Impact of participation in experiential education curricula on career achievement

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of experiential education on particular aspects of associate degree graduates\u27 careers as well as their resulting level of personal satisfaction. It compares data from experiential education graduates to graduates who have not participated in experiential education to determine if there is value in taking an experiential education curriculum. Three hundred seven (307) surveys were returned, giving a seventeen percent (17%) return rate. Statistics were used to determine the degree of significance and thus the usefulness of this study to post secondary institutions, students, graduates, and employers. This study tested the following null hypotheses: 1. There is no statistically significant difference between experiential education graduates and non-experiential education graduates regarding levels at which they are hired into organizations. 2. There is no statistically significant difference in starting salaries between experiential education graduates and non-experiential education graduates. 3. There is no statistically significant difference between experiential education graduates and non-experiential education graduates regarding satisfaction with their career progress. 4. There is no statistically significant difference between experiential education graduates and non-experiential education graduates regarding their perception of their own successfulness in their careers. 5. There is no statistically significant difference between experiential education graduates and non-experiential education graduates regarding the number of promotions they receive. This study found that experiential education had an effect on the levels at which experiential education graduates were hired into their first and second jobs after graduation; that experiential education graduates were more satisfied with their career progress; they perceived themselves to be more successful and more of them were hired into positions related to their majors. The data was inconclusive, however, because it does not strongly demonstrate the impact of experiential education on the career successes of business and technical associate degree graduates. Since their salaries were not higher than the non participants and they did not receive more promotions, it is questionable whether students would choose to take this curriculum