Defining Spiritual Development: A Missing Consideration for Student Affairs

Abstract

Spirituality and spiritual development have been conspicuously absent from student development theories and ignored by many student affairs professionals. The authors argue for consideration of spiritual development by student development theorists, provide a definition and framework through which to consider spirituality and spiritual development, examine Maslow’s (1971) and Chickering and Reisser’s (1993) work through a spiritual lens, and suggest directions for future practice and research.