Abstract

According to my literature review and my reflection of its meaning, few studies have been conducted that explore the adjustment and acculturation experiences of female international students in US colleges and universities specifically on Saudi female students. Therefore, this study explored the academic and socio-cultural experiences of Saudi female students before and after arriving in the US. Furthermore, this study identified the sources of acculturative stress and Saudi female students' successful strategies for coping with these stressors. Eight Saudi female students participated in one-on-one semi-structured interviews and Moustakas' (1994) transcendental phenomenology was utilized in analyzing students' voices. During the data analysis process, there were five themes that emerged from the data, including sociocultural expectations and issues, motivation for studying abroad, challenges, coping strategies, and adaptation. The results of this study provided recommendations for American and Saudi higher education administrators and faculty concerning how to help Saudi female students adjust to American culture and campus life and provide appropriate academic environments for this growing population.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2018

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Cintron Delgado, Rosa

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Education and Human Performance

Degree Program

Education; HIgher Education

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0007149

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0007149

Language

English

Release Date

August 2021

Length of Campus-only Access

3 years

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access)

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