Dissertation
Spiritual development of undergraduate students at a public university: A phenomenological study
Washington State University
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
05/2008
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000005855
Abstract
This phenomenological study explores the spiritual development of 16 undergraduate students attending a public university. Student participants interviewed represented a wide range of spiritual backgrounds including: atheist, Christian, Buddhist, agnostic, Unitarian Universalist, and Jewish. Results indicate that participants entered the university environment as a certain type of spiritual seeker, which influenced how they perceived and engaged the general community, the campus climate, other students, the classroom, and social groups. Participants struggled to integrate their spiritual life with a campus climate and curriculum that emphasized a rational, empirical, modern, and scientific epistemology. As a result, participants lacked an understanding of how to fulfill their passions or purpose after graduation. Participants did not engage in authentic dialogue with much frequency due to a campus culture and societal norms that do not foster authentic dialogue. As a result, they often felt like minorities on campus and lacked mentoring relationships associated with the university. Conclusions and implications of the study concerning research, theory, and practice are reported.
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Details
- Title
- Spiritual development of undergraduate students at a public university
- Creators
- Luke Jones
- Contributors
- Gail C. Furman (Chair)Kelly Ward (Committee Member)Forrest Parkay (Committee Member) - Washington State University, Department of Educational Leadership, Sport Studies, and Educational/Counseling Psychology
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- College of Education
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 209
- Identifiers
- 99901055036501842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation