Influence of Undergraduate Student Affairs Coursework on Undergraduate Engagement

Abstract:Over the past decade, the preparation of student affairs professionals has evolved. Historically, curricular professional preparation existed solely at the graduate level. Today, there is a growing trend around designing and offering undergraduate student affairs coursework (UGSAC) packaged as stand-alone electives, minors, certificates, or concentrations within existing baccalaureate programs. Participants with experience in UGSAC and who had matriculated into or recently completed their master's in a student affairs preparation program described how UGSAC learning had a positive impact on their college experience as well as how they were able to contribute to their peers' college experience. The participants of the study described being able to immediately apply their learning to decisions about their involvement and engagement on campus, explained that UGSAC was useful in refining their leadership abilities, allowing them to intentionally apply their learning from UGSAC into practice, and described how UGSAC helped them better understand themselves and make meaning of their identities and lived experiences.