Appendix B: Undergraduate Academic Interests Survey Spring 2009 Thank you for participating in our survey. All questions are voluntary and the survey will be conducted anonymously; please do not put your name or any other identifying information on the response sheet. Please do not make any marks on this questionnaire. Questions 1-7 A= Strongly Agree B= Somewhat Agree C= Neutral D= Somewhat Disagree E= Strongly Disagree 1. It is easy to get a job with a degree in: biology 2. chemistry 3. geology 4. physics 5. environmental science 6. My choice of major depends on the ease of obtaining a job upon graduation. 7. My choice of major depends on the salaries offered in the field. 8. Which one of the following describes the minimum entry-level salary you would be satisfied with upon graduating with a bachelor s degree? A. $20,000-29,999/per year B. $30,000-39,999/per year C. $40,000-49,999/per year D. $50,000-59,999/per year E. $60,000-69,999/per year F. $70,000-79,999/per year G. More than $80,000 Questions 9-13 From the box on the right, select which income range you think represents the average entry level salary for a graduate with a bachelor s degree in each field. 9. Biology 10. Chemistry 11. Environmental Science 12. Geology 13. Physics A. Less than $30,000/per year B. $30,000-39,999/per year C. $40,000-49,999/per year D. $50,000-59,999/per year E. $60,000-69,999/per year F. $70,000-79,999/per year G. More than $80,000 1
Questions 14-18 Using the choices from the box on the right, rate the prestige of each occupation. 14. Biologist 15. Chemist 16. Environmental Scientist 17. Geologist 18. Physicist A. Extremely Prestigious B. Very Prestigious C. Somewhat Prestigious D. Not Very Prestigious E. Not At All Prestigious F. Don t Know Questions 19-23 Using the choices from the box on the right, rate the prestige of each science department at NAU. 19. Department of Biological Sciences 20. Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry 21. Center for Sustainable Environments (Environmental Science) 22. Department of Geology 23. Dept. of Physics and Astronomy A. Extremely Prestigious B. Very Prestigious C. Somewhat Prestigious D. Not Very Prestigious E. Not At All Prestigious F. Don t Know Questions 24-28 Using the choices from the box on the right, rate the difficulty of each type of academic major at NAU. 24. Biology 25. Chemistry 26. Environmental Science 27. Geology 28. Physics A. Extremely Difficult B. Very Difficult C. Somewhat Difficult D. Not Very Difficult E. Not At All Difficult F. Don t Know 29. I am undecided what to major in. A. Yes B. No 30. I have not yet declared a major, but I have decided what it will be. A. Yes B. No PLEASE SKIP TO QUESTION #47 (PAGE 4) IF YOU HAVE NOT DECLARED A MAJOR. 2
31. Which college is your academic major under? A. Arts and Letters B. Business C. Education D. Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Sciences E. Health and Human Services F. Social and Behavioral Sciences G. Don t know 32. If your major is in the college of Engineering, Forestry & Natural Sciences, what is your major? A. Biology B. Chemistry C. Environmental Science D. Geology E. Physics F. Other 33. Which of the following best describes when you chose your major? A. Before enrolling at NAU B. After enrolling at NAU and before taking any NAU classes in your major. C. After taking an NAU introductory course in your major. D. After taking 2 or 3 NAU courses in your major. E. After taking 4 or more NAU courses in your major. Questions 34-46 A=Strongly Agree B=Somewhat Agree C=Neutral/Don t know D=Somewhat Disagree E=Strongly Disagree 34. I will not change my major before I graduate. 35. I might change my major in the near future. 36. I have changed majors at least once. 37. My choice of major was influenced by a class I took at NAU. 38. My choice of major was influenced by a conversation with an NAU professor. 39. My choice of major was influenced by a class I took prior to coming to NAU. 40. My interest in a major was influenced by a teacher in high school or middle school. 41. My interest in a major was influenced the recommendation of a friend or family member. 42. My choice of major was influenced by an advisor at NAU s Gateway Center. 43. My choice of major was influenced by a faculty advisor in the department of my major. 44. My choice of major had nothing to do with any NAU advisor or faculty member. 45. My choice of major was influenced by interests I developed prior to coming to NAU. 46. It is important that courses in my major use up-to-date technology. 3
Questions 47-73 A= Strongly Agree B= Somewhat Agree C= Neutral/Don t know D= Somewhat Disagree E= Strongly Disagree 47. Biologists are employed mainly in polluting industries. 48. Chemists 49. Environmental scientists 50. Geologists 51. Physicists 52. Biologists investigate ways to correct global warming and pollution of the environment. 53. Chemists 54. Environmental scientists 55. Geologists 56. Physicists 57. The lectures in my geology class are interesting. 58. The laboratory exercises in my geology class are interesting. 59. The laboratory exercises in my geology class are too difficult for me. 60. I am inspired to continue studies in geology by the laboratory exercises. 61. I am inspired to continue studies in geology by the lectures. 62. A requirement of 2 semesters of Calculus makes me less likely to choose a given major. 63. A requirement of 2 semesters of Physics makes me less likely to choose a given major. 64. A requirement of 2 semesters of Chemistry makes me less likely to choose a given major. 65. It is important to me that my major involves working outdoors. 66. Classrooms that look old turn me off to majoring in that subject. 67. Classrooms that look new and modern increase my interest in that major. 68. Before I came to NAU, I had learned a lot about Biology. 69. Before I came to NAU, I had learned a lot about Chemistry. 70. Before I came to NAU, I had learned a lot about Environmental Science. 71. Before I came to NAU, I had learned a lot about Geology. 72. Before I came to NAU, I had learned a lot about Physics. 73. NAU is a great place to study geology because the university is in a location that is very geologically interesting. 4
Questions 74-95 A=Strongly Agree B=Somewhat Agree C=Neutral/Don t know D=Somewhat Disagree E=Strongly Disagree 74. I think working in a career related to biology would be personally fulfilling. 75. chemistry 76. environmental science 77. geology 78. physics 79. A Nobel Prize being awarded in a field makes that field prestigious. 80. Excellent teachers in a university department make that department prestigious. 81. High salaries in a field make that field prestigious. 82. A high number of academic publications by members of a university department make that department prestigious. 83. A large amount of research grant funding obtained by members of a university department make that department prestigious. 84. I would consider being a science major. 85. I can describe what a geologist/geoscientist does at work. 86. I am, or will be, a scientist. 87. If I want to, I can become a scientist. 88. It is important that my major leads to employment in an environmentally friendly industry. 89. I enjoy observing nature. 90. I enjoy traveling to different places. 91. I enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and bicycling. 92. My family would support me becoming a geologist. 93. My friends would support me becoming a geologist. 94. It is important that I work in an occupation that I consider to be prestigious. 95. It is important that I major in an academic department that I consider to be prestigious. Questions 96-115: A=Yes B=No C=Don t know 96. A Nobel Prize is awarded in the field of Biology 97. A Nobel Prize is awarded in the field of Chemistry 98. A Nobel Prize is awarded in the field of Environmental Science 99. A Nobel Prize is awarded in the field of Geology 100. A Nobel Prize is awarded in the field of Physics 5
101. I have seen Biologists in non-fiction TV shows or documentaries. 102. Chemists 103. Environmental Scientists 104. Geologists 105. Physicists 106. I have seen Biologists in fictional TV shows or movies. 107. Chemists 108. Environmental Scientists 109. Geologists 110. Physicists 111. I took biology in middle school and/or high school. 112. chemistry 113. environmental science 114. geology or earth science 115. physics or astronomy 116. What is your gender? A. Male B. Female 117. What is your age? A. 18 B. 19 C. 20 D. 21 E. 22 F. 23-29 G. 30 or over 118. Which of the following best describes your race or ethnicity? A. American Indian or Alaska Native B. Asian C. Black or African American D. Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin E. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander F. White G. Other 119. What is your current class standing at NAU? A. Freshman B. Sophomore C. Junior D. Senior E. Graduate student F. Other 120. Are you enrolled this semester in GLG208 (Introduction to the Geology of Northern Arizona)? A. Yes B. No 121. Did you attend middle school in Arizona? A. Yes B. No C. Yes, but also in another state 122. Did you attend high school in Arizona? A. Yes B. No C. Yes, but also in another state 123. I am enrolled in: A. GLG100 Introductory Geology B. GLG101 Physical Geology C. GLG112 Geologic Disasters Thank you for completing the survey! Please return this questionnaire along with your answer sheet. 6