Knowing More and Changing Your Perspective About Yourself and the World
All students who participate in the CSUSB - MUN program at CSUSB will go through an academic curriculum that will prepare them to excel both at the CSUSB - MUN and in the outside world. Many students who have participated in CSUSB - MUN would testify that it is one of the most challenging and at the same time rewarding things they did in college and also one of the most difficult ones as well!
Students gain an in-depth understanding of the United Nations (UN) and the UN system, the Member State (country) they are presenting and the region under study. Additionally, students gain a better understanding of what they are capable of and what they can achieve in life. We are not exaggerating when we claim that "Life changing" is the most common phrase you will hear from alumni of the CSUSB - MUN program.
The Formula for Success and Growth at CSUSB - MUN:
The Three 'P' Plus 1 (3Ps+1)
The CSUSB - MUN Program prepares to participate in National Model United Nations conferences using a formula that is known as the 3Ps +1 formula. We grade each other and the entire class on 3Ps+1 at the end of every practice session on Fridays. Each student gets to evaluate his/her/their entire team using these three characteristics. These are the pillars of CSUSB - MUN program and they help students excel at the conference and in their everyday lives.
What we mean by preparation can be summarized as "the substance" of our work. All the information about who we are, what the issues we are working on are, why we are doing what we are doing, and how we should fix the problems. All of this information comes to be the result of extensive preparation we do in our training. These preparations are centered around reenacting conference sessions, writing policy papers, giving speeches, raising motions, becoming subjective matter experts on assigned countries and committee topics, etc. Without extensive preparation, success would be illusive!
Part of this preparation is done in connection with the associated classes with the CSUSB MUN Program, GEOG 5755 (Fall Semester) and GEOG 5756 (Spring Semester), and the other preparation is done with teammates outside of class.
Professionalism is essential to success—on the CSUSB MUN team and in everyday life. It shapes how we present ourselves and how we treat others. We are expected to carry ourselves with respect and integrity in all situations: in our communication, in how we engage in agreement and disagreement, in collaboration and delegation, and in how we accomplish our goals. We treat others as we want to be treated — our teammates, others at the MUN conferences, and those not involved in MUN that we interact with in public.
The CSUSB MUN Program prides itself on being the most professional people in the room at any given time. CSUSB MUN students know they need to be the "voice of reason" in a room even when things are hectic and falling apart.
Procedure is a core part of preparation in the CSUSB MUN program. It represents the “rules of the game” that make effective diplomacy possible. Just as in sports, understanding the rules is essential not only for participation, but for success. In NMUN conferences, procedure governs how diplomats—representing countries and institutions—engage with one another. It determines who may speak, how ideas are introduced, how delegates communicate, and how documents are written and advanced.
More importantly, procedure is not meant to restrict conversation—it is designed to facilitate it. By providing a clear and shared structure, it ensures that all delegates have the opportunity to be heard, that discussions remain organized and productive, and that negotiations move forward efficiently. Mastering procedure, therefore, is a critical part of preparation: it equips delegates to navigate the conference confidently, contribute meaningfully, and engage in diplomacy at a high level.
Passion is what sustains students through the mental, emotional, and physical demands of preparing for MUN conferences. The research is rigorous, the preparation is time-intensive, and the conference experience itself can be both exhausting and high-pressure. Without a genuine commitment to the work, it is difficult to maintain the focus and resilience required to succeed.
More than anything, this program is for students who want to be part of something bigger than themselves—who are motivated not just by individual achievement, but by contributing to a team, representing ideas, and engaging in global issues in a meaningful way. Students who can bring that level of passion and sustain it over time are the ones who will thrive.