Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering

ISSN for PRINT: 1072-8325

For Online Access

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2008, Volume14

Issue 1

117 pages

DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.v14.i1

Issue price - $63.00

Jorja Kimball
Texas Engineering Experiment Station

Bryan Cole
Texas A&M University

Margaret Hobson
Texas Engineering Experiment Station

Karan Watson
Texas A&M University

Christine Stanley
Texas A&M University

This paper reports findings on gender that were part of a larger study reviewing time to completion of course work that includes the first two semesters of calculus, chemistry, and physics, which are often considered the stumbling points or "barrier courses" to an engineering baccalaureate degree. Texas A&M University terms these courses core body of knowledge (CBK), and statistical analysis was conducted on two cohorts of first-year enrolling engineering students at the institution. Findings indicate that gender is statistically significantly related to completion of CBK with female engineering students completing required courses faster than males at the .01 level (p = 0.008). Statistical significance for gender and ethnicity was found between white male and white female students at the .01 level (p = 0.008). Descriptive analysis indicated that of the five majors studied (chemical, civil, computer, electrical, and mechanical engineering), women completed CBK faster than men, and African American and Hispanic women completed CBK faster than males of the same ethnicity.

DOI: 10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.v14.i1.40 Download article, 67-81 pages

Article price - $35.00

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