Major Transitions: Cultural Capital and Major Selection for Chinese International Students at Historically Women’s Liberal Arts Colleges

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dc.contributorTownsley, Eleanor
dc.contributorPackard, Becky
dc.contributorPaik, Anthony
dc.contributor.advisorGebre-Medhin, Ben
dc.contributor.authorZhu, Wanqi (Angie)
dc.date.accessioned2023-07-06T17:25:56Z
dc.date.available2023-07-06T17:25:56Z
dc.date.gradyear2023en_US
dc.date.issued2023-07-06
dc.description.abstractThis thesis explores major selection for Chinese international students and the role of cultural capital in this process. Previous research has predominantly examined the impact of cultural capital on academic achievement among domestic students, with limited attention given to its role in shaping college major selection, particularly among Chinese international students. This thesis uses both qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the process of major selection and the transition of cultural capital across nations. The findings reveal that cultural capital accumulated through strategic approaches employed by families at different life stages significantly influences the major selection process for Chinese international students, particularly women. Specifically, embodied cultural capital acquired through pre-high school cultural activities decreases the likelihood of choosing STEM majors. Furthermore, science-related cultural capital influences the significance of career aspirations in major selection, highlighting the role of parental education in this process. Additionally, parents play an active role in shaping their children's major selection through strategic plans, such as investing in shadow education and working with private counselors. Shadow education develops both embodied and institutionalized cultural capital, indirectly influencing college major choices. Accessing private counseling services facilitates the transition to U.S. colleges, enabling the acquisition of transnational cultural capital, and impacting the selection away from STEM fields.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipSociology & Anthropologyen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10166/6448
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.rights.restrictedpublicen_US
dc.subjectcultural capitalen_US
dc.subjectmajor selectionen_US
dc.subjectchinese studentsen_US
dc.subjectSTEMen_US
dc.subjecthigher educationen_US
dc.titleMajor Transitions: Cultural Capital and Major Selection for Chinese International Students at Historically Women’s Liberal Arts Collegesen_US
dc.typeThesis
mhc.degreeUndergraduateen_US
mhc.institutionMount Holyoke College

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