Date of Award:

5-1978

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Human Development and Family Studies

Department name when degree awarded

Family and Human Development

Committee Chair(s)

C. Jay Skidmore, Ramona Marotz-Baden

Committee

C. Jay Skidmore

Committee

Ramona Marotz-Baden

Committee

Marie Krueger

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible differences in needs and educational goals of community college students based on their sex, age, and marital status, particularly between older women students and other student groups. Information was gathered from the college application forms of all day students enrolled in any class during the fall of 1976 at Southwestern Community College. The total number was 6,854, 51% were men, with a mean age of 27.9; and 49% were women with a mean age of 25.2. Thirty-one percent were married.

The specific questions under study were:

1. Would there be a difference in the stated need sand educational goals of women students compared to those of men students?

2. Would there be a difference in the stated needs and educational goals of older students compared to those of younger students?

3. Would there be a difference in the stated needs and educational goals of married students compared to those of single students?

The major findings of the study included:

1. Career counseling was requested somewhat more frequently by women Students (40. 7%) than men students (36.2%). When controlled f or marital status and age, greater differences were found. For example, 47.1% of single women under 25 requested career counseling compared to 26.1% of older married men.

2. Transfer counseling was requested more frequently by men students (31.2%) than by women students (24.4%). The most striking difference was between single young men students (36.9%) and married young women (14.7%).

3. Forty-two percent of men students planned to transfer and earn a Bachelor of Arts degree compared to 28% of women students.

4 . Younger and sing l e students set their goals at more demanding and time-consuming courses of study than older or married students. Women were generally over represented in the shorter, less demanding majors.

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