About GSC
The University of Pittsburgh's Global Studies Center (GSC) is one of 11 nationally recognized centers in international studies, as designated by the U.S. Department of Education. GSC 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). The Center fosters global competence of students, educators, and members of the community at-large. GSC offers certificate programs in six areas of concentration: Changing Identities; Communication, Technology, and Society; Conflict and Conflict Resolution; Global Economy and Global Governance; Global Health; and Sustainable Development. The Center also initiates interdisciplinary and cross-cultural colloquia, seminars, and events; and research and grant opportunities for students and faculty.
Research and Teaching Foci
GSC supports teaching and research around four major global themes that pose urgent and complex challenges in our world today:
- Global Economy
- Global Health
- Global Security
- Global Society
The four themes are 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 search for solutions arising from globalization.
Faculty Grant Opportunities
GSC offers competitive faculty grants to support interdisciplinary international research, conferences, workshops, and curriculum development on global issues, which result in publications, curricular developments, and international scholarly ties, and which raise the international profile of the University of Pittsburgh.
Fellowships
GSC offers over $200,000 annually for Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students to study less commonly taught languages (Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Hebrew, Hindi, Portuguese, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu.) The GSC also offers the Heinz Fellowship which is a two-year fellowship for graduate students from developing countries who demonstrate potential as future leaders.
Certificate Programs
Through the graduate and undergraduate certificate program, students develop an awareness of 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. Student chose one of six global concentrations (Changing identities in global world; Communication, technology and society; Conflict and conflict resolution; Global economy and global governance; Global Health; and Sustainable development) and unit it with a study of a particular region and language.
Bachelor of Philosophy in International and Area Studies
The Bachelor of Philosophy Degree in International and Area Studies (BPHIL IAS) is offered by the University Honors College (UHC) in cooperation with the University Center for International Studies (UCIS) area studies centers and programs. It is an interdisciplinary major that emphasizes scope, in-depth study, critical thinking and rigorous independent scholarship and appeals to those who are attracted to the challenge of serious research focusing on a world region or on transnational global trends.
Outreach
GSC’s outreach program draws on the outstanding resources available at Pitt in order to provide resources and sponsor activities that enrich the intellectual and cultural life of K-12 students and teachers, university/college faculty, local business groups, and the Pittsburgh community in general. GSC’s outreach program offers six different types of resources: workshops, professional development, Act 48 Credit, lending library and resources, speakers bureau, and lectures.
International Week
International Week aims to expand the awareness of and interest in global learning opportunities by celebrating the intercultural diversity of campus life. This annual event also promotes collaboration of various divisions and departments as well as student groups on campus and strengthens the University of Pittsburgh as a center for international education.
