College Student Development Theory Essay

Total Length: 1086 words ( 4 double-spaced pages)

Total Sources: 6

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The student development theory is a body of the educational scholarship and psychology that demonstrates the strategy higher educational students gain knowledge. The theory also guides students in their educational affairs. College students are categories as students in the higher education especially in the formal setting such as colleges, universities, polytechnic and other institutions of higher learning. On the other hand, development is defined as a "process of increasing complex." (Patton, et al. 2016 p 5). With reference to the students' affair, the theory is a useful tool in answering the cogent question that students might encounter in their day-to-day academic affairs. Thus, student development theory focuses on student development, and method of achieving success in the institution of higher learning. In essence, the student development theory reveals how students of higher education grow academically within the campus environment.



The objective of this study is to illustrate the strategy and method students acquire knowledge using the CSDT (student development theory) and practice.

Student Development Theory



Patton, et al. (2016) traced the development of student development theory to 1960s, which was the period significant changes were recognized in the students' affairs. During this period, the population of students no longer consisted of the students of the upper-class level or middle-class level. However, higher student population comprised of students from different cultural background, economic and social class. Thus, the school academicians view the need to develop theories that will accommodate the diverse cultural background of the student's population.
To respond to this demand, the "Chickering's Theory of Identity Development" (Patton, et al. 2016 p 13) was developed focusing on seven vectors. The theory was developed to focus on students' identity development process in higher education. The seven vectors are:



• Developing competence



• Managing emotions



• Moving toward interdependence and autonomy



• Developing a mature and nurture interpersonal relationships



• Establishing identity



• Developing purpose, and • Developing integrity.



A surge of development in the student's affairs necessitates a development of a new theory. Thus, "Perry's Theory of Intellectual and Ethical Development, and Holland's Theory of Vocational Personalities & Work Environments" (Hutchinson, & Mello, 2015 p 1) were developed. However, the student development theory can be categorized as: Psychosocial Theories and Cognitive-Structural Theories.



The psychosocial theories focus on the content of development as well as important issues that people face as they progress in life that include how people define themselves, what to achieve in their lives, and their relationships with other people. On the other hand, cognitive structural theories focus on the structures of the mind, which are in the same orders regardless of the individual cultural conditions.



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Reference

Hutchinson, E.& Mello, D. (2015). Student Development Theory in a Nutshell Concepts, Critiques, & Application. University of California.

L'etoile, S. K. (2008). Applying Perry's Scheme of Intellectual and Ethical Development in the College Years to Undergraduate Music Therapy Education. Music Therapy Perspectives, 26(2), 110-116. doi:10.1093/mtp/26.2.110

Patton, L. D., Renn, K. A., Guido, F. M., & Quaye, S. J. (2016). Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice. 3rd ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., Hunter, J., & Braun, L. (2006). Sexual identity development among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: Consistency and change over time. Journal of Sex Research, 43(1), 46-58. doi:10.1080/00224490609552298

Sanlo, R. L. (2005). Gender identity and sexual orientation: research, policy, and personal perspectives. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from https://msu.edu/~renn/BilodeauRennNDSS.pdf.

Wilson, M. E. (2011). ASHE Reader Series: College Student Development Theory. (2nd ed.). Lebanon, IN: Pearson learning Solutions.

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The college atmosphere plays an integral role in the social development of students. As per the college student development theory (CSDT), college significantly contributes to students' academic, cognitive, social, psychological, as well as spiritual and moral development (Patton et al., 2016). Indeed, CSDT provides student affairs practitioners with a solid foundation for practice. More specifically, given the widespread prevalence of development-related issues in colleges, such as attrition, violence, suicide, and drug abuse, CSDT to a large extent guides and informs the work of community college counsellors. In this essay, I illustrate my personal knowledge, skills, and dispositions regarding my role as an outreach community college counsellor.… Continue Reading...

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