A Qualitative Examination of Muslim Graduate International Students' Experiences in the United States

Abstract

Although there has been an increase in enrollment of Muslim international students in college campuses in the United States over the past decade, few studies have examined the experiences of cultural adjustment among Muslim graduate international students. In the present qualitative study, we examined graduate students' experiences of acculturation, engagement with religion, and negotiation of social support in a new cultural environment. Semistructured interviews with 15 Muslim international students enrolled in graduate programs in the United States were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Five broad categories emerged from the data including: (1) diverse views of the new cultural environment, (2) social isolation, (3) experiences of discrimination, (4) religious identity, and (5) protective factors in adjusting to the United States. A number of themes within these broad categories provide new knowledge concerning stress and resilience experienced by participants. Implications of the findings for research and intervention are discussed.