New Geographies, New Pedagogies: Institute of International Studies; UC Berkeley
The main thrust of this project is to tackle the demanding question of revitalizing area studies through a disciplined effort to rethink doctoral training. By using the device of globalized research sites as a means of engaging students and faculty across regions and disciplines, it is hoped that the development of a year long field-oriented research practicum, rooted in a set of related thematic activities, can have important consequences for graduate students and faculty alike. In our view, the demands of training students differently, while still remaining rooted in the fertile soil of area studies specialization, generates several layers of spillover effects. Faculty can pursue their theoretically oriented scholarship by thinking creatively about the knotty problems of devising theory and method appropriate to conducting research in globalized sites. The new courses developed in and around the research practicum can be made widely available through the IIS website and can be taught regularly through International and Area Studies. In addition, faculty who participate in these activities -- the year long thematic activities or in the research practicum -- can also take these new approaches to the design of undergraduate research curriculum in area studies programs.
It is entirely feasible that in the course of the three year project, a series of activities can be developed -- new area studies undergraduate curriculum, new courses in the professional schools, a research practicum -- which become institutionalized and will continue long after the termination of the Crossing Borders initiative. We are confident that by using resources from Berkeley instructional mini grants efforts can be made to also research Graduate Student Instructors who teach in the area studies programs, and to offer intensive seminars and workshops for faculty.
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