Intercultural Competence

Source: https://www.brown.edu/undergraduate-programs/intercultural-competence-certificate Parent: https://www.brown.edu/undergraduate-programs

Intercultural Competence defines the knowledge, skills and attitudes that curious and open-minded students acquire through the targeted study of languages and cultures.

Degree Type

Certificate

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Center for Language Studies

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Center for Language Studies

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General Undergraduate Certificate Policies & Guidelines

Intercultural Competence

Intercultural Competence defines the knowledge, skills and attitudes that curious and open-minded students acquire through the targeted study of languages and cultures.

The Certificate in Intercultural Competence acknowledges that in an ever more interconnected world and society, with more opportunities for collaboration as well as situations of conflict, students need to understand and respect other cultures. By approaching language study, area studies courses and experiential learning through a critical lens focused on developing intercultural competence, students prepare themselves for a future after Brown working with people from all over the world, be it in industry, business, the university or in social justice work, anywhere where multicultural and multilingual groups work together.

List of requirements

Student Goals

Students in this certificate will:

develop critical cultural awareness that allows them to recognize the perspectives, practices and products important to other cultures, to understand nuances and ambiguity and to adapt to them without judgment or prejudice
exhibit attitudes that prioritize curiosity, discovery and openness about other cultures and beliefs in order to acquire new knowledge of other cultures
operate between two or more languages from different cultures and communicate effectively and appropriately with empathy and respect and with an ability to negotiate and adapt quickly and appropriately to new and novel situations
have knowledge of one or more countries’ languages(s), systems (education, religion, economy, etc) as well as its history, politics, geography and social distinctions
appreciate and respect diversity of thought and actions across various disciplines as well as in various cultures both within and beyond one’s own home country
be prepared to recognize and explain acquired skills relating to languages and intercultural competence to others beyond the language classroom, including employers or community members.
be prepared for success as an informed global citizen with a historical and political consciousness, a sense of social responsibility and a self-awareness of a world with defined yet interconnected borders

The Director is typically the first point of contact for students interested in pursuing an undergraduate certificate. Once students have declared a certificate, they may be assigned a specific advisor from within the department or program.