Factors influencing career choice of African American and Hispanic graduates of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University

Purpose. 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 and/or after college.; Methodology. This study was conducted during the Spring and Summer of 1999 (April through August). The population was all African American and Hispanic graduates who received a baccalaureate degree from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS) at Texas A&M University between May 1990 and December 1997 (N = 551). The responding sample was 139 (25.93%).; Descriptive statistics were used to report personal and professional characteristics of the graduates. Correlation techniques were used to measure relationships between and among personal and professional characteristics of the graduates as well as their tendencies to pursue or not to pursue an agriculture-related career. Comparative techniques were used to detect differences between the graduates based on their personal and professional characteristics.; Major findings. The major findings of the study were as follows: (1) When respondents enrolled in their first agriculture-related course did not have a major effect on the probability that they would select an agriculture-related career. (2) Respondents were more likely to pursue an agriculture-related career if their fathers occupation was agriculture-related. (3) Parents' level of education did not play a critical role in the respondents' choosing an agriculture-related career. (4) Having people of color to encourage respondents to consider an agriculture-related career increased respondents' likelihood of pursuing an agriculture-related career. (5) Salary was not considered to have a statistically significant impact on respondents' choice of their current career nor on their choice of agriculture as a career. (6) Having limited job opportunities in agriculture led respondents to choose other careers. (7) Retirement plan and job opportunities had a statistically significant impact on respondents' selection of a career.