Assessing Cocurricular Impacts on the Development of Business Student Professionalism: Supporting Rites of Passage

Abstract

Professionalism has a wide variety of definitions. The authors review some of those definitions and then explore stages students pass through as they move from student to business professional. Based on literature from the systems psychodynamics field, the authors examine stages in student identity building, including social defenses, sentient communities, and rites of passage. They then connect these stages to specific curricular and cocurricular efforts. A variety of cocurricular activities assisting student growth are assessed. Results indicate that activities such as attendance at business club meetings, attendance at career fairs, and participating in internships can have a positive impact on student growth and professionalism.

Keywords:

• assessment
• business programs
• cocurricular activities
• extra-curricular activities
• identity
• professionalism
• rites of passage