Communication curricula in the multicultural university

Abstract

This essay argues that it is important for communication faculty to develop and adapt curriculum that responds to an increasingly multicultural student body. In addition, a multicultural perspective in curricular content is necessary to encourage theory development that is generalizable beyond the U.S. Anglo population. Typical problems facing students entering an educational system outside their own cultural context are presented. The dominance of a U.S. Anglo perspective in communication skills, theory, and methods courses is described. The essay concludes with five suggestions for developing communication curricula appropriate to a multicultural university.