The Perceptions of Culturally Diverse Graduate Students on Multicultural Education

Abstract

This study investigates how the perceptions of graduate students within a doctoral program in a midsized higher education institution in Southwest Florida evolved over a semester regarding multicultural education and impacted their careers and professional lives. A qualitative case study method was utilized with multiple data sources collected, including interviews, students’ written papers, students’ presentations, as well as online discussions and assignments that aimed to prepare educational leaders within culturally diverse topics while challenging and impacting their perceptions about diversity, race, cultural, and multicultural education experiences. The findings were that post-doctoral coursework in the area of multicultural education produced three significant themes: (1) false understanding of what multicultural education encompassed, (2) increased awareness of self-biases, lack of resources and training, and (3) finally, a feeling of helplessness where participants want to see transformation but are unable to affect change.