Development of a Curriculum in Cultural Diversity
Principal Investigator:
Ruth McRoy, Ph.D.
Duration: 9/93 - 8/98
The Texas Department of Health contracted with the Center of Social Work Research to develop a competency-based curriculum on cultural diversity. The objectives of the project were to:
- gather resource material on cultural diversity and cultural competency,
- develop curriculum modules for teaching cultural diversity,
- conduct a survey of Schools of Social Work to determine current trends and educational practices incorporating cultural diversity content and to gather course material (syllabi and class activities) for incorporation into a competency-based curriculum, and
- develop a self-awareness training module that includes an appreciation of the impact of individual cultural background on the self, the definition of a person's present knowledge about individual culture and that of others, and increased appreciation and enjoyment of cultural similarities and differences.
The curriculum focuses on the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary for competent social work practice with ethnic and cultural groups. Topics include: Asian Americans, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Persons with Disabilities, and Gays and Lesbians. Six cultural competency training sessions for the Texas Department of Health were held in the summer of 1997, and copies of the curriculum will be made available to schools of social work through the project sponsor. The final report was submitted to the Texas Department of Health.
Sponsor:
Texas Department of Health
Keywords: social work education