Multicultural education in geography in the USA: An introduction

Abstract

The increasing presence of students of diverse racial/ethnic and international origins in colleges and universities in the USA has prompted efforts to revise and create courses and curricula to respond to ‘diversity’ and introduce multicultural perspectives. In this Arena symposium we address current practices and the prospects for multicultural teaching in geography. Lee's introduction reviews the development of the diversity movement and the arguments advanced for and against multicultural education. She then focuses on the representation of minorities within geographic institutions in the USA. The papers that follow present the perspectives of both administrators and teaching faculty, recognising that change requires support and engagement across these levels. Corey examines how institutional priorities and programme developments in a large state university shape openings for interdisciplinary offerings to which geographers can contribute. McConnell reports the outcomes of his participation in a project to transform a course on the geography of the United States to one that addresses American pluralism. Darden advocates a particular ‘social reconstructionist’ vision in his development of an upper‐level urban geography course. Berry takes up the pedagogical challenge of incorporating diverse voices into courses that highlight race, gender and ethnicity. In presenting their work, the authors hope to encourage other geographers to share approaches to curricular transformation and to strengthen efforts to diversify the make‐up of the profession.