Factors Influencing Undergraduate Students Toward Choosing a New Course

Abstract


 Although course choice may shape students’ academic futures, with some new courses, few students may register, resulting in course cancellation, lost student opportunities, and wasted faculty effort. The study aimed to explore the attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control factors influencing students’ decisions to enroll in a new course. A QualtricsÒ survey, using a 7-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) and open-ended questions, was distributed by email to undergraduate students (>18 years) enrolled in the fall 2021 semester within a college of agriculture and life sciences. Of respondents (n = 84), most agreed or strongly agreed that interest in the subject matter and favorable attitudes toward the instructor influenced their decision to enroll in a new course. In the context of social norms, respondents were most influenced by advisor recommendations, a course workload that would not excessively interfere with their social activities, and having friends say positive things about the professor. Within perceived behavioral control, the highest levels of agreement were related to the course helping them complete requirements for their major and graduation. In conclusion, faculty may want to consider influential factors impacting students’ new course selection when undertaking course development.