B.S. in Language & International Health (L&IH)
The Bachelor of Science program in Language and International Health is jointly administered by the Department of Languages and the Department of Public Health Sciences in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences. This program pairs a modern language concentration (Chinese, French, or Spanish) with coursework in public health theory and practice.
Curriculum
About L&IH
The Language and International Health program integrates advanced language study with foundational training in public health. The language component develops strong linguistic and cultural proficiency through coursework on communities, cultures, literatures, professional and technical language, health environments, and multicultural contexts. The public health component provides a foundation in the history and philosophy of public health and medicine, as well as health systems organization, management, and financing; social and behavioral determinants of health; epidemiology; evaluation methods; and health communication.
Graduates are prepared for careers in a wide range of settings- including integrated hospital systems, consulting firms, managed care organizations, pharmaceutical companies, global health nonprofits, and community centers- or to pursue graduate study in fields such as community health, epidemiology/biostatistics, health professions, health administration, health systems, and health research.
LIH students are required to complete one semester of study abroad in their target-language region and an internship of at least 135 contact hours in a health-related setting where the target language is spoken. The LIH Program Director must approve all internships.
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Why Study LIH?
Do you have a passion for language and a desire to serve? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of others and broaden your understanding of the nuances of bilingual and cross-cultural communication? With a B.S. in Language and International Health (LIH), you will be qualified to assume positions in a variety of health-related settings, including hospital systems, consulting firms, NGOs, managed care organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. You'll be prepared to pursue a graduate degree in community health or community development, global public health, epidemiology, biostatistics, health administration, or medical research. LIH is also a path to professional education in a variety of health professions, including medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, and physical or occupational therapy.
An interdisciplinary health humanities program, the LIH major allows you to pursue your wide-ranging interests in the humanities (in your target language of Chinese, French, or Spanish), health science, and laboratory science. In fact, according to guidelines of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), "the integration of the arts and humanities into medicine and medical education may be essential" for professional success in today's world (Howley, Gaufberg, and King, The Fundamental Role of the Arts and Humanities in Medical Education, 2020). But in this time of growing attention to healthcare reform, healthcare disparities, and cultural and ethnic diversity, health humanities education is relevant to all students, not only aspiring physicians (Berry, Jones, and Lamb, "Health Humanities: The Future of Pre-Health Education is Here," Journal of Medical Humanities, 2017).
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Change of Major Information
Due to limited space, an application is required to change majors to Language & International Health. To learn more about the application process and the major, please reach out to eschmuc@clemson.edu or set up an “Explore Language & International Health” appointment in CU Navigate.
Admission is competitive and acceptance is not guaranteed. The web-based application form is available in the Fall semester, opening on the first day of classes and closing on the last day of classes in December.
Students with less than 50 earned hours may apply to change their major to Language & International Health with a minimum cumulative GPR of 2.5. Students with 50 or more credit hours may apply based on space availability, with a minimum cumulative GPR of 2.75.
Click the change of major application below to apply.
Language and International Health (LIH) Change of Major Application Form - Fall 2026 – Fill out form
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LIH Study Abroad Information
Language and International Health majors are required to complete a general study abroad placement application for approved programs one academic year before their study abroad term to allow ample time to make plans for housing, academics, and finances before going abroad.
The application is open from October 1 to November 1 each Fall semester. If a student plans to study abroad in Fall 2027 or Spring 2028, they should apply during the Fall 2026 cycle.
Language and International Health Study Abroad Placement Application
Contact Nicky Jones (nicole6@clemson.edu) for information about applying to your program after receiving your placement.
Current approved programs (as of Fall 2025) and examples of past internships are:
Location
Internship Examples
Spanish
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Pediatric Hospital
- Spanish Red Cross Organization
Toledo, Spain
- Research and clinical observations at the National Paraplegic Hospitall
Madrid, Spain
- Clinical observations in hospitals
- Global health non-profit organizations
French
Montpelier, France
- Breast cancer organizations
- Children's health education organizations
Dakar, Senegal
- Medical outposts (health clinics)
Chinese
Taiwan
- Biomedical engineering research
- University EMS club
Contact Information
Director: Ellory Schmucker, eschmuc@clemson.edu
- To find your advisor, check your CU Navigate or contact Dorcas Perez, dorcasp@clemson.edu
For LIH language track-specific questions, contact:
- French: Kelly Peebles, kpeeble@clemson.edu
- Chinese: Su-I Chen (schen@clemson.edu)
- Spanish: Ellory Schmucker, eschmuc@clemson.edu
Affiliated Staff in Public Health: Christianna Novakovic, cnovako@clemson.edu
Director of the LIH Program
Ellory feels equally at home in a Chemistry lab as she does exploring Spain. She has experience working as an interpreter, translator and transcriber in settings as diverse as hospitals, social services call centers, art galleries and public libraries. This, combined with her dedication to cultural humility and the nuances of Spanish language learning, makes her an enthusiastic advocate for studying abroad and encouraging students to pursue ideas that pique their interests.
Contact Prof. Ellory Schmucker
