PARENT SESSION
Poster Session 16: Ecology Education
Tuesday, August 9, 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM, Exhibit Hall 220 A-E, Level 2, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Why do Hampton University biology majors prefer medicine to ecology?
Abraham, Barbara1, Brackery, Aprielle *,1, Womack, Ashley*,1, 1 Hampton University, Hampton, VA, USA
ABSTRACT- There is a perception that biology majors at Hampton University (HU), an historically black institution, are almost all interested in medicine, while few seek environmental courses or careers. This study seeks to quantify the proportion of HU biology majors seeking health professional degrees and careers and to explain the reasons for the perceived disparity. The study uses two approaches to these goals: an anonymous survey administered to students in freshman, sophomore, junior and senior biology courses during the 2004 spring semester and a literature search and student testimonials. Evidence suggests that high school guidance counselors, math anxiety (HU has a disproportionate number of female biology majors), and role models are among the important factors for minority students deciding on a career. Although this is a limited study, we predict that a more extensive survey of other minority institutions would yield similar results. Our data suggest that the listed factors must be addressed if there are to be more African American ecologists in the 21st century than there were in the last.
Key words: career choice, minority, historically black institution, survey