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C of C establishes new school
By Sheila Watson
Contributing Writer
The College of Charleston has established a new academic school, the School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs. The new school will consolidate academic programs in languages and international studies as the institution continues its commitment to internationalizing its curriculum.
According to College of Charleston President Lee Higdon, the mission of the new school, made possible in part by a donation of $2.5 million from the Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, will be “to develop students into enlightened and engaged world citizens.”
The school will provide students with opportunities to acquire foreign language fluency, as well as gain exposure to comparative, historical and area studies.
In addition, Higdon says the new school will help students “deepen their understanding of the interdependency that characterizes world affairs. Students will gain insight into how the elements of language, culture, religion, politics and economics both shape civilization and provide context for the overall human experience.”
Samuel M. Hines Jr., dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, has agreed to lead the new school as its founding dean.
“We envision that these experiences will significantly increase student participation and increase their opportunities for the acquisition of the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for careers and lives as world citizens,” Hines said.
There will also be a significant increase in support for faculty whose research activities take them abroad, as well as for faculty creating study-abroad programs, Higdon said.
“By offering students and faculty unprecedented travel opportunities, we feel strongly that we will create additional opportunities for development and move closer to our goal of national pre-eminence,” he said.
The School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs will be the sixth for the college. Long-term plans include in-depth immersion into a culture’s religion, politics, language, arts and humanities, including requirements for students to study abroad.
Although many colleges have dropped foreign language requirements, the College of Charleston has a graduation requirement of two years of a foreign language.
The College of Charleston currently offers language classes in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.
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