Diversity across the Curriculum: Perceptions and Practices

Abstract

One step toward generating social equity in public policy and administration is to expose future leaders within the field to a variety of discourses from historically marginalized groups. The new Diversity Across the Curriculum standard recently passed by NASPAA requires MPA/MPP programs to incorporate diversity into the curriculum and other program activities. Through the use of a survey of program directors and a separate content analysis, this study examined the extent to which stand-alone courses on diversity are offered, the instructional strategies used to incorporate the subject of diversity into existing courses, and MPA/MPP program directors’ perception of the standard. Results indicate that race, ethnicity, and gender continue to receive more attention than other elements of diversity. Most programs also attempt to integrate issues of diversity into existing courses rather than offer stand-alone courses. Program directors emphasized the need for flexibility because of variations in size, composition, and resources of graduate public policy and administration programs.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Heather Wyatt-Nichol

Heather Wyatt-Nichol is an assistant professor at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. She has taught courses in human resources, program evaluation, and ethics and currently teaches public administration and public organizations and management. Her research interests include organizational behavior, organizational justice, social equity, and ethical climates. She may be reached at [email protected].

Kwame Badu Antwi-Boasiako

Kwame Badu Antwi-Boasiako is an assistant professor in the MPA program at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. He teaches classes focusing on policy and program evaluation in the MPA program. He also teaches public policy and introduction to American government including international relations. His primary fields of interest include traditional institution and democracy in Africa, teaching public administration, terrorism, and diversity in the public sector. His current research involves diversity in school curricula and hiring in the public sector. He may be reached at [email protected].