THE CHOICE OF A MAJOR OF UNDERGRADUATES: A CASE OF ONE UNIVERSITY

Abstract

Choosing a profession is the most critical decision in the life of every person. This mixed-method case study aimed to investigate the most important factors for undergraduate students when they select their major in the Kazakhstani context. Moreover, the study also aimed at investigating the differences between STEM /non-STEM majors and gender. Factors were related to three broad categories that were identified from the literature review: 1) Awareness of possible career options 2) Sources of information 3) Students' interest in the chosen academic program. Overall, the study consisted of 175 first-year students: sophomore, junior, and senior students enrolled in one particular university that is located in Almaty. The study findings illustrate that Interest in the chosen Academic Major was found to be the most important factor for undergraduates while selecting major (M=4.06; SD=0.935). Next, it was followed by the University's Reputation in the Subject (M= 3.84; SD=1.13) and Potential for Career Advancement (M=3.80; SD=1.20). When tested for significance in differences, Interest in the subject was more important for females than males. However, this study did not reveal any statistically significant differences between STEM and non-STEM majors in the factors determining choice of a field of study.