FROM ROOTS TO STAR TREK: A CASE STUDY ON SUCCESSFUL PERSISTENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ENGINEERING MAJORS

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McGee, M. (2018). FROM ROOTS TO STAR TREK: A CASE STUDY ON SUCCESSFUL PERSISTENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ENGINEERING MAJORS. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

The United States is competing on a global level for jobs in the STEM fields but retention and graduation rates in the engineering disciplines are lower than desired. African American males make up 5 % of the population of American colleges and universities (Strayhorn, 2010) and many of those pursuing an engineering degree often are not academically prepared for a career in engineering. There are African American males who have successfully persisted in engineering; however, limited research is provided about the success of these African American males and their experiences in engineering programs. The purpose of this study was to understand factors that impact successful persistence of African American male engineering majors at a predominantly White institution. Critical Race Theory was used as a framework to gain a broader scope of the underlying themes interwoven into the fabric of American society and a better understanding of the perceptions about African American male engineering majors. A qualitative case study was conducted to understand real-world phenomena through the experiences of successful African American male engineering majors. Using constant comparative analysis technique, two major themes were identified: Overcoming challenges and social identity. Early academic experiences, developing a positive identity, and a connection to others experiencing similar challenges were found to contribute to successful persistence.

Details
Author

McGee, Marquis

Title

FROM ROOTS TO STAR TREK: A CASE STUDY ON SUCCESSFUL PERSISTENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ENGINEERING MAJORS

Physical Description

1 online resource (107 pages) : PDF

Date

2018

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

The United States is competing on a global level for jobs in the STEM fields but retention and graduation rates in the engineering disciplines are lower than desired. African American males make up 5 % of the population of American colleges and universities (Strayhorn, 2010) and many of those pursuing an engineering degree often are not academically prepared for a career in engineering. There are African American males who have successfully persisted in engineering; however, limited research is provided about the success of these African American males and their experiences in engineering programs. The purpose of this study was to understand factors that impact successful persistence of African American male engineering majors at a predominantly White institution. Critical Race Theory was used as a framework to gain a broader scope of the underlying themes interwoven into the fabric of American society and a better understanding of the perceptions about African American male engineering majors. A qualitative case study was conducted to understand real-world phenomena through the experiences of successful African American male engineering majors. Using constant comparative analysis technique, two major themes were identified: Overcoming challenges and social identity. Early academic experiences, developing a positive identity, and a connection to others experiencing similar challenges were found to contribute to successful persistence.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Engineering
Education, Higher
African Americans--Study and teaching
Ethnicity--Study and teaching

Degree

D.Ed.

Keywords

African American Males
Black Males
Identity
Persistence
Retention

Subject Area

Educational Leadership

Advisor(s)

Merriweather, Lisa

Committee Members

Abrams, Lyndon
Miller, Ryan
Tempest, Brett

Degree Note

Thesis (D.Ed.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2018.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

McGee_uncc_0694D_11815

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1387