UNDERSTANDING STEM MAJORS’ INTENT TO STUDY ABROAD

Authors

Elizabeth Niehaus, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Karen Kurotsuchi Inkelas, University of Virginia

Date of this Version

2016

Citation

College Student Affairs Journal, Volume 34 (1), pp. 70-84

Comments

Copyright 2016 Southern Association for College Student Affairs

Abstract

According to the Institute for International Education (IIE, 2013a), study abroad participation in the United States had almost doubled over the past decade, but still only a small fraction of U.S. college students study abroad. Students in certain academic majors, particularly those majoring in STEM fields, often face specific barriers to studying abroad (Desoff, 2006; IIE, 2014b, Wainwright et al., 2009). This study sought to unpack the role of college environments in promoting or inhibiting study abroad participation by examining the interplay of academic major, gender, and class standing as predictors of student’s intent to study abroad.