An analysis of major and career decision-making difficulties of exploratory college students in a Mid-Atlantic University

Abstract

The nexus between an academic field of study (major) and a career remains nebulous for most undergraduate college students who seek the best-fit major to prepare them for the right career path. Using the CDDQ, Career Decision-making Difficulty Questionnaire (Gati et al in J Counsel Psychol 43:510–526, 1996; A taxonomy of difficulties in career decision making, 2001), a paired sample t test was conducted to analyze the impact of a major and career exploration course (COM-200) on 54 undeclared first-year college students in a Mid-Atlantic university. The CDDQ was used to test the hypothesis that at the end of the course, students’ career decision-making difficulties would be reduced in each of the three major cluster scores: (1) Lack of Readiness, (2) Lack of Information, and (3) Inconsistent Information. Findings from the study indicate statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest analysis of the career decision-making difficulty for each of the variables studied.