This 1977 study was conducted to determine the relative importance of selected variables on choice of major in home economics which distinguished black women attending southern 1890 land-grant universities from white women attending southern 1862 land-grant institutions. A 15% random sample of women with home economic majors was selected to respond to questionnaires which identified factors of social origin and family background, significant persons who influenced their choice of college major, and previous curriculum-related educational and work experiences. Eight social origin variables were examined, with parents' income, fathers' occupation, and fathers' political preference emerging as the most important discriminating variables. Of 17 choices related to significant others, family members, home economics deans and teachers, and college friends had the greatest influence on choice of a major in home economics. Analysis of variables from five choices of curriculum-related experiences indicated that prior high school courses and FHA participation were the best discriminating factors between the groups. A combined discriminate analysis disclosed that social origin variables were the most important set of factors separating the two study populations, and revealed that black students came from significantly lower socio-economic origins than their white peers. (JD)