UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

The University Center for International Studies (UCIS) is the central coordinating and support mechanism for the international activities of the University of Pittsburgh. As a University-wide center, UCIS supports multidisciplinary programs of research and instruction in international and area studies, linking departments and schools of the University. It connects the University and private and public sector institutions, other universities, and institutions in other countries to strengthen the University’s international dimension of teaching, research, and public service. UCIS aids students in their acquisition of international knowledge through certificate programs, study abroad programs, curriculum development, and seminars; assists faculty in their international research, teaching, and service; and develops and manages international programs and projects. The center offers undergraduate certificate programs through its four area studies centers (Asian studies, Latin American studies, Russian and East European studies, and West European studies), all of which are designated by the federal government as National Resource Centers. In addition, UCIS offers undergraduate certificates in African studies and global studies. UCIS certificates evidence language proficiency and area knowledge that students find useful for international careers or for advanced degrees with a concentration in a particular world area or global theme.

Contact Information

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
4400 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-648-7390
Fax: 412-648-4672
ucis@pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu

Admission Requirements

Formal admission to the UCIS certificate programs is accomplished by completing a simple application form. Interested students are encouraged to apply in their freshman or sophomore year. There are no special requirements for admission. All undergraduate certificate programs in UCIS (with the exception of the certificate programs in global studies and Latin American studies described below) require 15 credits/five courses in the applicable area, with three or more courses in at least two departments other than the major. Language requirements vary from two to six terms.

Certificate courses can be used simultaneously to fulfill the student’s general education and international/foreign culture requirements. Grades must generally be C or better to be accepted for the certificate program. Upon graduation, both the academic degree and the certificate are posted on the student’s transcript.

Advising

All UCIS certificate programs provide advising services to students interested or registered in its programs in addition to those routinely offered by the students’ major advisors. Center advisors assist in selecting courses, language training, and arranging internships or study abroad to fit the students’ academic and personal interests. See the program descriptions below for contact information.

Special Academic Opportunities

In addition to the regular certificate programs, UCIS offers the following special academic opportunities:

Asian Studies Scholarships and Fellowships

Students enrolled in the Asian studies certificate program are eligible for a variety of fellowships and scholarships, including the Chinese Summer Language Study Abroad Scholarships, the Japanese Studies Undergraduate Scholarship, the Study-in-Japan Scholarship, and the Japanese Summer Language Study Scholarship. In addition, a new undergraduate scholarship program for students studying Chinese and Japanese language has recently been initiated for study abroad in an approved program.

Latin American Studies Undergraduate Seminar/Field Trip

The Undergraduate Seminar/Field Trip is a unique component of the Latin American studies undergraduate certificate program. The Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) firmly believes that all undergraduates should have the opportunity to experience Latin American culture firsthand. This objective is met through an annual field trip to a selected Latin American country for which about 12 students are chosen each year. CLAS subsidizes the cost of this trip via scholarships to place it within the means of virtually all students. Student participants register for a seminar in the spring term (January–April) that prepares them for the field trip through study of the culture, economics, geography, history, and politics of the area to be visited. Students also are introduced to research methodology and are guided through the development of a project which forms the basis for research they conduct while in the field. In the summer session (mid-May–late June), the students travel to Latin America, where they reside with host families and undertake their research projects under the direction of a CLAS faculty member. (In past years, groups have gone to Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay, and Venezuela.)

Russian and East European Studies Capstone Course

The Center for Russian and East European Studies (REES) offers, through a specific department in Arts and Sciences, a capstone (or exit) course for juniors and seniors in its undergraduate certificate program. The capstone course is recommended but is not mandatory. It is designed to give students from a variety of academic disciplines the opportunity to investigate a common development in the region. Topics have included women writers, political and economic transition, and nationalism. The course is not restricted to REES students, and it is open to undergraduates who are knowledgeable and interested in the region. Course requirements include research paper(s), and class size is limited to 25 students.

The REES certificate requires that students enroll in courses that focus on this world region from at least three different academic departments. This capstone (or exit) course is an opportunity for students from different disciplines to take the same course, which is interdisciplinary in nature. The classes include both lectures and discussion sessions.

Russian and East European Studies Summer Study Abroad and Internship Awards

The Center for Russian and East European Studies (REES) believes that study or work abroad is a key component of its certificate program. In an effort to encourage students to travel to the region, REES offers several scholarships each summer to students enrolled in the certificate program. In addition, REES offers several awards to its students annually to fund paid internships in Pittsburgh during the academic year in the field of Russian and East European studies.

West European Studies Friedl E. Kessler Memorial Fellowship

To help defray the costs of studying abroad, the Center for West European Studies offers the Kessler Fellowship for study or research in Germany. This competitive award is offered every other year in the amount of $1,000. Any student pursuing the Certificate in West European Studies who studies German and has at least a 3.0 QPA is eligible to apply.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

AFRICAN STUDIES CERTIFICATE

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
African Studies Program
Joseph Adjaye, Undergraduate Advisor and Director
4C02 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-648-2058
Fax: 412-648-7214
africast@ucis.pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa

Students seeking an undergraduate degree at any school within the University may pursue an undergraduate certificate in African studies. Requirements include

• Five courses: one required core course (either AFRCNA 0027 Introduction to Africa or AFRCNA 0086 African Civilization and Culture) and four courses selected from those listed with African content and
• Language proficiency: one year of study (two terms) of an indigenous African language (Swahili, Yoruba, Arabic) or proficiency in a European language relevant to African studies as a consequence of Africa’s historical experience, e.g., French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

ASIAN STUDIES CERTIFICATE

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
Asian Studies Center
Dianne F. Dakis, Undergraduate Advisor and Assistant Director for Student Affairs
4A30 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-648-7367
Fax: 412-624-4665
dakis@ucis.pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/asp/cert.html

Students in any school of the University can pursue an undergraduate certificate in Asian studies as a supplement to a major. Requirements are

• Five Asian area studies courses: one course in the student’s major and four courses in at least two departments other than the major (for a total of 15 credits). If the major department does not have options for an Asian focus (e.g., chemistry, English), the student must take an additional Asia-related course in a third department.
• Language proficiency: two years (four terms) of Asian language study at the college level or equivalent proficiency.

EUROPEAN UNION STUDIES CERTIFICATE

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
Center for West European Studies/European Union Center
Stacey Beggs, Assistant Director and Undergraduate Advisor
4E48 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Phone: 412-624-3503
Fax: 412-648-2199
beggs@ucis.pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/cwes

The European Union (EU) Studies Certificate is designed to provide the student with general competence in the skills, knowledge, and communicative dimensions of modern issues of European integration. The program will integrate existing courses into a coherent and vibrant learning and research environment in conjunction with practical insight into the formulation and enactment of policy. Requirements are

• PS 1317 Politics of the European Union
• One course on the historical foundation of the EU (from approved list)
• Three courses on the EU or with significant EU content (from approved list)
• The EU Studies Capstone Seminar
• Completion of the fourth semester of an official EU language (excluding English) or the national language of a candidate country. Equivalent proficiency in the language may be proved through examination.

No more than two courses from one department (excluding language courses) may count toward the certificate. For double and triple majors, only three courses from the majors may count toward the certificate.

In addition to the course requirements, students must also meet the following requirements:

1. Students must be enrolled in the certificate program for a minimum of two semesters and must attend at least two EU lectures or events per semester. Ideally, a student will enroll in the program during freshman year.
2. Every EU Studies Certificate student must participate in Model EU (held every spring) or an equivalent activity at least once before graduation. Equivalent activities may include an internship related to the European Union, attendance at a student conference with an EU theme, or participation in another EU simulation.

GLOBAL STUDIES CERTIFICATE

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
Global Studies Program
Lisa Alfredson, Undergraduate Advisor and Associate Director
4100 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-2918
Fax: 412-624-4672
global@ucis.pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/global

Students pursuing an undergraduate degree in any school within the University may seek an undergraduate certificate in global studies. Requirements are

• Six global studies courses: A&S 0150 Introduction to Global Studies, two courses in one regional concentration, and three courses in a global concentration, for a total of 18 credits.
• Language proficiency: two years (four terms) of college-level language appropriate to the regional concentration selected. Equivalent proficiency in the language may be proven through examination.
• Brief research paper encompassing the student's global and regional concentrations.

LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES
RELATED CONCENTRATION AND CERTIFICATE

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
Center for Latin American Studies
Shirley Kregar, Undergraduate Advisor and Associate Director for Academic Affairs
4E32 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-648-7396
Fax: 412-648-2199
kregar@ucis.pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas

Related Concentration

Students may begin their work on Latin America through the related concentration in Latin American studies. Requirements are

• Five Latin American area studies courses: one course in the student’s major and four courses in at least two departments other than the major (for a total of 15 credits) and
• Language proficiency: two years (four terms) of college-level Spanish or Portuguese or the equivalent. Equivalent proficiency in the language may be proven through examination.

Students who complete these requirements receive a notation on their transcript that they have earned a related concentration in Latin American studies.

Certificate

The certificate program consists of on-campus area and language proficiency courses and a study abroad program. Requirements are

• Seminar/field trip: satisfactory completion of the interdisciplinary seminar and field trip (9 credits) or an equivalent program of academic study abroad,
• Four Latin American area studies courses: one in the student’s major and three in at least two departments other than the major (12 credits), and
• Language proficiency: three years (six terms) of college-level Spanish or Portuguese or the equivalent. Equivalent proficiency may be proven through examination.

Students majoring in departments in which no Latin American courses are offered can complete the related concentration or certificate by substituting the major course with a Latin American course in any department.

RUSSIAN AND EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES CERTIFICATE

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
Center for Russian and East European Studies
Paloma Garcia-Paredes, Undergraduate Advisor
4G19 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-648-7418
Fax: 412-648-7002
paloma@ucis.pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/crees

The Russian and East European Studies Certificate combines foreign language training and multidisciplinary area studies courses. Requirements are

• Five Russian and East European area studies courses: one course in the student’s major and four courses in at least two departments other than the major (15 credits),
• Language proficiency: two years of college-level study in Russian or a language of the former Soviet Union or East/Central Europe or demonstration of equivalent proficiency, and
• Maintenance of a 3.00 QPA in courses taken toward the completion of the certificate.

Students who major in departments not offering REES courses, e.g. the natural or physical sciences, are required to take five area studies courses (15 credits) in three departments.

WEST EUROPEAN STUDIES CERTIFICATE

University of Pittsburgh
University Center for International Studies
Center for West European Studies
Stacey Beggs, Undergraduate Advisor and Assistant Director
4E48 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-3503
Fax: 412-648-2199
beggs@ucis.pitt.edu
www.ucis.pitt.edu/cwes

The West European Studies Certificate is designed to allow students to complement a major in any discipline (including the sciences) with an interdisciplinary set of courses related to Western Europe and the European Union and proficiency in a relevant language. Requirements are

• Five West European area studies courses: one course in the student’s major and four courses (12 credits) in at least two departments outside the student’s major department. Of these courses, one must be on 19th-century and one on 20th-century Western Europe, and two must be at the 1000 level. In addition, at least two of the five courses must be from a humanities discipline and two from a social science discipline.
• Students are encouraged to choose area studies that follow a “track” or common theme. Examples of tracks within West European studies include European Union studies, international affairs, and European contributions to the humanities. Students may also focus on a specific country.
• Language proficiency: two courses beyond the fourth-semester level in French, German, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish OR completion of the fourth semester of one West European language and the second semester of a second West European language, as long as one or both are "less commonly taught" languages offered through the Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTL) Center.
• For students graduating in April 2005 and beyond, study abroad in Western Europe is required. Exceptions will be considered for students with financial need or other extenuating circumstances.