This study presents detailed data on interest by college students in coursework and careers in early childhood, K-8 and special education. The study presents overall data for general interest in study and careers in education and then specific data relating to interest in each of early childhood, K-8 and special education. For each of these subject areas, the study presents 19 tables or data, exploring interest levels of full time college students. The study enables its readers to pinpoint levels of interest of men compared to women, of Southerners compared to Northerners, of public college students vs. private college and of freshmen vs senior, to name just a few of the insights offered through the study.
Data in the reports is based on a representative sample of 1,566 full time undergraduates at 4-year colleges in the United States. The data is presented in the aggregate and broken down by 18 variables including but not limited to age, gender, year of class standing, academic major, SAT/ACT scores, college grades, expected student debt level at graduation, race, sexual orientation, region of the country and other personal and institutional variables.
Just a few of the report’s many findings are that:
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More than 24% of full time college students in the sample over the age of 30 are interested or highly interested in pursuing a career as a teacher.
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12.15% of all full-time students of Hispanic descent in the sample are interested or highly interested in a career in special education.
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More than 12% of students raised abroad are interested or highly interested in careers in early childhood education.