Solving some of the greatest problems facing humanity -- pandemics, climate change, access to clean water - will depend on a diverse STEM workforce creating socially just solutions. Thus, there is a need to broaden participation in STEM to bring diverse perspectives to bear on these complex problems. Broadening STEM participation relies on…

Three-quarters of students enter college without a clear major or career plan. In efforts to make academic and career decisions that will lead to their success, half of students seek out assistance from their career services office before graduating, most often completing a career assessment. Results from these often-imperfect assessments are a…

The number of individuals entering the workforce with an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers is low across the United States. Although exposure to STEM careers through the intentional integration of career exploration can positively influence career choice, most student exposure to STEM career exploration…

Major declaration is a significant task for a college student, and the major selected typically indicates a student's intentions for pursuing a related career. However, few research studies have examined the impact of the timing of a student's major declaration in relation to their hopes for their future career. The purpose of this study was to…

Academic choice and exploration are essential aspects of undergraduate education in the United States, allowing students to select courses with minimal restrictions. However, students often face challenges in navigating the complex academic landscape, hindered by limited information, insufficient guidance, and an overwhelming number of choices.…

One way to engage in career exploration and gain expertise in a specific field is through a college education. Some studies have sought to discuss the external factors that play a role in a student's career decision making prior to and after entering college, but none of these studies discuss the role a social movement plays in a college student's…

In this mixed methods phenomenology rooted in Social Cognitive Theory, a school district in Maryland is examined from an outsider's perspective to determine the degree to which structured post-secondary planning interventions by the district were successful in cultivating career decision resilience in its former students who were in their early…

Males comprise less than 2% of the early childhood classroom teacher population. This research explored the experiences of male teachers from career exploration to classroom teaching. The purpose of the study included discovery of the influences motivating choice to teach in the early childhood education field. Five male teachers who have taught,…

Problem-based career exploration allows people to frame their interests and exploration around a problem they would like to address instead of focusing on a specific job which may or may not exist as the employment landscape changes in the United States and globally. Oral health extends beyond clinical general dentistry, and showcasing our work…

As emerging adults transition to adulthood, a significant struggle is how to find meaningful work. Emerging adults' career decisions influence both their personal well-being and the greater occupational landscape, and those who can articulate a purpose for their career are better positioned to navigate the changing world of work. A concept that…

The California Community College System is an entry point for the majority of first-generation college students. This case study of a community college in Southern California examined the experiences and motivations of both Latinx students in their major/career decision-making process and the community college counseling faculty who serve, educate…

This is a case study of a group of students enrolled in traditional skilled trade certificate programs at a large Midwestern community college. Considering severe shortage of skilled labor in the geographic area of the college, there is great need for better understanding of ways to alleviate the labor shortage by attracting more young adults to…

Today, community college students are tasked with making high-stakes decisions about their major and career paths in a very complex and confusing decision-making environment, often without adequate labor market knowledge and career guidance which can have a direct impact on their future earnings, employment, and mental health (Baker, Bettinger,…

This phenomenological study explored Black male law enforcement officers' perspectives of how racial profiling shaped their decisions to explore and commit to a law enforcement career. Criterion and snow ball sampling was used to obtain the 17 participants for this study. Super's (1990) archway model was used as the theoretical…

The impact of first-generation status and family cohesion on the career thoughts of college students was investigated. While prior research had examined the differences between first-generation and non-first-generation college students, few studies have focused on the career decision-making of first-generation college students. No research to date…