Personality characteristics of students enrolled in an elective studies degree program

Personality characteristics of students choosing an elected studies degree option are compared with characteristics of conventional degree candidates on the Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI). The current status of nontraditional degree programs is briefly reviewed. Results are discussed in terms of published findings for three other student groups: students in other nontraditional degree programs, students who withdraw voluntarily, and upperclass students. Elected studies students are found to have in common with all three groups the general characteristics of intellectual liberalism. The comparison with traditional students in this study shows differences between the two groups on 7 of 14 OPI scales, with the most outstanding differences being the degree of intellectual liberalism. A finding unique to this study appears to be the greater degree of self-confidence shown by the elected studies students. Several explanations are proposed for this result.