Gender Differences in STEM Courses at KSU

Women are less likely to enter STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, and they are less likely to feel like they belong than their male counterparts (Simon, Wagner, & Killion, 2017). This study seeks to identify the presence or absence of such issues at Kennesaw State University, as well as their primary causes and impact. We will approach the issue by asking about both the individuals’ experiences as well as what they perceive the gender gap in different fields to be. We want to see in which STEM fields the discrepancies between genders is the greatest. This study focuses on courses taken by the participant; we want to see how factors within the classroom affect women’s likelihood to enjoy and enter a STEM field. The data will be gathered by surveying students from STEM student organizations and Introduction to Psychology classes. Both STEM and non-STEM majors will be able to take the survey for the sake of comparison. The responses to the survey will be compared with preexisting institutional data on gender ratios in STEM departments. The conclusions drawn from this project will help the university better understand its student body and its current handling of gender issues. No matter the results, we will gain insight into what causes women to pursue or not to pursue a STEM career and what can be done about it