University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The impact of undergraduate internships on graduate underemployment: A quantitative analysis of data from a small liberal arts college

Krisher, Kristy L

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127355

Description

Title
The impact of undergraduate internships on graduate underemployment: A quantitative analysis of data from a small liberal arts college
Author(s)
Krisher, Kristy L
Issue Date
2024-12-02
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Li, Jie
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Li, Jie
Committee Member(s)
  • Huang, Wen Hao David
  • Oh, Eunjung
  • Mason, Terrence
Department of Study
Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp
Discipline
Educ Policy, Orgzn & Leadrshp
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ed.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
  • graduate underemployment
  • employability
  • internships
  • work related skill development
  • experiential learning
  • adult learning theory
  • and human capital theory
Abstract
Minimal empirical research exists linking undergraduate internships to lower rates of graduate underemployment. Institutions of higher education have been tasked with solving the problem of graduate underemployment through the use of these types of experiential learning methods intended to create more career ready graduates. Such research is particularly urgent as graduate underemployment rates remain high all over the globe and the cost of a college education continues to increase. This study addressed this need by using quantitative methods to investigate if undergraduate internships lead to greater graduate employability and therefore lower graduate underemployment rates. Using social learning theory, adult learning theory, and human capital theories as the theoretical framework, this study sought a correlation between undergraduate internships and graduate underemployment. This quantitative study was conducted by analyzing secondary data that was gathered from a small four-year liberal arts bachelor’s degree granting institution based in central United States spanning five years’ worth of data collected from annual First Destination Surveys. This study employed a correlational quantitative design approach. 922 graduates were surveyed and 596 responded to the survey. Descriptive statistics included a breakdown of how many of the survey participants completed an internship during their undergraduate education as well as how many participants reported being employed within six months of graduation and how many of those who were employed were in positions that required a bachelor’s degree. Statistics testing was conducted to see if a correlation could be made between undergraduate internships and graduate underemployment and analysis of covariance was conducted to identify the effects of academic discipline on graduate underemployment outcomes. No correlation could be found. Several implications of these findings, limitations of the study, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Graduation Semester
2024-12
Type of Resource
Thesis
Handle URL
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127355
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2024 Kristy L. Krisher

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