Global Seminars

By Sara Quarterman, International Scholar Assistant

A highlight of many students’ academic careers, the 2009 UC San Diego Global Seminar (GS) program pushes out the walls of the classroom through the experience of faculty-led classes and excursions for the second year in a row. On the Math and Beauty in Rome GS with Professor Joe Pasquale, students like Jean Huang built lifelong relationships and participated in experiences such as attending the grand opening of the opera Carmen in Pisa along with fifteen of their fellow students.

This summer, 130 students participated in six study abroad programs led by a UC San Diego faculty member. Students took two UC San Diego courses, for a total of eight units, during a five-week program. Sites included Amsterdam, Rome, Cadiz, Berlin, and Istanbul. Our faculty developed rigorous courses and syllabi, crafted course materials to take advantage of the sites, and led academic excursions that made the course content come alive to students in ways that are not possible on a traditional campus.

For the summer of 2010, there are eleven programs. New locations include Budapest, Madrid, and Venice. Repeat programs include Linguistics in Cadiz, MMW 4 in Istanbul, Revelle in Rome, as well as Math and Beauty in Rome.

The Programs Abroad Office (PAO) has worked hard to continue to expand outreach to diverse student populations, transfer students, first-generation college students, and students from majors that do not traditionally participate in study abroad in high numbers, such as science and engineering. The office has created an exciting new study abroad program that continues to contribute to the chancellor’s goal of raising the study abroad participation rate from 22 percent to 50 percent of UC San Diego students in the next five years.

PAO has a limited pool of scholarship money available to assist some GS students with $500 or $1,000 awards. Students can apply for summer financial aid as well if they have completed a FAFSA form.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning in mid-October. Contact PAO at globalseminar@ucsd.edu for more details.

UC San Diego Global Seminars also offers faculty new teaching experiences and students new opportunities to expand their global understanding. If you or somebody you know would like more information about teaching a Global Seminar for summer 2011, please contact program director Jim Galvin at jgalvin@ucsd.edu.