Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies (ALIS) 

The new ALIS degree program delivers foreign language study in the many contexts in which other languages are spoken, including social and technical communication, cultural perspectives, industry, technology, arts and literature, media and science that will provide you with the competitive edge needed to meet 21st century language requirements of government agencies, multi-national industries, and social organizations. This degree is offered in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.

The degree provides students with options in their language concentration for applying their language and culture study within the broad content categories of industry and technology, society, and arts and media.  Students will complete a cluster or an interdisciplinary minor of a minimum of 15 hours in another major discipline or interdisciplinary minor at Georgia Tech as well as earn at least 12 credits from an approved study abroad program through coursework in either the major language discipline or in the cluster discipline.

The content-based approach with the cluster/interdisciplinary minor and study abroad requirements distinctly separate the program at Georgia Tech from traditional US foreign language programs targeted primarily at literature and language study as ends in themselves, opening for Georgia Tech graduates wider doors to employment opportunities. Moreover, the core curriculum at Georgia Tech plus an additional technology requirement ensures that students will have a stronger grounding in science and technology than at other schools. 

Major Content-Based Core Requirements

(33 credit hours) with a flexible distribution of classes  in core areas that includes at least one class from each of the following areas:

1. Societies and Cultures
2. Industry and Technology
3. Arts and Media
4. Advanced Language Acquisition

plus 6 courses (18 credit hours) of elective courses in the language area (these can apply to one of the above areas or to multiple areas)

and the Intercultural Seminar Capstone course (4500) in the language (3 credits).

Related requirements from the cluster/minor area (15 credits), the Georgia Tech core (42 credits) and free electives (up to 32 credits) round out the degree.

Completion of one course focused on international relations historically and theoretically, and one course that provides a historical and theoretical understanding of the global economy, plus extending approved study/work abroad to 26 weeks will also fulfill requirements for the International Plan degree designator.

Graduates with a B.S. in Applied Languages and Intercultural Studies will be able to apply intercultural communication skills within their career path on a lifetime basis; will have a broad understanding of current affairs, political viewpoints, economics, science and technology and the cultures of the country or region; and will demonstrate global skills by

• exhibiting a positive attitude toward cultural identity differences, 
• demonstrating the ability to speak, understand and think in a foreign language, and to live abroad,
• clearly articulating global aspects of emerging cultural issues and international challenges, e.g., climate and environment, immigration and integration, business and intercultural communication, social impacts of technology, connections between literature and society, etc., and 
• understanding how media represents different perspectives within and between cultures and societies.