Graduate Life And Career Preparation

Against the background of higher education massification in China,an increasing number of students have enrolled in master's degree programs over the past decade.Chinese students pursuing master's degrees may seek career development rather than academic advancement.For most students,the experiences in graduate studies for two or three years are critical for career preparation.Career exploration and career commitment in this stage will assist individuals to make a smooth transition from university students to working professionals.Combining theoretical perspectives in identity theory and student engagement,this study explored the types of professional identity of graduate students at the beginning and at the end of master's studies,and explored the factors that impact the formation of professional identity.This study used a qualitative approach,and it analyzed in-depth interview data collected from 22 individuals after obtaining their master's degrees.This study had four findings.First,four statuses of professional identity were found at the beginning of master's studies: identity diffusion,identity foreclosure,identity moratorium and identity achievement.Second,this study revealed two paths of professional identity development in graduate studies: occupation-oriented path and academic-oriented path.Third,four types of factors impact professional identity development in master-level studies: identity styles,important others,critical experiences,and institutional environment.Lastly,students displayed two types of professional identity status at the end of master's studies: identity moratorium and identity achievement.Based on the findings,this study raised four suggestions.Students can use the informational processing style when exploring professional identity.Career counselors should encourage master's students to explore their own career development paths.Institutions should differentiate professional master's programs from academic master's programs in objectives and curriculum.Career education should be implemented early in school and in life.