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About UsMission The field of global studies is an exciting and quickly expanding one. While its aims are vast – furthering interdisciplinary and cross-cultural learning and research on global or trans-regional issues – it has very concrete and pressing concerns to contend with, for which such a perspective is vital. Concerns include the processes and effects of globalization for sustainable development, armed conflict, and public health, to name but a few. Concerns also include the general dearth of interdisciplinary, cross-cultural, and comparative research for understanding the challenges and possibilities of an interdependent global society. And, significantly, concerns include the resulting lack of global awareness generally that is so essential for bridging cultural, geographic, political, and linguistic boundaries. Responding to these needs, the Global Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh was established in 2001 as a joint offering of the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA). MissionOur mission is to further interdisciplinary and cross-cultural learning and research on issues of global concern by promoting teaching excellence, cutting-edge research, and community partnerships. The program maximizes the outstanding international resources at the University as a whole and complements the work of the regional area studies centers and programs in UCIS by uniting the study of specific global issues and their application across different regions and cultures. By coordinating and enhancing such curricula, the program enables graduate and undergraduate students to pursue an interdisciplinary plan of study leading to the attainment of a Certificate or a Bachelor of Philosophy in Global Studies. Through research and grant opportunities, conferences, and lectures, the program supports a stimulating intellectual environment and fosters interdisciplinary, trans-regional, cross-cultural, and comparative research relevant to understanding the challenges and possibilities of an interdependent global society. Research and Teaching FociThe Global Studies Program supports teaching and research around six major global issues and trends that pose urgent and complex challenges to our world today: Changing Identities in a Global World asks how our understanding of who we are changes under globalization, exploring issues such as race, religion, nationality, and gender. It considers how identities are affected by changing patterns of human interaction, the evolution of culture and cultural clashes, the interchange of ideas between cultures, movements of people, international rights, and other factors impacting cultural development in different parts of the world. Communication, Technology, and Society addresses how technological change creates new kinds of global connectedness, exploring the international impact of the communications revolution, the role of the media in international relations, technology, and the arts, and implications for issues ranging from work to politics to leisure. Conflict and Conflict Resolution explores the causes and consequences of international, ethnic, and religious conflicts, and considers ways of preventing and resolving conflicts, including negotiation and fostering of deeper cross-cultural understanding. It raises issues such as the role of the United Nations, peacekeeping and armed intervention, non-governmental organizations and humanitarian relief, terrorism, international law, and diplomacy. Global Economy and Global Governance explores the changing reach and nature of economic flows and political organization under conditions of globalization, raising issues such as international economic growth and crisis, global competition, the United Nations and human rights, global civil society and international non-governmental organizations, and state sovereignty in global relations. Global Health explores the risks and opportunities of globalization for the health of the world population, including the increased spread of diseases across borders and oceans, and the enhanced ability to alert populations and health organizations about epidemics. It addresses major global epidemics such as HIV/AIDS and SARS, as well as international emergency response systems for health epidemics in different parts of the world. Sustainable Development explores challenges and solutions to improving quality of life without increasing the use of natural resources beyond environmental capacity or compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It addresses issues such as global population growth, economic and human development, global resource management, environmental change, and international environmental law. The Global Studies curriculum in these six areas is supported by affiliated faculty across over 70 departments and schools at the University of Pittsburgh. The six Global Studies concentrations are thus designed to promote more holistic learning while creating new and specialized forums for discussion and learning that break across disciplinary boundaries in order to better address the causes and consequences, and to better search for solutions arising from globalization. For instance, we see political, sociological, and economic approaches coming to bear upon understandings of changing identities in a global world; and such fields as business, law, and public affairs coming together in the study of the globalized economy and global governance. Such interdisciplinary understandings are essential to address the more specific and urgent global problems that arise within the study of each concentration – such as global warming, racism, HIV/AIDs, terrorism, and the phenomenon of outsourcing. Certificate ProgramsA certificate in Global Studies provides undergraduate and graduate students with global competence. Global competence includes the ability to work effectively in different international settings, an awareness of the major currents of global change and the issues it raises, the capacity for effective communication across cultural and linguistic boundaries, and personal adaptability to diverse cultures. Global Studies certificate students choose one of the six global issues concentrations (above) and unite it with the study of a particular region and language. The certificate programs also encourage students to take advantage of the many international learning opportunities available at the University of Pittsburgh. Bachelor of Philosophy in International and Area StudiesThe Bachelor of Philosophy in International and Area Studies, Global Studies Track, is an interdisciplinary research-based degree offered by the University Honors College in collaboration with the Global Studies Program. The degree prepares students to build international careers working on issues of major global concern by providing them with "global competence." Global competence includes the ability to work effectively in different international settings, an awareness of the major currents of global change, and the capacity for effective communication and personal adaptability across cultural and linguistic boundaries. Students build an interdisciplinary plan of study involving coursework on a chosen transnational global trend, a chosen a regional specialization, and foreign language study. They must maintain a minimum QPA of 3.25/4.00 (B+), complete a study abroad, and defend a research thesis. International Learning OpportunitiesThe Global Studies Program encourages students to enroll in a study or service abroad program. Through the Study Abroad Office, students have the opportunity to participate in study abroad programs in over 40 countries. Fellowship, Research, and Grant OpportunitiesEvery year, Global Studies sponsors a Student Research Symposium open to all undergraduate and graduate students from any University of Pittsburgh campus. In addition, Global Studies promotes research through grant and fellowship opportunities and by serving as a conduit to other international resources at the University of Pittsburgh. Sponsors, eligibility criteria, and application deadline for the AY2007-08 GAP competition will be announced in September 2007. EventsGlobal Studies supports a stimulating intellectual environment at the University by sponsoring a wide rant of events on global issues. These events highlight trans-regional, comparative, and multidisciplinary approaches to the study of global trends and phenomenon, and they provide a forum for academic discussion. Affiliated FacultyOver 300 University of Pittsburgh faculty members are associated with the Global Studies Program. Their teaching expertise and research specializations drive the content of the six global concentrations. Each academic year they teach hundreds of courses on global themes in more than 75 departments and schools. View a list of current Global Studies affilliated faculty. For more information about becoming a Global Studies affiliated faculty member, please e-mail us at global@ucis.pitt.edu. Oversight CommitteesFaculty Advisory Committee: Faculty Advisory Committee members contribute toward strengthening the Global Studies Program by advising on issues relating to their areas of expertise, providing feedback on existing projects and suggesting new directions for the program, serving as a conduit to departmental and institutional links, facilitating networking and coordination, and attracting resources in support of the program. External Board of Advisors: The Board of Advisors provides feedback on the Global Studies Program, recommends strategies to advance the program, and serves as a conduit to national and global constituents to foster awareness, facilitate networking, and attract resources in support of the program. Board members are individuals with expertise in one or more of the program’s global concentrations. StaffGlobal Studies Program staff may be contacted at global@ucis.pitt.edu, or by contacting with individual staff members: Acting Director Associate Director Assistant Director Program Coordinator Global Studies FellowsH.J. Heinz Company Foundation Fellowship, AY2007-08 Ying Peng Newsletter |
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* * * Global Studies Program This page last updated:
6/23/08
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