Beyond Buzzwords: Exposure in College Students' Cultural Competence Development

Findings from the three studies presented support a central conclusion: The higher education experience plays a role in college students’ cultural competence development. The results from the studies can be interpreted within the framework of Astin’s (1993) input-environment-output model. As expected, the inputs, or characteristics students bring with them to college, influence their cultural competence development. Additionally, the particular academic and social experiences provided by a higher education institution can impact how students develop their religious, ethnic/racial, and global competencies. In sum, my research extends and underscores the key role that the higher education environment can play in fostering the output of cultural competence—especially through students’ lived academic and social experiences.

This is a three manuscript style dissertation.