Early Career Professionals’ Perceptions of Higher Education and Student Affairs Graduate Programs: Preparation to Work With International Students

The purpose of this study was to explore early career professionals’ perceptions of how their higher education or student affairs (HESA) graduate program prepared them to work with international students in their postgraduation student affairs work. The following themes emerged: HESA curricula lack formalized coursework about international students, although this topic occasionally surfaces through general conversations related to social justice, through flexibility in course projects, and through faculty specialization. Out-of-class opportunities—including graduate assistantships (GAs), self-selected internships and practicums, and involvement in campus programs—helped prepare participants to work with international students. These findings lead to implications for graduate preparation programs to cultivate globally competent graduates.