Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

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Open Access Thesis

Keywords

Science--Study and teaching (Secondary)--Iowa--Cedar Rapids region; College freshmen--Iowa; College freshmen; Science--Study and teaching (Secondary); Iowa; Academic theses;

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the relationship between the number of science credits a student completes at Prairie High School and the successful completion of his or her first year of college at an Iowa Regent's institution as defined by college grade point average and a minimum number of credits earned. Data for this study was collected from high school transcripts and Prairie High School's annual report from the Iowa State Board of Regents. This report outlines how many credits students earn and their cumulative grade point average at the end of their first year of college. All 90 students in this study graduated from Prairie High School between the years of 2001 and 2004. Each of them attended a Regent's institution in the fall semester after graduation. The sample included male and female students with a mix of ethnic backgrounds and socioeconomic status. A Chi Square Test of Independence showed that there was not a statistically significant difference in the success rate of students based on how many high school science credits they completed at Prairie High School prior to entering college. A t-test showed that there was not a significant difference in mean college grade point average based on the number of science credits earned in high school. The conclusion of this study was that many variables contribute to a student's successful transition from high school to college. Raising graduation requirements alone will not ensure that more high school graduates will be successful in their first year of college.

Year of Submission

2006

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Teaching

First Advisor

Jody Stone

Second Advisor

Lyn Countryman

Third Advisor

Dawn Del Carlo

Comments

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Date Original

2006

Object Description

1 PDF file (44 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

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