The Center for Global Studies (CGS), a National Resource Center under a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education, administers academic year and summer Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. The objective of the CGS FLAS program is to provide students with the skills they need to deal effectively with global issues in their future roles in business, the professions, health, education, government, non-governmental associations, and intergovernmental organizations.
The CGS awards FLAS fellowships to graduate students of exceptional promise who plan to enter the professional world upon graduation in fields related to globalization. Students in all disciplines are eligible to apply for Global Studies FLAS awards. Students in professional fields, such as engineering, business, economics, health, agriculture, library and information science, social work, planning, education, and communications are especially encouraged to apply. Preference is given to students concentrating in an international area within their discipline.
What is unique about the Illinois global studies FLAS program is that University of Illinois graduate and professional students can now learn a language and culture relevant to their projected professional work, yet not necessarily be expected to teach the language or be engaged in area studies. A model for the program is a scholar in the College of Medicine who has been studying advanced Portuguese under a FLAS fellowship in order to use this skill to learn more about emerging infectious diseases.
The Center for Global Studies typically awards six academic year fellowships and four summer awards. Funding for the 2007-08 academic year fellowships is pending CGS' FLAS Grant application to the U.S. Department of Education.
FLAS recipients are required to enroll in language study in the Fall and Spring semesters. In addition, Fellows are requried to enroll in an approved Global Studies course each semester.
Academic Year FLAS recipients receive full tuition, madatory fees, and a $15,000 stipend during the academic year. Summer FLAS recipients receive tuition for a summer language program and a $2,500 stipend.
Application Deadline: Mid-February, 2008. More specific information will be posted here as it becomes available.
