The view that organizational theory should be a required component of graduate preparation in student affairs is addressed. After defining organizational behavior, conventional models and nonorthodox perspectives on organizing are contrasted. Implications of nonorthodox perspectives for leadership are also considered. Suggestions are offered of how organizational theory can be incorporated into student affairs preparation and research. Organizational theory is an eclectic discipline and incorporates concepts from sociology, social psychology, anthropology, and philosophy. Organizational behavior is used to refer to relationships among actors, actors' attitudes and behaviors, and events in the college. Identifying the actors and their roles is difficult since colleges are increasingly influenced by external agencies and constituent groups. Conventional models consider organizational behavior to be goal-directed and generally portray the institution of a "closed" system. Emergent organizational perspectives, on the other hand, share the following qualities: (1) each institutional context is believed to be unique; (2) there is a recognition that people construct reality for themselves; and it is assumed that all members of an organization have expertise, power, and respponsibility. Included are 58 references. (SW)