University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Center for Global Studies

The Center for Global Studies (CGS), the principal academic arm of International Programs and Studies (IPS), is responsible for globalizing the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s research, teaching, and outreach programs. Since 2003, CGS has been designated as a National Resource Center (NRC) under the U.S. Department of Education’s Title VI grant program.

CGS has a four part mission. First, the Center promotes and supports innovative research to define what globalization as a contested notion is, to identify the multiple and cumulative impacts of the powerful forces driving this process, and to make this knowledge known to interested parties around the globe. Second, CGS works closely with UIUC's nine colleges, multiple disciplinary and professional units, and faculty and students to globalize the research, teaching, and engagement missions of the university. Third, CGS consults with universities and faculty who aim to develop global studies research and teaching programs. Fourth, CGS works to make the knowledge and teaching programs on all aspects of globalization available to teachers and students in Illinois, the United States, and elsewhere around the world from K-16. These resources are also accessible to business, professionals, media, governmental agencies, civic organizations, and all members of the interested public concerned with global problems and how to solve them for the benefit of peoples everywhere.

For more information about the Center for Global Studies, please visit www.cgs.uiuc.edu, send an email to global-studies@uiuc.edu, or call 217-265-5186.

The Center for Global Studies has over 100 faculty affiliates who work with "Clusters of Excellence" that promote cross-unit and disciplinary research and instruction. The Center works in concert with a variety of departments across campus. Reflecting this diversity are a faculty that, in a variety of ways, incorporate global issues into their research and/or teaching. Assembled here is a collection of brief profiles, contact information and links to individual web pages that present faculty research and expertise in more detail.

Faculty biographies and contact information are listed by the collaborative clusters below:

 

Global Studies Education
Social and Policy Studies
Language and Culture
International Security
Sustainable Development
Information Science and Media

Global Studies in Education Masters of Education

 

Established: 2003
More information: gse.ed.uiuc.edu

Program Philosophy

The GSE Online program is based on the realization that the world has become inextricably interconnected as well as interdependent, and educators cannot afford to ignore this new reality. They need to extend their knowledge of the world and develop critical skills to understand the changing economic, political, and cultural contexts within which education takes place. At the same time, the new contexts provide educators with wonderful new opportunities to enhance the quality of their teaching by linking up with educators around the world.

 

Background

This unique degree has been developed and is taught by leading scholars in global studies in education associated with the Department of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Global Studies in Education (GSE) Online program was established in 2004 and enrolled its first cohort of students in January 2005. These students graduated with a Masters Degree in Educational Policy Studies (EPS) in December 2006.

An article describing how and why the program was developed appeared in the online University of Illinois News Bureau in April, 2005. The degree consists of eight courses, and is normally completed in two years of part time studies, with no on-campus requirement. The program's innovative approach to on-line education provides students considerable flexibility, with a range of opportunities to interact with educators from around the world and participate in a study abroad program. Its development is partly funded by the US Department of Education's Title VI Program through the Center for Global Studies and other Area Studies centers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign .

Changing Role of the Educator

Increasingly, educators are becoming aware of the challenges presented by the complex, transforming world in which youth cultures are often ahead of teacher knowledge and skills especially with respect to the uses of new technologies and the media. This suggests a new role for educators in helping their students to navigate this globalizing world; in internationalizing their curriculum and pedagogy; and helping their students to reflect and critically understand what it means to be globally informed, aware and compassionate human beings - "citizens of the world."

Aims of the Program

Based on this understanding of global interconnectivity and interdependence, this program seeks to assist P-16 educators to incorporate global perspectives into their existing curricula and pedagogies. It is designed to provide them with an opportunity to consider the ways in which globalization affects their work, so that they are better equipped to challenge their students to develop a more transnational outlook. This program is on-line, and offers a range of opportunities for educators to work with educators around the world and apply course theories in practice.

Core Courses Each of the six core courses examines the ways in which conditions of global inter-connectivity and interdependence affect educational policy; technology and educational reform; classroom learning and management; curriculum and instruction; and issues of identity and culture in transnational contexts. The core courses are: - Globalization and Educational Policy - Technology, Globalization, and Educational Reform - Global Issues in Learning and Teaching - Curriculum in the Global Context - Identity and Culture in Transnational Contexts -School-Based Project in Internationalization Cohorts begin in both the Fall and Spring Semesters. Most students take one course at a time in the Fall and Spring, and two courses during the Summer session for each of the two years that are taken to complete the requirement of the program. However, some flexibility is possible for students who wish to work to a different schedule, either by taking parts of their summer off, or by varying the speed at which they wish to complete of their program.

Program Requirements The program requires completion of eight courses (32 semester hours, 4 hours per course), normally taken over two calendar years. It is designed around cohorts of students who begin and end the program together more or less at the same time. Each cohort is ideally made up of 25 students who follow the same sequence of six core courses. This is followed by two elective courses to enable students to broaden their understanding of particular issues, to participate in a study abroad program, conduct a work-based project in international education. There is some flexibility in the ordering of courses to fit individual needs, but students are encouraged to take the core courses with their cohort since learning and community building of educators is as important to the process as the courses are.

Illinois is a world leader in research, teaching, and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty. Illinois alumni have earned Nobel and Pulitzer Prizes and Olympic medals, have orbited the earth, and lead international corporations. The campus offers rich experiences beyond the classroom, from the best performing arts to Big Ten sports.

Center for Global Studies a unit of International Programs and Studies and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

The Center for Global Studies
International Programs & Studies
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Presidential Tower, Suite 1705
302 E. John St.
Champaign, Illinois, 61820, USA