Academic Credentials
African Studies Certificate
- 1 core course (3 credits)
- 4 elective courses (12 credits)
- E-Portfolio
- 4 semesters of one or more of the following:
- Arabic
- Swahili
- French
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Highly encouraged
African Studies Graduate Certificate
- A total of six African Studies courses (18 credits) is required.
- Any Graduate Class can count towards the African Certificate if there is at least 25% African content.
- Two years of college-level instruction of an indigenous African language (Arabic, Swahili, Yoruba) or relevant European language
- E-portfolio
Asian Studies Certificate
- Five Asian studies courses are required. Grades for courses must be a C minimum. Certificate requirements may met with general education credits, and courses from study abroad or transfer credit (B grade minimum).
- Four courses must be taken in at least two departments outside the major
- One course must be taken in the major department. If the major department does not offer Asian-focused courses (eg chemistry or English), the course must be taken in a third department.
- A student must complete two years of college-level study (four semesters) of an Asian language. Pitt offers Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Vietnamese. Heritage and native speakers must demonstrate intermediate-level proficiency, and may be exempt from this requirement.
- The digital portfolio is a website that asks students to reflect on their curricular and co-curricular experiences to situate their Asian Studies Certificate with their broader academic plans, co-curricular actives, scholarship, work experience, and career goals. The digital portfolio will be started as students enter the Asian Studies program and will be changed and expanded as students continue through their college program. Digital portfolios will be finalized in early in the student’s final semester. Details will be discussed with the advisor.
- Strongly encouraged
BPhil in International & Area Studies—Asian Studies Track
- 8 Asia-related courses (24)
- (only two courses from the second major can overlap with the BPhil)
- 1 Methodology (3)
- 1 Directed study for thesis writing (3)
3.5
- 6 semesters in a language relevant to region of study
- Required (exceptions may be made)
- Proposal for plan of study
- Defend an honors thesis
BPhil in International and Area Studies—European Studies Track
- 8 Europe-related courses (24)
- 1 Methodology (3)
- 1 Directed study for thesis writing (3)
3.5
- 6 semesters in a language relevant to region of study
- Required (exceptions may be made)
- Proposal for plan of study
- Defend an honors thesis
BPhil in International and Area Studies—Global Studies Track
- 7 Global concentration (21)
- 1 Intro to Global Studies (3)
- 1 Methodology (3)
- 1 Capstone (3)
- 6 college semesters of language study of one language other than English or demonstrated equivalent proficiency
- Required
- Proposal for plan of study
- Defend an honors thesis
- Portfolio presentation
BPhil in International and Area Studies—Latin American Studies Track
- 8 Latin American-related courses (24)(only two courses from the second major can overlap with the BPhil)
- 1 Methodology (3)
- 1 Capstone (3)
- 6 semesters in a language relevant to region of study
- Required
- Proposal for plan of study
- Defend an honors thesis
- Portfolio presentation
BPhil in International and Area Studies—Mediterranean Studies Track
- 8 Europe-related courses (24)
- 1 Methodology (3)
- 1 Directed study for thesis writing (3)
3.5
- 6 semesters in a language relevant to region of study
- Required (exceptions may be made)
- Proposal for plan of study
- Defend an honors thesis
BPhil in International and Area Studies—Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Track
- 8 Russia, East Europe, or Eurasia-related courses (24 credits)
- 1 Methodology Course (3 credits)
- 1 Directed Study for Thesis Writing (3 credits)
3.5
- 6 semesters or the equivalent proficiency in a language relevant to region of study
- Required (exceptions may be made)
- Proposal for plan of study
- Defend an honors thesis
BPhil in International and Area Studies—Transatlantic Studies Track
- 8 Europe-related courses (24)
- 1 Methodology (3)
- 1 Directed study for thesis writing (3)
3.5
- 6 semesters in a language relevant to region of study
- Required (exceptions may be made)
- Proposal for plan of study
- Defend an honors thesis
European Studies Graduate Certificate
- At least six courses or seminars: six credits from core EU courses; nine credits outside major (18 credits)
- Participation in EU-related co-curricular activity required
- Three years of college-level instruction, or equivalent proficiency, in an official EU language
- Interdisciplinary research paper
European Union Studies Certificate
- 6 courses from at least three different departments (18 credits)
- Capstone project
- 4 semesters of one or more of the following:
- An official EU language (excluding English)
- Highly encouraged
Global Health Certificate
- Introduction to Global Health (3 credits)
- 2 Core Course (6 credits)
- 3 Elective (9 credits)
- Digital Portfolio
- No language required
- Highly encouraged
Global Studies Certificate
- 5 global concentration (15 credits)
- Intro to Global Studies (3 credits)
- Successful submission of online student portfolio
- 4 semesters of college level language study or demonstrated equivalent proficiency
- Highly encouraged but not required
Global Studies Graduate Certificate
- Four courses in global concentration
- Two upper-level courses in regional concentration (18 credits)
- Intermediate low/mid proficiency in less commonly taught language or intermediate high-level proficiency in commonly taught language
- Trans-regional analysis of a global concentration written as part of a course
Graduate Certificate in Advanced Asian Studies
- A minimum of five upper-level courses or graduate seminars focused on Asia, in at least two departments. Four of these courses may overlap with the student’s primary academic program. The five courses must include one seminar outside the student’s major department.
- A student must demonstrate proficiency in reading and speaking one approved Asian language related to one of the student’s countries or regions of interest. Proficiency means at least three years of college-level study or the equivalent; it may be established by completing language courses or by passing a special examination.
- Students must submit a research-based paper, project, or presentation from a course, research project, or conference. The submitted capstone work must include evidence of interdisciplinary research.
Graduate Certificate in Advanced Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
- Six REEES-related courses (18 credits)
- At least four of these courses must be from two or more non-major departments
- Two years of college-level instruction or equivalent proficiency in a language of the former Soviet Union or Central and Eastern Europe, including modern Greek, Turkish, and Persian
- A Digital Portfolio describing the student's intellectual biography and professional ambitions
Graduate Certificate in Advanced Transnational Asia
- A minimum of five upper-level courses or graduate seminars defined by the student’s thematic interest. Students will work the Asian Studies Center advisor to define a theme and approve courses for their program of study.
- A student has three options for the completion of the language proficiency. Students may show language proficiency equivalent to one year of a college language in three languages all related to the certificate thematic interest, with at least one language being an Asian language (e.g. Indonesian, Dutch, French). Students may show the equivalent of two years of language proficiency in one language, and one year in another with one of the languages being an Asian language (e.g. Chinese, Spanish). Students may show three years language proficiency in one Asian language (e.g. Korean).
- Students must submit a research-based paper, project, or presentation from a course, research project, or conference. The submitted capstone work must include evidence of interdisciplinary research on the student’s defined theme.
Graduate Certificate in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies
- Six REES-related courses (18 credits)
- At least four of these courses must be from two or more non-major departments
- Two years of college-level instruction or equivalent proficiency in a language of the former Soviet Union or Central and Eastern Europe, including modern Greek, Turkish, and Persian
- A Digital Portfolio describing the student's intellectual biography and professional ambitions
Human Rights and Social Justice Certificate
- 2 core courses (6 credits)
- 4 elective courses (12 credits)
- E-Portfolio
- Highly encouraged