Factors Influencing Decision to Shift from Non-stem to Stem-related College Programs among Students in a Catholic University

Abstract

In the Philippines, the additional two years in Senior High School allow the student to select a specialization depending on ability, interests, and academic capabilities that prepare them for their chosen course in college. However, statistics show that more students shift from their chosen strand in Senior High School when they pursue their undergraduate education. Quantitative research design utilizing the descriptive and comparative approaches determined the degree of influence of factors on non-STEM students shifting to STEM-related courses and identified if there exists a difference when grouped according to demographics. Using snowball sampling, 214 college students from STEM-related college programs who are shiftees from the non-STEM strand in Senior High School were selected as participants. Utilizing mean and standard deviation, results showed that work opportunities is the most dominant influencing factor in the shift of non-STEM students to STEM-related college programs. Further, utilizing the Mann-Whitney U test, the result showed a significant difference in the degree of influence of factors to shifting career choice in terms of school factor when grouped according to sex. Using the Kruskal-Wallis H Test, the result showed no significant difference in the degree of influence of factors to shifting career choice when grouped according to strand in Senior High School. A career awareness seminar in collaboration with the guidance was developed based on the findings of the study.