2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog
Global Studies Certificate
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University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
Global Studies Center
Elaine Linn, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs
4100 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-648-2113
eel58@pitt.edu
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/
Global studies is an exciting - and evolving - interdisciplinary field concerned with transnational structures, processes, and interactions that cross familiar political borders and cultural boundaries and affect our social, economic, cultural, political, and ecological environments.
Global Studies students pursing an undergraduate degree in any school within the University can tailor a unique plan of interdisciplinary study drawn from more than 200 courses across 5 global concentrations, gaining a solid understanding of the academic debates over globalization and their policy implications, learn important critical thinking skills and use them to arrive at their own stances on these issues. Students can double count up to six credits from their major, allowing them to fulfill their general education, major or certificate requirements at the same time and must maintain a 2.50 cumulative GPA.
In addition to the certificate, the Center provides a hub for students wanting to understand and take action on today’s pressing issues at home and/or abroad. It offers numerous complementary programs and opportunities that support students’ intellectual and personal development: research skills, career exploration and career readiness, experiential education and civic engagement, and a critical understanding of current events. Also, funding is available for travel grants and tuition remission for student ambassador positions.
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Certificate Requirements
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Global Concentrations: Working with the advisor, students personalize a course of study selecting from one of five global concentrations:
Cultural Dynamics
World Ecologies
Health and Well-Being
Peace, Conflict, and Security
Politics and Economy
- Introduction to Global Studies (3 credits): PS 0550 Introduction to Global Studies examines current global trends and issues in ways that encourage students to think critically about how to analyze, interpret, and respond to global interactions and their consequences for different regions, localities, and groups. It gives particular attention to the concept of globalization, highlighting the controversies surrounding its use and engaging core debates about the impact of global and transnational processes on economic and social relations, politics and governance, cultural interactions and the environment in local and global contexts.
- Five Global Thematic Courses (15 credits): After students select a global concentration, they choose from a comprehensive and dynamic list of courses ensuring three disciplines are represented to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on their chosen global concentration. At least two of the courses must be 1000 level. Students must maintain a 2.50 cumulative G.P.A.
- Language Proficiency: Building on Pitt’s vast offering of over 30 languages, a minimum of two years of college-level study (four semesters) in a foreign language is required. Students can fulfill this requirement by passing a proficiency exam at the Intermediate low-mid proficiency level.
- E-Portfolio: Students create a dynamic portfolio that reflects their scholarly engagement within their global concentration or their understanding of a global issue, highlights how they are informed about, as well as engaged with, a global issue through their various co-curricular experiences at Pitt, and lastly highlights their professional development experiences preparing them for career success.
Special Academic Opportunities
Students enrolled in Global Studies are the first to be informed about funding for research, travel, language study, and study abroad; internships and career development; networking opportunities with dignitaries, academics, and professionals; and interesting events on campus and in the city of Pittsburgh.
Experiential Learning: Student may participate in a wide range of study away, study abroad that will count towards their certificate credits.
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