Multiculturalism and Social Work Education

Abstract

This article discusses the role of social work education-preparing students for culturally competent practice—in the context of a broad societal conflict over multicultural education. Antithetical perspectives on three themes of the multiculturalism debate are examined: visions of community, educational quality, and social change. Examination of the themes in relation to social work education reveals that the debate within the profession is passive, indirect, and submerged compared with the open debate in higher education in general. This article calls for an open debate on the profession’s competing perspectives and its failures to achieve goals in relation to multicultural education and practice.