The Opportunity Cost of Teaching for Seconday STEM Instructors

Simple item page
dc.contributor.advisorMacNeil, Angus J.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberHutchison, Laveria F.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberEmerson, Wayne W.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberNull, Curtis
dc.creatorLiVecchi, Anthony Joseph
dc.creator.orcid0000-0002-8439-1875
dc.date.accessioned2018-02-15T17:58:22Z
dc.date.available2018-02-15T17:58:22Z
dc.date.createdDecember 2017
dc.date.issued2017-12
dc.date.submittedDecember 2017
dc.date.updated2018-02-15T17:58:22Z
dc.description.abstractMany school districts across the United States face severe shortages of high school science and mathematics teachers. Moreover, college graduates that major in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field face unique opportunity costs when deciding to enter the teaching field. An analysis of the opportunity costs faced by STEM majors between teaching and non-teaching careers may offer superintendents and principals an insight into the decision making process of STEM majors. Through this understanding, school districts may be able to reduce the shortage of mathematics and science teachers they face annually. This mixed-method study utilizes the following two research methods: the archival research method and semi-structured interviews. The data sources included for salary information are the National Association of College and Employer (NACE) survey data on STEM major starting salaries from 2009 to 2017, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) survey data on median salaries for STEM majors from 2009 to 2017. The first analysis will include creating linear plots for 10-month adjusted salary for STEM teachers and nonteachers. Salary differentials will be expressed in dollars. The second analysis through semi-structured interviews will gather input and insight on why STEM majors enter and stay in teaching. The results indicate that all STEM majors earn higher salaries than STEM educators at all experience levels, with the exception of first year salaries of Science majors. The interview data indicated that teachers with STEM majors work in education because of the interaction with students. While wage differentials may turn potential teachers away from careers in education, once an individual commits to education the ability to work with students keeps them in the classroom.
dc.description.departmentEducational Leadership and Policy Studies, Department of
dc.format.digitalOriginborn digital
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10657/2085
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsThe author of this work is the copyright owner. UH Libraries and the Texas Digital Library have their permission to store and provide access to this work. Further transmission, reproduction, or presentation of this work is prohibited except with permission of the author(s).
dc.subjectOpportunity cost
dc.subjectTeaching
dc.subjectTeacher Salary
dc.subjectSTEM majors
dc.subjectSTEM teachers
dc.titleThe Opportunity Cost of Teaching for Seconday STEM Instructors
dc.type.dcmiText
dc.type.genreThesis
thesis.degree.collegeCollege of Education
thesis.degree.departmentEducational Leadership and Policy Studies, Department of
thesis.degree.disciplineAdministration and Supervision
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Houston
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Education

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
LIVECCHI-DISSERTATION-2017.pdf
Size:
543.05 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
PROQUEST_LICENSE.txt
Size:
4.43 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
LICENSE.txt
Size:
1.82 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download

Collections

Published ETD Collection