose to disengage from computing. The specific purpose of this paper, however, is to explore why men choose to disengage from the field, in order to highlight gender-based differences to inform the broader project.

This qualitative study investigates why high-performing men in introductory computer science courses, who are not majoring in CS, decide not to pursue a CS minor. Focusing on this group serves two primary goals. First, it offers new insights into how the computing field might better engage students from non-CS disciplines, thereby broadening both the size and diversity of the computing workforce. Second, by examining men’s experiences alongside prior research on women’s disengagement, the study provides a clearer picture of whether barriers to engagement are gender-specific or reflect broader challenges faced by all students. This perspective also provides insight into an understudied population within the computing field.

Guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, the study adopted a systems approach to inform the interview protocol. Interviews were conducted with six men and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results indicate that participants chose not to pursue a CS minor due to frustration with their course experiences, a perceived lack of value in joining the CS community, and the belief that they could learn computing skills independently while pursuing stronger interests in other fields.