Abstract
In the Chinese context, there is a tendency to divide college majors into two broad categories: STEM—or those with direct vocational implications in their titles, such as Engineering and Computer Science—and Liberal Arts, which are seen as being less directly linked to a certain job position, such as disciplines in the Arts, Humanities and many of the Social Sciences. In this paper, the rationales for individuals to have selected a liberal arts major at a transnational university are unraveled. This study strives to capture the mental journey of these young adults before their embarkation on their educational experiences, namely how they mapped their anticipated future blueprints into immediate major choices within limited time period. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with students and graduates who enrolled in two non-applied, non-vocational first-degree programs: International Relations and Communications, at a transnational campus. Empirical data collection and analysis suggest that: (1) Students’ major decisions are often intertwined with their choice of university, particularly regarding the characteristics of Sino-foreign institutions; (2) The majority of students were excluded from their initially desired majors due to their scores on the College Entrance Examination (Gaokao); (3) Some students exhibited a rational understanding of their strengths, preferences, and career plans, while others acknowledged making decisions without sufficient information; (4) A small group of students is intrinsically motivated by the liberal arts, and possesses unique perceptions and expectations that align with the principles of a liberal arts education.
Author Information
Shan He, Ningxia University, China
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