Certificate in Language and Intercultural Communication

The Certificate in Language and Intercultural Communication allows Rice undergraduates to demonstrate their proficiency in a second language to potential employers and others, highlighting their interactional and intercultural competence. The Certificate will appear on the official Rice transcript.

To fulfill the requirements, students must complete at least four courses (12 credit hours), an experiential learning opportunity*, and an outcomes assessment**. A maximum of 2 courses (6 credit hours) may be in the form of transfer credit.

For more information, please fill out this Google form and contact the Certificate Advisor, Dr. Hossam Elsherbiny, at he9@rice.edu.

To declare the Certificate in Language and Intercultural Communication, please locate the University Certificate Declaration form in Esther and email the completed form to Dr. Elsherbiny at he9@rice.edu. Students are encouraged to declare the Certificate as soon as possible so as to avoid any delays in the certification process.

Certificate Information Session October 5, 2022

*CLIC Certificate Candidates have several options for fulfilling the experiential learning requirement. The options, which are listed below, must be at least 60 hours in length. Please note that two or more options may be combined to achieve the required number of hours.

  • Traditional study abroad programs (for example, programs offered through the Study Abroad Office and/or Rice faculty-led programs).
  • Apprenticeships or Internships (domestic or international) that require the use of the target language of the Certificate.
  • International or domestic volunteer work (in-person or virtual) that requires the use of the target language of the Certificate.
  • International or domestic jobs with a multinational company (in-person or virtual) that require the use of the target language of the Certificate.
  • Domestic homestay with families that speak the target language of the Certificate.

Examples of other experiences available at Rice that can help students accumulate the necessary 60 hours.

  • Courses at Rice University that include an internship, apprenticeship, or practicum component that requires the use of the target language of the Certificate (for example, SPAN 323).
  • Courses at Rice University that include a traveling component (for example, SPAN 375).
  • Alternative Spring with a focus on working with communities that speak the target language of the Certificate.

**The Outcomes Assessment is taken entirely remotely and may only be taken one time. Students are encouraged to take the Assessment at the peak of their language proficiency, which is typically after returning from a SA experience or after their last course in the target language.

Please note that the Outcomes Assessment is only offered at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters. Students who are graduating during the summer must choose to take the Assessment either in the Fall or the Spring.