Asee peer logo

BOARD #109: The Journey of Korean Students in U.S. Colleges: Following Their Hearts to Become Computer Engineers and Scientists

Download Paper |

Conference

2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Publication Date

June 22, 2025

Start Date

June 22, 2025

End Date

August 15, 2025

Conference Session

Computing and Information Technology Division (CIT) Poster Session

Tagged Division

Computing and Information Technology Division (CIT)

Tagged Topic

Diversity

Page Count

8

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/55926

Paper Authors

author page

Hyeree Cho Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Purdue University – West Lafayette

author page

Woongbin Park Purdue University at West Lafayette

Download Paper |

Abstract

This qualitative study investigates the factors influencing Korean international students’ decisions to major in CS (Computer Science) and CE (Computer Engineering) at a U.S. university, as well as their academic experiences. Through semi-structured interviews with two female and two male Korean undergraduates, three core themes emerged: strong personal interest in computing, influences of parental beliefs and societal norms limiting female students (particularly affecting female students), and utility of major for future career. Findings show that while personal interest is a primary motivator, gender biases and parental beliefs can redirect female students from other STEM fields to CS. Additionally, participants cited dissatisfaction with Korea’s public education system, and freedom and flexibility with U.S. education as reasons for studying abroad. The study underscores the need for reforms in K-12 computer and career education and for addressing gender biases to support informed major and career choices among students.

Cho, H., & Park, W. (2025, June), BOARD #109: The Journey of Korean Students in U.S. Colleges: Following Their Hearts to Become Computer Engineers and Scientists Paper presented at 2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Montreal, Quebec, Canada . https://peer.asee.org/55926

ASEE holds the copyright on this document. It may be read by the public free of charge. Authors may archive their work on personal websites or in institutional repositories with the following citation: © 2025 American Society for Engineering Education. Other scholars may excerpt or quote from these materials with the same citation. When excerpting or quoting from Conference Proceedings, authors should, in addition to noting the ASEE copyright, list all the original authors and their institutions and name the host city of the conference. - Last updated April 1, 2015