120 credit hoursThe number of total credit hours was reduced to 120, this translates into 15 credit hours, or 5 courses each semester. There are fewer general education requirements and a greater variety of courses to choose from. You will have more time to focus on your major and extra-curricular activities, such as German Club and internships.
One internship and one semester study abroadIn addition to the internship requirement which in the past could be substituted with a study abroad semester, students are now required to do both. At least one semester at a university in Germany, Austria or Switzerland and the equivalent of one full summer or semester internship with a foreign company here in the US or any company in a German-speaking country. The combination is looked at favorably by employers and is a rare requirement here in the US. You will be better prepared for the global workplace.
Professional focusThe new curriculum requires you to take more courses in the professional core to extend your expertise beyond the 300-level. E.g. in the International Trade concentration, students are now required to take five economics courses focusing on micro- and macroeconomics and five marketing courses with an emphasis on international marketing and marketing research.
More choicesAt the same time, we made the curriculum more flexible so that students can make their own decisions about their focus in both the German and professional concentration.
The senior dossier = digital portfolioThe department is required to assess all programs with an exit exam and a digital portfolio (new). While your participation is mandatory a bad grade or even a failing one does not have an effect on graduation or GPR. The new senior dossier can be valuable to you if you put the work to it. More and more companies are asking for digital portfolios when students apply and more and more universities offer this as an option or even require it.
Your digital portfolio is a “living document” for which you start collecting material from the very first semester of study. It will include documentation of classes you took at Clemson and abroad, your internship or study abroad experience, extra-curricular activities, your research, and demonstrate your ability to apply technology, ethical judgment, critical thinking and cross-cultural awareness. Students will be given a chance to finalize their portfolios in their last semester and present it in an appropriate fashion. Advisors will be assigned to graduating seniors to guide the students and provide feedback.
The senior dossier can become an important tool for your application process and your career after graduation. It will also provide the students’ advisors with material for possible recommendations.
Cultural inquiryThe new curriculum will require that you conduct your own independent research. This is becoming more important to Clemson University and we will support the students with classes and advising in this matter. This is not only a preparation for graduate work but for the global workplace after graduation. Careers in an international setting will require the student to adapt quickly to new situations and to self-train if needed. We feel that we need to educate our students to be able to conduct research on any possible topic, even outside their field of study and to investigate the most difficult problems independently.
Extra-curricular activitiesThe new curriculum will allow students to spend more time for extra-curricular activities including German Club activities (throughout the year) or our German Play (every Spring). Students will have more time to prepare for classes and learn but at the same time we want them to experience as much German culture as possible, here and abroad. We will offer more evening lectures and social events than before, and we want to invite you to participate as much as possible. After all, our German students should also have fun with German!
New catalogue description:
Students in the Bachelor of A rts program in Language and International Trade acquire communicative competence in the target language; a familiarity with specific peoples, cultures, literatures, and business environments; and the knowledge and skills to pursue graduate studies or careers in business within their language of specialization. The Language and International Trade program combines foreign languages and international trade. Students choose one language concentration (Chinese, French, German, Japanese, or Spanish) and one professional concentration (Applied International Economics, International Trade, Textiles, or Tourism). The language component emphasizes speaking and writing skills, culture, civilization, and business/ technical languages. The professional component emphasizes international marketing in areas important to the economy of the State of South Carolina and the nation.
Study abroad of at least one semester in the target language setting is mandatory. In addition, internship experiences with international companies in the United States or summer internships with companies abroad give students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to the business/industrial work environment. Internships are subject to approval by the College of Architecture, Arts, and Humanities and Language and International Trade Director. Students are strongly encouraged to participate in the Clemson Language Immersion Program (CLIP) prior to enrolling in study abroad programs.
In addition to the curriculum requirements [...], students are required, as a condition of graduation, to pass a noncredit examination and submit a noncredit senior dossier to assess their language competence in various areas. Both assessments take place in the student’s last full semester at the University.
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