Navigating the Economics Major: The Effect of Gender on Students’ Degree Pathways

Does Advanced Placement Economics Exam Participation and Performance Predict Undergraduate Economics Major Completion?

“…In addition, a student who completes both AP Economics exams may have a strong likelihood of entering college as an economics major. Consistent with prior results, matriculation as an economics major is a significant and positive predictor of graduating with a bachelor’s degree in economics, suggesting that students with prior interest in economics are likely to persist through the economics major (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019a, 2019b). Although students may acquire an interest in economics before completion of an economics course, positive experiences in economics courses, especially ones taken at the AP level, may encourage students to pursue an economics major in college.…”

“…As a result, they may be more likely to enter university as an economics major and earn a bachelor’s degree in economics. Research indicates students who matriculate with a major in economics have a significantly greater probability of graduating with an economics degree than their peers who enter the university as non-economics majors (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019b; Emerson & McGoldrick, 2019). Exposure to economics coursework prior to college may also significantly improve students’ undergraduate principles of economics course performance (Ashworth & Evans, 2001; Melican et al, 1997).…”

“…Exposure to economics coursework prior to college may also significantly improve students’ undergraduate principles of economics course performance (Ashworth & Evans, 2001; Melican et al, 1997). Furthermore, students who earn higher grades in their introductory economics courses may be more likely to persist in taking additional economics courses and graduating with an economics degree (Ahlstrom and Asarta, 2019a, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). Consequently, a student’s high school economics course experiences may affect their economics major selection through a variety of mechanisms.…”

“…Students’ performance on the math and verbal SATs may also affect their selection of an economics degree (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019a; Ashworth & Evans, 2001; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). A small proportion of students matriculate into universities as economics majors, and students’ experiences and achievement in their introductory undergraduate economics courses may have significant effects on the selection of an economics major (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). For instance, student performance in principles of economics courses is positively correlated with taking subsequent economics courses and earning an economics degree (Ahlstrom and Asarta, 2019a, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008).…”

“…A small proportion of students matriculate into universities as economics majors, and students’ experiences and achievement in their introductory undergraduate economics courses may have significant effects on the selection of an economics major (Ahlstrom & Asarta, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). For instance, student performance in principles of economics courses is positively correlated with taking subsequent economics courses and earning an economics degree (Ahlstrom and Asarta, 2019a, 2019b; Emerson et al, 2012; Rask & Tiefenthaler, 2008). A large number of students also switch into an economics major after successful completion of an introductory economics course (Emerson & McGoldrick, 2019; Fournier & Sass, 2000; Mumford & Ohland, 2011).…”