Model United Nations Background

Model United Nations

Model United Nations, also known as Model UN or MUN, is a course offered to Cal State Fullerton students who are ready to take on a challenging and enriching once in a lifetime experience. This course involves substantial research, public speaking, critical thinking, collaboration and most importantly, a strong desire to excel as a delegate to the United Nations. Students enrolled in the Model UN course are required to participate in mock UN conferences, which are held in distinguished locations around the United States. Every year, Dr. Choudhury Shamim, Professor of Political Science and the faculty advisor for CSUF Model UN prepares his students for the conferences. At these conferences, while representing a country, students must work in larger committees (maximum of 300 members) alongside students from universities such as Yale and Stanford to form a peace treaty by coming to an agreement with all other countries. Although many students are in each committee, only a few members are recognized. Awards are determined by how well students write research papers, discuss proposals, and deliver speeches.

Dr. Choudhury Shamim started the Model UN program at Cal State Fullerton approximately 20 years ago and since then, CSUF has proven to be very successful at the MUN conferences. In the 2006 Harvard Model UN conference, three Cal State Fullerton students received individual honorable mentions. Also, in the 2008 National Model United Nations Conference, CSUF brought back an "Outstanding Position Papers" award and an "Outstanding Delegation" award. In Spring 2014, students will be participating in the Inland Empire Conference Model UN in Riverside, Harvard National Model UN in Boston, Long Beach Model UN in Long Beach and the NMUN Conference in New York and hope to return with high recognition. Students continue to work as a cohesive unit to become effective researchers, strong speakers and outstanding delegates. With such strong dedication from both students and Dr. Shamim, being awarded at the MUN conferences has become a yearly tradition for Cal State Fullerton.

For more information about the program, please contact Dr. Shamim at cshamim@fullerton.edu

If you would like to support the program by volunteering time or donating to support student activities, please contact the Division Chair, Dr. Matthew Jarvis at mjarvis@fullerton.edu.

 Model UN