<p>Really you could argue Pitt’s international studies are, collectively, in the top 20 in the nation because only 16 other schools have as many different Dept. of Education designated National Resource Centers (Asian, Latin American, Eastern Europe/Russia, Europe), in addition to Pitt being one of only 10 schools with a EU Center of excellence (EU sponsored) as well as having one of the first Confucius Institutes (Chinese government sponsored). Now this isn’t an individual department or school as all of the international studies are coordinated through the [University</a> Center for International Studies (UCIS)](<a href=“http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/main/index.html]University”>http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/main/index.html). UCIS basically oversees curricula in specific topics (like business or whatever) with existing departments/schools in those specialties. For whatever area a student wants to delve into, internationally, you have to combine the strength of that program with the strength of that area of UCIS, which is very strong in its areas of expertise.</p>
<p>Now for international affairs, Pitt’s primary focus is its graduate level programs run by the [Graduate</a> School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA)](<a href=“http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/]Graduate”>http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/). It is extremely well respected, one of the seven founding schools of the APSIA, and its international relations program was ranked #16 by Foreign Policy magazine. Like many such programs, they have [a</a> program in Washington, D.C.](<a href=“http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/StudentLife/WashingtonDCConnection/tabid/110/Default.aspx]a”>http://www.gspia.pitt.edu/StudentLife/WashingtonDCConnection/tabid/110/Default.aspx) What I don’t know is how GSPIA may interact with undergrads. I would imagine there would be some opportunity for interaction and research, but that question would need to be addressed specifically to individuals at GSPIA.</p>
<p>Pitt may or may not be a “jaugernaut” or as good as some specific school located in D.C., depending on the field of interest, but overall its international programs are among the better ones in the nation, and I believe it would easily place among the top 20 in terms of faculty and graduate programs if there were overall international studies rankings. Separately, Pitt’s overall PolySci itself is ranked 39th by US News grad rankings which ties it with Georgetown, George Washington, and John Hopkins.</p>