Defense Date

6-2-2008

Graduation Date

Summer 2008

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

thesis

Degree Name

MA

Department

Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

Matthew L. Schneirov, Patricia Dunham

Keywords

Academic Discrimination, Institutional Racism, Powerlessness, Meaninglessness, Social Isolation

Abstract

This study investigated levels of alienation between minority and non minority college students. Quantitative and qualitative data was collected through a survey instrument and interviews in two different academic contexts, a public state university and a private, Catholic university in Pennsylvania.

A total of 255 surveys and two interviews from each institution indicated that minority students belonging to the private university experienced higher levels of alienation compared to non minority students. However, the minority students from the public university did not report high levels of alienation.

The powerlessness component of alienation is the most salient in this study, along with the independent variables race, school location, year in school, activity participation, and student status. Overall, 30% minority students sampled experienced alienation. The consequences of alienation are measurable.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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