BELIEFS FOR CAREER CHOICE IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

The purpose of this research was to establish the beliefs, attitudes and behavioral intention for the career choice of high school students at five degree programs (Sexuality and Gender, Human Ecology, Special Education and Care for the Elderly). In the sample, 1536 students participated with a mean age of 17, 51.4% female and 48.2% male; 72.7% from urban population and 27.3% from rural population; and 74.0% from public schools and 26.0% from private schools. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to assess the proposed degree programs in three areas: behavioral, cognitive and affective. The information collected was processed quantitatively; descriptive data and predictive model for career choice were obtained, to make the final decision of the program or programs to be offered. The outcomes showed a preference for the degree program in Sexuality and Gender (M = 5.71), also, the most important predictive feature was gender, with a prevalence of women. Finally, beliefs that significantly predict the career choice of a program are given in the cognitive-personal category "it makes you grow as a person"; and in the contextual or environmental category, "it causes changes in society," "it has a future", "it helps people", "it is new", "my family would like me to study it" and "it solves current problems".