Gender and Racial Differences in Awareness and Consideration of Curricular Programs: Exploring a Multistage Model of Major Choice

Abstract

One method for reducing gender and racial segregation in career fields is addressing sorting by major in college. However, previous research has not examined the full process of major sorting; few studies have explicitly explored the majors of which students are aware or the majors that students consider choosing. In this study, we use survey data from community college students to examine differences in the size and composition of awareness and consideration sets of groups of students. We find significant differences in the size of awareness sets and the composition of consideration sets in our sample. Applying the methodological advances from this study could help college administrators identify key opportunities, in timing or methodology, for supporting and guiding students’ decisions.