Table 10.Percentage distribution of 2003–2004 high school seniors enrolled in a postsecondary institution with a declared major in 2006, by STEM and non-STEM major in 2006 and STEM courses taken in high school: 2006

Education Longitudinal
Study of 2002 (ELS:2002)

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Table 10. Percentage distribution of 2003–2004 high school seniors enrolled in a postsecondary institution with a declared major in 2006, by STEM and non-STEM major in 2006 and STEM courses taken in high school: 2006

		STEM major in 2006								Non-STEM major¹ in 2006
Characteristic	Percent of enrollees with declared major	Total		mathematics		Biological/ life sciences	Engineering/ technologies/ technicians		Computer and information sciences	Total	Social/ behavioral science		Humanities		Business		Education		Health sciences
Total	100.0	1.0		1.0		7.2	9.1		2.7	78.4	21.4		16.2		17.0		9.6		13.8

Highest math course taken in high school²
No math	0.2	‡		#		4.1	‡		‡	82.2	‡		‡		‡		‡		‡
Basic math/pre-algebra	1.4	14.9	!	#		‡	9.0	!	‡	85.1	27.5		12.0	!	10.3	!	12.2	!	23.2
Algebra I, geometry, or algebra II	32.0	13.8		#		3.3	6.8		3.3	86.2	22.5		17.3		17.3		11.9		16.9
Trigonometry, statistics, pre-calculus	44.5	18.4		0.5	!	7.1	7.0		2.2	81.6	21.7		17.5		18.5		9.9		13.7
Calculus	21.9	40.3		3.6		13.4	15.8		3.1	59.7	18.6		12.8		13.8		5.6		8.1

Highest math course taken in high school
Basic or no science³	2.2	20.2		‡		‡	10.4	!	‡	79.8	17.5	!	17.0		20.9		12.6	!	11.8
College prep started⁴	50.7	14.9		0.5	!	4.2	6.7		2.8	85.1	21.9		17.2		18.0		11.7		15.9
College prep completed⁵	23.1	22.2		1.4	!	5.3	10.9		2.7	77.8	21.5		17.0		19.0		8.2		11.6
Advanced⁶	24.0	35.7		1.8		15.6	11.4		2.6	64.3	20.2		13.7		12.6		6.2		11.1


# Rounds to zero.
! Interpret data with caution. Estimate is unstable because the coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 30 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error represents 30 percent or more of the estimate).
‡ Reporting standards are not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error represents 50 percent or more of the estimate).
¹ Non-STEM field also includes Multi/interdisciplinary studies and Other (0.4 percent of total), not shown.
² Sample members for whom no high school transcript was received are not included in the estimates.
³ Basic or no science: student has not taken general biology, chemistry 1, or physics 1.
⁴ College prep started: student has taken general biology, chemistry 1, or physics 1.
⁵ College prep completed: student has taken general biology, chemistry 1, and physics 1.
⁶ Advanced: student has taken advanced biology, chemistry 2, or physics 2.
NOTE: Totals are weighted by F2QWT and other estimates are weighted by F2QTSCWT. 2003-2004 high school seniors who declared a double major are counted under primary major only. The flag variable G12COHRT was used to produce data that are based on 2003-2004 high school seniors interviewed in both 2004 and 2006. Details may not sum to total due to rounding. Non-STEM also includes 0.4 percent in other fields, therefore details may not sum to totals.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS: 2002) Second Follow-up, 2006."

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