Date of Award

2025

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Education, PhD

Program

School of Educational Studies

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Gwen Garrison

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

David Drew

Dissertation or Thesis Committee Member

June Hilton

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Rights Information

© 2025 Debbie Ostorga

Keywords

Community College, Latinx, Latinx Community College students, Latinx sense of belonging, Latinx STEM, Sense of Belonging

Subject Categories

Educational Leadership

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study aims to understand how Latinx Community College Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) students experience sense of belonging in STEM majors/classrooms at an urban community college (CC) in Southern California 2024 through the lens of an integrative framework. Despite a considerable amount of research regarding factors that promote student success through a sense of belonging in the STEM field, research concerning the experiences of Latinx STEM students at urban CC’s remains underdeveloped (Garcia et al., 2021; Romero et al., 2023). The primary research question for this study is: What is the lived experience of Latinx community college students in the STEM field, and how do they define and experience a sense of belonging related to their school in general and STEM classes in particular? This research study was conducted using a phenomenological approach with interviews with 20 Latinx STEM students. The findings provided insights into the ways in which a sense of belonging was defined, promoted, and hindered by Latinx STEM students. I found that belonging for Latinx STEM students is, at its core, relational, cultural, and developmental. Students described belonging as being free to be their “full selves” in spaces where authenticity is encouraged/welcomed, non-judgment is the norm, and relationships with peers, mentors and faculty are supportive and available. Belonging was not an abstract emotion, instead, it was a daily practice that involved being acknowledged, accepted, and encouraged to contribute to the various campus communities (classrooms, labs and other campus spaces). This research contributes to the growing literature on Latinx community college STEM students.

ISBN

9798290970158

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