ABSTRACT
The academic content of graduate preparation programs and the knowledge and competencies they instill in their graduates are critical to the quality and competence of student affairs practitioners within colleges and universities. This chapter explores a number of ways that student affairs professional preparation programs play a role in the socialization of new professionals and contribute to their readiness for the challenges they face during the first few years of employment. It begins by describing ways various components of preparation programs help prepare students for the socialization that will take place as they make the transition to the ranks of professionals. The chapter then examines a number of the master’s-level programs in the country to demonstrate how different program foci affect students’ development toward professionalism. It continues by discussing how students, faculty, and student affairs practitioners contribute to effective socialization of graduate students in student affairs preparation programs.
