Off-campus WSU users: To download campus access dissertations, please use the following link to log into our proxy server with your WSU access ID and password, then click the "Off-campus Download" button below.
Non-WSU users: Please talk to your librarian about requesting this dissertation through interlibrary loan.
Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ed.D.
Department
Educational Leadership and Policy
First Advisor
Ben Pogodzinski
Abstract
Objective: The study assessed the association of participation in Credit Based Transition Programs (CBTP) and the academic outcomes related to STEM and cumulative GPAs for students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Neuroscience majors at the Wayne State University. Method: This study included 908 students in the Fall 2018 and Fall 2019 cohorts of FTIAC students enrolling in the specified majors at Wayne State University. Regression models were estimated to study the relationship between CBTP participation, entry-level STEM course and the academic outcomes related to STEM and cumulative GPA and STEM major persistence and graduation. A correlational analysis was also performed to investigate the relationship between the number of earned CBTP credits and the association academic outcomes. Results: The analyses identified that on average CBTP participants (a) demonstrated significantly higher academic performance compared to non-CBTP students, (b) across all earned credit ranges demonstrate significantly higher GPAs compared to non-CBTP students and (c) experienced higher persistence and graduation rates in STEM fields and lower stopout rates compared to non-CBTP students. Contributions: This study contributes to the literature showing that participation in CBTP prior to transition into a STEM major at the university is associated with improved academic outcomes and has a positive relationship with improved persistence and graduation in STEM majors. Policy recommendations are to improve communication and collaboration between secondary and post-secondary institutions related to CBTP programs and to develop strategic academic plans and advising strategies aligning with intended student majors related to course selection for CBTP participants.
Recommended Citation
Hunter, Kimberly Sue, "Examining The Use Of Credit-Based Transition Programs (cbtp) Leading To Stem Degrees And Increased Access To Higher Education" (2025). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4183.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4183