Examining the Experiences of Female HASS Major Students in STEM General Education Courses
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| Title: | Examining the Experiences of Female HASS Major Students in STEM General Education Courses |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Roshini Ramachandran (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of College Science Teaching. 2025 54(2):146-156. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 11 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Females, Womens Education, Majors (Students), STEM Education, Humanities, Art, Social Sciences, Nonmajors, Student Attitudes, Self Esteem, Student Interests, First Generation College Students, Minority Group Students, Student Experience, Student Diversity |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0047231X.2024.2399831 |
| ISSN: | 0047-231X 1943-4898 |
| Abstract: | We explore the experiences of female humanities, arts, social science (HASS) majors taking STEM general education (GE) courses at a large, public university. Using pre- and post-course surveys, we examined how science GE courses designed for non-STEM majors impacted their attitudes toward science on nine measures, with a focus on their confidence and interest. Questions also addressed whether or not the courses met their learning objectives, and open-ended prompts provided the opportunity for participants to explain their responses. While examining the female students, we dove deeper into the learning experiences of underrepresented minority (URM) and first-generation female student subgroups. Through our analyses, we explain student-identified classroom practices that created a positive learning experience in terms of both their (1) ability to achieve course learning outcomes and (2) improving attitudes toward science, specifically in terms of interest, confidence, and the importance of understanding science. We offer data-driven suggestions to keep female students of diverse backgrounds engaged with science and reduce the achievement gap. Since this work describes a large cohort of twenty-four courses, we are able to generate a robust list of inclusive best practices for developing more equitable educational environments. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1470534 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | We explore the experiences of female humanities, arts, social science (HASS) majors taking STEM general education (GE) courses at a large, public university. Using pre- and post-course surveys, we examined how science GE courses designed for non-STEM majors impacted their attitudes toward science on nine measures, with a focus on their confidence and interest. Questions also addressed whether or not the courses met their learning objectives, and open-ended prompts provided the opportunity for participants to explain their responses. While examining the female students, we dove deeper into the learning experiences of underrepresented minority (URM) and first-generation female student subgroups. Through our analyses, we explain student-identified classroom practices that created a positive learning experience in terms of both their (1) ability to achieve course learning outcomes and (2) improving attitudes toward science, specifically in terms of interest, confidence, and the importance of understanding science. We offer data-driven suggestions to keep female students of diverse backgrounds engaged with science and reduce the achievement gap. Since this work describes a large cohort of twenty-four courses, we are able to generate a robust list of inclusive best practices for developing more equitable educational environments. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0047-231X 1943-4898 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/0047231X.2024.2399831 |
