Different major, different goals: University students studying economics differ in life aspirations and achievement goal orientations from social science students

In the presented study, we investigated whether university students enrolled in economic sciences report stronger extrinsic life aspirations (striving for wealth) than social science students and whether such group differences align with group differences in achievement motivation. We questioned 327 German university students in economic science (n = 142) and social science programs (n = 185). Students enrolled in economic sciences reported stronger extrinsic and weaker intrinsic life aspirations (striving for personal growth) than students enrolled in social sciences. Extrinsic life aspirations were negatively predictive for students' performance approach goal orientation and intrinsic life aspirations were positively predictive for students' learning goal orientation leading to group differences in achievement goal orientations. Further analyses showed that extrinsic life aspirations also negatively predicted students' learning goal orientations when intrinsic life aspirations were low. The results highlight the importance of life aspirations as a potential foundation of achievement goal striving at university.