Graduate Student Constructions of Spirituality in Preparation Programs

Are emerging student affairs professionals prepared to respond to undergraduates' growing interest in spirituality? This study explored that question through interviews with 32 graduate students in three college student personnel programs, one at a state university and two at religiously affiliated institutions. Students reported that authenticity, connectedness, purpose, and transcendence were themes evident in their curriculum. However these emphases were not uniformly identified as spiritual nor were they typically recognized as preparing them to work with undergraduates' spiritual quest. Additionally, how faculty mediated institutional and program context had significant influence on graduate students' exploration of spirituality.