Factors Influencing Career Choice Of African American And Hispanic Graduates Of A Land-Grant College Of Agriculture

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the factors that were related to African American and Hispanic graduates' decisions to choose (or not to choose) a career in agriculture or a related field prior to or after college. The population for this study was all African American and Hispanic graduates who received a baccalaureate degree in an agriculture- related field at Texas A&M University between May 1990 and December 1997 (N = 551). The responding sample was 139 (26%). Various commonalities and differences existed among the two groups. When respondents enrolled in their first agriculture-related course did not have a major effect on their probability of choosing an agriculture-related career. However, the role of significant others and specific job-related factors is validated in this study.