Chinese undergraduate students' experience studying in the U.S.

Shen, Wendi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/90916 Copy

Description

Title

Chinese undergraduate students' experience studying in the U.S.

Author(s)

Shen, Wendi

Issue Date

2016-04-22

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Parsons, Marilyn

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

Parsons, Marilyn

Committee Member(s)

• Smith, Linda
• Zerai, Assata
• Parsons, Michael

Department of Study

Curriculum and Instruction

Discipline

Curriculum and Instruction

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Undergraduate Students
• Curriculum and Instruction

Abstract

This research explored the experiences of Chinese undergraduate students studying in the United States. With the recent soaring number of Chinese undergraduate students at U.S. campuses as well as a lack of previous research on this population, it is important to understand this group of students and their experiences of studying in the U.S. at the current time period. The key research questions were: (a) What are the students' motivations for studying in undergraduate programs in the U.S.? (b) What are their academic, social, and cultural experiences studying in the U.S.? and (c) What are the students' recommendations for the hosting institutions? Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 Chinese undergraduate students at a Midwestern research university. The findings are summarized within themes that emerged from the data, including students' motivations for coming to study in American undergraduate programs, their academic impressions and perceived differences, the challenges and frustrations they encountered, the changes they experienced, as well as their recommendations for the hosting institutions. Future research is also discussed.

Graduation Semester

2016-05

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/90916

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Wendi Shen

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