Multicultural Competence in a Study Abroad Program: A Case Study in Fitness for Profession

Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of fitness for the profession in applied programs within the context of international field placement. Using a study abroad trip to an impoverished community in India as a case study, the authors describe the difficulties presented by a field setting in which students' cultural competence is particularly challenged. For one student who used the trip to complete service learning requirements prior to graduation, the field setting proved to be overwhelming, despite his having received the same orientation prior to travel as all other participants and after successful completion of academic coursework. We discuss the importance of fitness for the profession, including elements of cultural competence, and its potential relationship to the development of multicultural competence.