Understanding Graduate Students' Course Selection Decisions

To increase the accuracy of course scheduling and avoid under- or over-enrolled courses, it’s important to understand factors that influence students’ course selection process. Our study surveyed graduate iSchool students about their course selection decisions. The student accounts confirm earlier study findings that course selection is influenced by class time, course content, student interest in course material, and the professor's reputation. Students obtain course information from the online course planning system, the syllabus archive, and word of mouth (from peers and advisors); therefore, all these sources of information need to be available to facilitate students’ decisions. The study found that student demographics, particularly employment and caregiver status, influence and often constrain course choices. The findings highlight the importance of tracking student demographics as they move through their graduate program and supporting student course planning with timely information about future courses and professors.