Academic Centers

The University Center for International Studies’ academic centers bring the world to Pitt and forge students into outstanding global citizens. For the academic years through 2026, all six are recognized and funded as Title VI National Resource Centers (NRCs) by the United States Department of Education -- a Pitt record! They have also earned Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) funding to award students with fellowships, which will support them as they seek to deepen their understanding of world regions and global issues and increase proficiency in less-commonly taught languages.

Pitt’s NRC and FLAS awards place us in an elite group of institutions nationwide—we are number one in Pennsylvania and in the top five nationwide for the number earned during this funding cycle.

What is Title VI?

The United States Department of Education’s Title VI National Resource Centers program provides grants to establish, strengthen, and operate language and area or international studies centers that will be national resources for teaching any modern foreign language. Grants also support instruction in fields needed to provide a full understanding of the areas, regions, or countries where the languages are commonly used; research and training in international studies; language aspects of professional and other fields of study; and instruction and research on issues in world affairs. The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships program provides allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to U.S. institutions of higher education (IHEs) or consortia of U.S. IHEs to assist meritorious undergraduate students and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related area or international studies. Eligible students apply for fellowships directly to an institution that has an allocation of fellowships from the Department.

The Center for African Studies promotes the study and research of Africa, providing students with opportunities to expand and widen their knowledge of Africa and foster a greater understanding of the diverse continent. 

The Asian Studies Center promotes an enhanced understanding of East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.

The European Studies Center promotes the study of Europe from a linguistic, literary, artistic, historical, economic, political, sociological, legal and public policy perspective. The center has been designated a Jean Monnet European Union Center of Excellence, promoting the study and knowledge of the European Union, including its institutions and policies.

The Global Studies Center promotes critical thinking and practical engagement through the interdisciplinary study of globalization, fostering innovative research and thoughtful engagement to create diverse and inclusive spaces for intellectual growth and debate. Certificates in global studies and in global health are offered.

The Center for Latin American Studies supports teaching, learning, & research in and on Latin America, the Caribbean, and the diverse diasporic communities of Latin American and Caribbean origin. CLAS engages local, national and international communities and provides faculty and students with resources to facilitate unique research and educational experiences.

The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies focuses on central and eastern Europe and the successor states of the Soviet Union. Research areas include: contemporary Russian culture, politics, and economics; societies in transition; international relations; southeast European studies; and Slovak studies.