Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Grit And Female Graduates’ Experiences In Engineering And Computer Science Programs, Jennifer Ilene Watson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Institutions have implemented recruitment and retention initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree programs; however, gender disparity of women in engineering and computer science programs persists. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of female graduates from engineering and computer science programs. The conceptual framework was the theory of grit to explore how female students sustained their passion and perseverance through obstacles and adverse situations. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews with 17 female participants who graduated from engineering and computer science programs in the United States. Data were analyzed through a …