Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 30 of 307

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

The Persistence Of African American Doctoral Students And Graduates From Or In Stem Programs: A Transcendental Phenomenology Study, Tanisha Johnson Smith Jun 2024

The Persistence Of African American Doctoral Students And Graduates From Or In Stem Programs: A Transcendental Phenomenology Study, Tanisha Johnson Smith

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the persistence efforts for African American doctoral science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students or graduates. The theory guiding this study is Tinto's theory of student departure with a focus on the model of student persistence as it lays the foundation for how students persist to degree completion. The following questions guided this study: What lived experiences have helped African American current doctoral students or graduates persist in a STEM program? What challenges have African American graduate or current doctoral students experienced while completing a STEM degree program? What strategies …


A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Secondary Teachers And Teacher Retention In Low-Income Schools, Kaila Morris Segres Jun 2024

A Phenomenological Study On The Experiences Of Secondary Teachers And Teacher Retention In Low-Income Schools, Kaila Morris Segres

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study aimed to understand retention for secondary teachers at high-needs schools. Drawing upon Bandura's cognitive theory, this study examined how self-efficacy and motivation are crucial to secondary teacher retention. Through in-depth interviews with teachers, the research aimed to understand their perspectives and experiences regarding the factors influencing their decision to stay or leave. The study took place at Black River High School. It consisted of purposive sampling, which is a concise approach to generating suitable and practical information from specific kinds of people with minimal resources. The findings shed light on the dynamics between organizational and …


Perceived Influence Of Artificial Intelligence On Educational Leadership's Decision-Making, Teaching, And Learning Outcomes: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Mousa Fayiz Abduljaber Jun 2024

Perceived Influence Of Artificial Intelligence On Educational Leadership's Decision-Making, Teaching, And Learning Outcomes: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Mousa Fayiz Abduljaber

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand and describe the perceived influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on educational leadership's decision-making, teaching, and learning outcomes as revealed by educational leaders at a group of secondary public schools in the Middle East. The theory guiding this study was the distributed cognition theory, as it shows the dynamics of human cognition and AI cognition, making it possible to understand the perceived influence of AI. As the study reflected on AI’s past, present and, future, the central question that focused on this study is: How do educational leaders perceive the influence …


Weathering The Storm: A Phenomenological Study Of K-12 Special Educator Resilience And Retention, Kimberly M. Wisinski May 2024

Weathering The Storm: A Phenomenological Study Of K-12 Special Educator Resilience And Retention, Kimberly M. Wisinski

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the lived experiences of K-12 special education teachers (N = 16) from large, suburban districts in Illinois who have persisted in their positions beyond four years. Understanding factors that contribute to the longevity of special education teachers is not only vital for enhancing the educational landscape for students with disabilities but also for informing district-level strategies aimed at fostering teacher retention. This study was guided by Bronfenbrenner's Process-Person-Context-Time (PPCT) bioecological systems theory, which provided a framework for exploring the various systems that influence special education teacher retention. To achieve triangulation …


A Correlational Study Of Culturally Responsive Christian School Leadership And Its Impact On Culturally Marginalized Students, Denecia B. Anderson May 2024

A Correlational Study Of Culturally Responsive Christian School Leadership And Its Impact On Culturally Marginalized Students, Denecia B. Anderson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2022), the Private School Universe Survey (PSS) was given and disclosed that 4.7 million students were served in private elementary and secondary schools in the fall of 2019. Approximately twenty-five percent of private schools in the United States of America are considered conservative Christian schools (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022). Within the conservative Christian schools, 0.7% of the students were American Indian, 5.3% were Asian, 68.6% were white, 11.2% were Black, 9.2% were Hispanic, 0.8% were Pacific Islander, and 4.3% were two or more races. Diversity in conservative Christian schools is …


Pressured To Conform: The Qualitative Paradigm In Counselor Education And Supervision, Bridger Dale Falkenstien May 2024

Pressured To Conform: The Qualitative Paradigm In Counselor Education And Supervision, Bridger Dale Falkenstien

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Using Charmaz’s (2014) grounded theory (GT) and Clarke’s (2003; 2005; Clarke et al., 2018) situational analysis (SA), this study explores the experience of counselor educators and their pressure to conform throughout their professional identity development process. As counselor educators, these individuals are thought and practice leaders in the field of professional counseling, training up future counselors and advancing the field in scholarship and advocacy as a social science (Aubrey, 1980; Hansen et al., 2014). As a social science, the integrity and investigative power of counseling are tethered to empirical discovery through quantitative and qualitative methods and philosophy – while inherently …


Multiple Perspectives Examining How A High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (Jrotc) Program Affects Student Development: A Case Study, Kurt Duane Barry May 2024

Multiple Perspectives Examining How A High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (Jrotc) Program Affects Student Development: A Case Study, Kurt Duane Barry

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine how a high school’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program affects student development of their personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment by fusing the perspectives of the school administrators, JROTC instructors, and school guidance counselors for a more holistic view. The theories guiding this study are Abraham Maslow’s theory of motivation and Albert Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy, which relate to secondary student development for cadets in the JROTC program. The central research question focused on the benefits of a school’s JROTC program to the cadets enrolled. The research setting …


Representation Matters: The Importance Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Students Identifying With Academic Advisors, Temeshia N. Lemons May 2024

Representation Matters: The Importance Of Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color (Bipoc) Students Identifying With Academic Advisors, Temeshia N. Lemons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the underdeveloped identifiable relationships with assigned academic advisors for students who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) at a public higher education institution. The theory guiding this study was the relational cultural theory (RCT), as it assisted with understanding the importance of BIPOC students developing identifiable relationships with assigned academic advisors. This study's central research question asked, "What are the experiences of BIPOC students building positive relationships with assigned academic advisors?" A qualitative research design was chosen for this study to explore further the experiences shared among …


Virtual Coaching, Self-Directed Learning, And The Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices: A Single Qualitative Case Study, Elisabeth Myers May 2024

Virtual Coaching, Self-Directed Learning, And The Implementation Of Evidence-Based Practices: A Single Qualitative Case Study, Elisabeth Myers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this single instrumental case study was to understand how a virtual coaching program provides opportunities for self-directed learning during the implementation of evidence-based practices for adults at Navigator Coaching. The theory guiding this study was Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory as conceptualizations of self-directed learning described in the literature mirror descriptions of self-determination. The central research question was: How does a virtual coaching program provide opportunities for self-directed learning during the implementation of evidence-based practices? As a single instrumental case, the setting for this study was one virtual life-coaching program in North America. The sample of participants …


A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study On Teachers' Perspectives On Experiencing Burnout In Title I Rural Appalachian Schools Grades 4–9, Kara J. Howard

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe and explore the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9 in southern Ohio. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Maslach’s burnout theory. The central research question was “What are the burnout experiences of teachers in Title I rural Appalachian schools Grades 4–9?” Convenience sampling was employed to select the 12 participants, all of whom are teachers teaching in Grades 4–9 within Sunshine County, a rural Appalachia-based school qualifying as a Title I institution in southern Ohio. The data presented in this study were collected …


A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl Apr 2024

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Lived Experiences Of Middle School Students Who Have Demonstrated Challenges In Math And Their Expectations To Improve Their Performance, Steven Duane Fencl

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of middle school students who have challenges in math and their expectations of opportunities provided to improve their performance at a middle school in the Spring Valley School District. The theory that guided this study was Vroom’s expectancy theory, which argues that the tendency of a person to act in a certain way depends on what the person expects to happen, that it will be favorable to the person, and that the person feels the result will provide a potential gain. The central research question was, “How do …


The Relationship Between Leadership Styles Of A Principal And African-American Student Achievement In Elementary Reading, Joel James Abe Apr 2024

The Relationship Between Leadership Styles Of A Principal And African-American Student Achievement In Elementary Reading, Joel James Abe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between the self-assessed leadership style of a building principal and the achievement of elementary African-American students on a state level reading assessment. The results of this study could have an impact on principal training and preparation, impacting decisions made by central office personnel, as well as improving the performance of the identified group of students in reading. The relationship between a principal’s self-assessed style of leadership and the combined pass rate of third through fifth grade African-American students in their school on the end-of-year state assessments. Principal leadership …


Teacher Motivation And Student Behavioral Defiance: A Phenomenological Study, Gwendolyn Robinson Apr 2024

Teacher Motivation And Student Behavioral Defiance: A Phenomenological Study, Gwendolyn Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the influence of student behavioral defiance on elementary educators in Virginia. The research question was, “What are the lived experiences of elementary educators in Hampton Roads, Virginia, having experienced student behavioral defiance?” Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided this study. It analyzed subjective changes affecting teachers and their motivation by applying four significant sources of self-efficacy: performance accomplishments, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and physiological states. The primary source of data collection methods included semi-structured interviews with 10 participants, in addition to a focus group and journal prompt. Transcendental phenomenology aided in analyzing semi-structured …


First-Generation Doctoral Students, Impostorism, And Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Sullivan Pore Apr 2024

First-Generation Doctoral Students, Impostorism, And Belonging: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Karen Sullivan Pore

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of first-generation doctoral students as they relate to their feelings of belonging, impostorism, and otherness. The study was guided by use of Tajfel social identity theory which provided insight to how an individual evaluates their identity within their environment and groups. The research design used was qualitative and the approach was transcendental phenomenological. The qualitative design allowed the first-generation doctoral students to share their experiences and behaviors during their doctoral journey. The participants were 10 self-identified as first-generation doctoral students who experienced impostor feelings during their doctoral journey. The data …


Addressing Professional Training And Teacher Retention At Urban Public Schools In Southeast Texas, Elaine Rene' Pangle Apr 2024

Addressing Professional Training And Teacher Retention At Urban Public Schools In Southeast Texas, Elaine Rene' Pangle

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Nationally, teacher shortages reached all-time highs, leaving schools needing qualified teachers where vacancies were made by teachers leaving the profession, particularly during the post-COVID-19 era. Although a growing national problem, specifically, the area of Southeast Texas remains particularly affected by this mass exodus. The purpose of this applied study was to solve the teacher retention problem for urban public schools in Southeast Texas and to design educator training and intervention methods to address the issue. The theory guiding this study was human capital theory, as it addresses education and how it could foster social change and be the primary tool …


A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Parents' Motivational Influence Behind Their Children's Screen Time Usage, Eric J. Phillips Apr 2024

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Parents' Motivational Influence Behind Their Children's Screen Time Usage, Eric J. Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental qualitative phenomenological study explores the lived experience of parents in managing their children's screen time on mobile devices. The study used 10 parents between 25 and 40 years of age of children ages one to five who attend a public school district and regularly use smartphones and related mobile technological devices. The study describes the essence of children's screen time on digital devices, such as smartphones and tablets, by examining the experiences of a specific group of parents. Parents have experienced conflicts in managing their children's screen time usage for as long as screens exist. …


Mentorship Experiences Of College Level Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca M. Arsenault Apr 2024

Mentorship Experiences Of College Level Educators: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca M. Arsenault

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the impact that mentorship had on the retention of ten participating educators working at various post-secondary educational institutions. The theory guiding this study was Dansereau’s leader-member theory guided as it pertained to the interactions between a dyadic relationship such as the one represented by one-on-one mentorship. The central research question for this study asked about the mentorship experiences of educators in higher education who have been in the field of education for five years or more. This study used transcendental phenomenological to study the essence of the experiences of 10 educators …


Physician Assistant Students' Attitudes Toward Satisfaction And Self-Confidence In Learning Of Summative Standardized Patient Simulations In Relationship To Their Prior Healthcare Experience Hours And The Number Of Formative Assessments: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Juanita W. Skillman Mar 2024

Physician Assistant Students' Attitudes Toward Satisfaction And Self-Confidence In Learning Of Summative Standardized Patient Simulations In Relationship To Their Prior Healthcare Experience Hours And The Number Of Formative Assessments: A Quantitative Predictive Correlational Study, Juanita W. Skillman

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, non-experimental, predictive correlational study aimed to determine if there is a relationship between the criterion variable of physician assistant students' attitudes of satisfaction and self-confidence in learning among the linear combination of the predictor variables of prior healthcare experience hours and the number of formative assessments before the summative assessment. The experiential learning theory guided this study and is valuable to physician assistant programs because the data obtained on students' perceived attitudes is crucial to improving future student simulation experiences in which competencies are measured and compared against outcomes standards set by accreditation bodies. The study included 136 …


Exploring Workplace Relationships And Retention Among Generation Z Teachers: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kimberly Lawhorn Mar 2024

Exploring Workplace Relationships And Retention Among Generation Z Teachers: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Kimberly Lawhorn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe Generation Z (Gen Z) teachers’ experiences with workplace relationships within K-12 schools in the United States and how they affect retention. The theory guiding this study was Donaldson and Dunfee’s theory on integrative social contracts as it relates to relationships in the workplace and retention of teachers born between 1997 and 2012. Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenological approach was used to examine 12 Gen Z teachers’ shared experiences with workplace relationships. Data were collected through individual interviews, journal entries, and a focus group. Data analysis was conducted to answer the question: “What …


The Lived Experiences Of Women In Higher Education Administrator Roles Through The Salary Negotiation Process At The Time Of Hire: A Phenomenological Study, Nancy Kay Hernandez Feb 2024

The Lived Experiences Of Women In Higher Education Administrator Roles Through The Salary Negotiation Process At The Time Of Hire: A Phenomenological Study, Nancy Kay Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of salary negotiation at the time of hire for women in full-time administrator positions at Texas institutions of higher education. Eagly’s social role theory guided this study to explain gender roles and negotiation. A qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach was used to explore the experiences of women in higher education administrator roles during the salary negotiation process. Institutions within the south-central regions of Texas, including public and private colleges and universities, served as the site for this study. Participants were 12 women in full-time administrator positions at …


Resilience Of Teaching Juveniles: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers In Juvenile Corrections Facilities, Jessica D. Bradshaw Feb 2024

Resilience Of Teaching Juveniles: A Phenomenological Study Of Teachers In Juvenile Corrections Facilities, Jessica D. Bradshaw

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to interpret the experience of resilience in teachers in juvenile corrections facilities. The theory guiding this study is the self-determination theory, which Richard Ryan and Edward Deci developed. Self-determination theory is a means to understand human motivation. The methodology to be used is a hermeneutic phenomenological approach using interviews, exhibit scenarios, and a journal reflection prompt from 13 voluntary participants of teachers and former teachers with experience in long-term juvenile corrections facilities from around the United States. Although the education field has challenges in any setting, the challenges specific to working in …


Teaching The Teachers: A Qualitative Case Study Of First Year Schoolteachers, Matthew Thomas Stone Feb 2024

Teaching The Teachers: A Qualitative Case Study Of First Year Schoolteachers, Matthew Thomas Stone

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand the challenging experience of first-year teachers at existing classical charter schools in the United States of America. Maslow's theory of human motivation provided the guiding framework into how early year teachers can be effectively supported in schools to prevent attrition, which can have a negative effect on student achievement. This qualitative design utilized a case study approach from two different classical charter schools in the United States of America and featured interviews, journal entries, and the review of first year physical artifacts from ten teachers who are no further than …


A Phenomenological Study Of Complexity Leadership Interactions Of An International Protestant Convention During Covid-19, Thomas S. Narofsky Feb 2024

A Phenomenological Study Of Complexity Leadership Interactions Of An International Protestant Convention During Covid-19, Thomas S. Narofsky

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study aimed to explore the in-depth perceptions and insightful reflections of 12 International Protestant Convention leadership team members to explore and investigate their lived experiences and leadership decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of Complexity Leadership Theory. The 2020-2023 COVID-19 pandemic changed the world when the emergent fast-paced virus disrupted and overwhelmed societal life, creating pre- and post-COVID bifurcation points that will shape world dynamics and social interactions for years (Warren, 2022; Christianson & Barton, 2021; Harari, 2020; Pierce, 2020). For this research, complexity leadership interactions, social network dynamics, and information flow were studied to discover …


A Phenomenological Multi-Case Study Of Perceptions Of Older Adults’ Loneliness During Covid-19 Within Selected Online Churches, Bethney Wright Sikes Feb 2024

A Phenomenological Multi-Case Study Of Perceptions Of Older Adults’ Loneliness During Covid-19 Within Selected Online Churches, Bethney Wright Sikes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological multi-case study was to understand the perceptions of older adults regarding their feelings of loneliness related to the lockdown during COVID-19 and to discover if online church platforms for the older adult Christian population at Crosspoint Church in Niceville, Florida, Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas, and Community Life Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida, minimized those feelings of loneliness which may have caused mental, physical, and emotional concerns. Isolation from the church body was generally defined as nonattendance via traditional means or online platforms. The theory guiding this study was Lev Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development. …


Differences In Out-Of-School Suspensions Between Black And White High School Students When Controlling For Student Factors, School Factors, And Delinquency, Steven Craig Davidson Jan 2024

Differences In Out-Of-School Suspensions Between Black And White High School Students When Controlling For Student Factors, School Factors, And Delinquency, Steven Craig Davidson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, correlational study aims to determine how accurately out-of-school suspensions can be predicted from a linear combination of student delinquency, in-school delinquency, and prior suspensions for Black and White high school students. Further, a causal-comparative design is used to determine if there is a statically significant difference in out-of-school suspensions between Black and White high school students when controlling for student factors, school factors, and student delinquency factors. The study consists of five guiding theories that inform two general hypotheses. The first hypothesis, referred to as the differential selection hypothesis, is guided by critical race theory (CRT) and implicit …


Increasing The Number Of High School Seniors Meeting The South Carolina "Profile Of A Graduate" Mandate, Cecil Bonner Dec 2023

Increasing The Number Of High School Seniors Meeting The South Carolina "Profile Of A Graduate" Mandate, Cecil Bonner

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This applied study aimed to solve the problem of the inadequate number of high school seniors at Avenger Career Technology Center that meet the requirement of South Carolina's Profile of a Graduate. A multimethod approach was utilized to examine the problem of high school seniors not meeting college and career mandates. Data was collected through interviews with administrators, a focus group of ACTC students, and a quantitative survey from Avenger Career Technology Center teachers. Interviews were conducted with five administrators. A focus group of 10 students was held. Eighteen teachers completed a quantitative survey. Data were analyzed for codes and …


A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Of The Seventh Day Adventist Leadership Role In Spiritual Formation For Ny, Nj, And Pa, Chesnel Gabriel Dec 2023

A Phenomenological Qualitative Study Of The Seventh Day Adventist Leadership Role In Spiritual Formation For Ny, Nj, And Pa, Chesnel Gabriel

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of the qualitative phenomenological research study is to assess and understand the impacts of the church leadership role in the spiritual formation of the Seventh-day Adventist churches in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. At this stage in the study, the local church leadership role in spiritual formation is generally described as a spiritual transformation to encourage spiritual formation in the Seventh-day Adventists (Creswell, 2018). The concepts guiding this study are Spiritual Formation: Benefits of Spiritual Formation Training, Disadvantages of the Existing Training Processes, and Perceived Outcome of Leadership Development (Bush et al., 2020). It sought to show …


A Quantitative Analysis Of Servant-Leadership Characteristics Among Those Called To Serve And Protect, Louden S.B. Suggs Dec 2023

A Quantitative Analysis Of Servant-Leadership Characteristics Among Those Called To Serve And Protect, Louden S.B. Suggs

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if servant-leader characteristics were common among recruits enrolled in basic law enforcement training programs in North Carolina Community Colleges and the relationship between recruit commitment to preserving public safety and public order and the call or natural feeling to serve others. This study explored whether law enforcement recruits inherently possessed servant-leader characteristics defined by Greenleaf and Spears (1998, 2002) and described in Matthew and Mark. One hundred eleven law enforcement recruits, both men and women, from various demographic backgrounds actively enrolled in 22 North Carolina Community College System’s Basic Law …


A Causal Comparative Analysis Of Leveraging The Business Analytical Capabilities And The Value And Competitive Advantages Of Mid-Level Professionals Within Higher Education, Richard L. Monroe Dec 2023

A Causal Comparative Analysis Of Leveraging The Business Analytical Capabilities And The Value And Competitive Advantages Of Mid-Level Professionals Within Higher Education, Richard L. Monroe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study is an empirical examination of the differences in business intelligence capability and the value and competitive advantage of mid-level higher education academia professionals from community colleges, four-year public, and four-year private institutions within the United States. Institutions of higher education have an overabundant amount of student data that is often inaccessible and underutilized. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Management Information Systems/Decision Support Systems theory, using two-way ANOVA analysis, this research examined factors to understand the mastery of readiness for mid-level professionals in higher education institutions …


A Phenomenological Study Of The Linkage Between Chinese Students’ Undergraduate Experiences In The U.S. And Their Career Choices And Planning, Lin Reed Dec 2023

A Phenomenological Study Of The Linkage Between Chinese Students’ Undergraduate Experiences In The U.S. And Their Career Choices And Planning, Lin Reed

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to discover Chinese alumni’s perceived learning and the impacts of their undergraduate studies in the United States on their career goals and preparation. Using Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory and Knowles’ theory of andragogy as a theoretical framework, this study helped answer the central research question: How do Chinese students’ undergraduate experiences in the United States affect their career choices and planning? Sub-questions have further explored the participants’ relationship to academic and social engagement in college. The purposeful sampling included 10 Chinese students who have studied in the United States, received an undergraduate …