Perspectives of Financially Disadvantaged Science Majors Pursuing a Computing Minor

Science undergraduate students benefit from gaining computing skills due to the growing overlap between scientific discovery and computational methods. One approach is to encourage students majoring in science to pursue a computing minor; however, only a few seem to undertake this endeavor. Financially disadvantaged students face additional barriers that may further deter them from this pursuit. Unfortunately, there is limited research on the benefits, limitations, and barriers related to earning a computing minor. This study aims to explore the perspectives of undergraduate college students from the United States in a scholarship program designed to aid low-income science majors in completing an information science and technology (IS&T) minor. Using an exploratory qualitative research approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven students in a scholarship program. Based on the findings, three main recommendations for program stakeholders are proposed. First, explicitly explain the unique advantages of gaining computing knowledge for science majors. Second, ensure students have a foundational understanding of computing and related study skills. Third, guide students in strategically planning their course sequence to optimize their time and workload.