AN ANALYSIS OF FACTORS INFLUENCING INTRA-MAJOR SPECIALIZATION CHOICE AMONG SECOND-YEAR WOMEN ENGINEERING STUDENTS

Background: While extensive research has analyzed how engineering students select majors, less is known about how students choose to specialize within their majors (i.e., intra-major specialization), which may have implications for student career decisions and outcomes. Further, understanding intra-major specialization may be particularly important for shedding light on the chronic underrepresentation of women in engineering. Purpose: This study sought to understand factors that influence women students’ decisions to specialize within their engineering disciplines early in their undergraduate careers. Design/Method: A comparative case study design included three engineering majors with varying program requirements and representation of women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 39 participants—30 second-year women students and nine faculty/staff. Thematic analysis, informed by social cognitive career theory, was used to identify factors that influence specialization decisions. Results: The analysis identified four main factors influencing intra-major specialization decisions: (1) interests shaped by curricular and extracurricular activities, (2) program structural choice con-straints, (3) perceived fit with post-graduation career plans, and (4) peer influence. Conclusions: In light of the potential impact of intra-major specialization decisions on student career decisions, the factors related to specialization choice identified here should be considered by educators and advisors in developing engineering curricula and program structure. Moreover, future research should explore whether these factors change over time and how they impact career decisions.