Determining the Effects of Computer Science Education at the Secondary Level on STEM Major Choices in Postsecondary Institutions in the United States

  1. Students who took more units in computer science courses were significantly more likely to choose STEM majors in both 4-year and 2-year post-secondary institutions.
  2. Regardless of the type of post-secondary institutions that students attended, taking more units in computer science courses played a significant role in choosing STEM majors.
  3. The effects of computer science education on student STEM major selection were equally as strong as the effects of math and science education.
  4. Taking more units in computer science courses significantly predicted students’ enrollment in 4-year post-secondary institutions rather than enrollment in 2-year post-secondary institutions among STEM students after controlling for selected student demographic variables.
  5. A one-unit increase in taking computer science courses decreased the odds of choosing non-STEM majors in 4-year post-secondary institutions rather than STEM majors in 2-year post-secondary institutions.
  6. No significant relationship emerged between the number of computer science credits that students took during their high school years and student enrollment in 4-year compared to 2-year post-secondary institutions among students who declared non-STEM majors.
  7. The results suggest that promoting the quality of computer science education is just as important in motivating students to pursue STEM education and career choices at the secondary level as are math and science education.