Developing a Graduate Social Work Curriculum with an International-Crosscultural Perspective

Abstract

Social work educators in the United States face the challenge of introducing curriculum changes that would provide future practitioners with the much-needed international-crosscultural perspective, in a world that is increasingly interdependent. The issues and opportunities concerning innovation and curriculum change in developing a graduate program with this dimension are examined critically, based on an experiment at the University of Hawaii School of Social Work. There is specific focus on the rationale for such a program, the role of faculty and students, innovations in class and field teaching, and likely future directions.