School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs

International learning = a competitive edge for students and alumni ✈️

Students who study abroad develop valuable skills through their immersive experiences across the globe.

Study abroad alumni outcomes include:
🌎 Higher starting salaries
🌍 Higher employment rates
🌏 Graduate study at leading global universities
🌎 International teaching and work experience
🌍 Adaptability and problem-solving abilities
🌏 Advanced language proficiency
🌎 Cross-cultural communication skills

The College of Charleston is ranked No.1 for short-term study abroad programs, No. 2 for overall participation and No. 5 for mid-length programs according to the Open Doors 2025 Report on International Education Exchange.

Through opportunities for global engagement, the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs helps make international learning a defining part of the student experience.

LCWA graduates are going places!

Meet Ethan Cole, one of the over 70 students who graduated with a degree from the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs this spring. A Classics major at CofC, Ethan will now go on to pursue his master’s in classics at the University of Maryland, where he has received a teaching assistantship.

“Without the support of the classics department, I would not be the person I am today. Every professor encourages students to push themselves to what they think they are capable of – and then, once they’ve gotten there, the professors push them more! Sapere aude (dare to think), as they say!" said Cole.

See the full article and read more about Ethan here: https://today.charleston.edu/2026/05/26/lcwa-majors-graduates-are-going-places/

Two College of Charleston alumni have been selected to participate in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program - and they are both former LCWA students!

Eliana Abbriano (’25, Spanish and Foreign Language Education) and Gracie Pace (’23, International Studies) were chosen out of more than 10,500 applicants. They will be teaching English in Spain and Colombia this fall.

Two other LCWA alumni were named Fulbright U.S. Student Program alternates: Abby Shafer (’26) and Kelly Leyva (’25).

Congratulations to these alumni! We are so proud to see LCWA students continue contributing to the College of Charleston’s recognition as a Top Producing Institution for Fulbright U.S. Students.

Read more here: https://today.charleston.edu/2026/05/28/alumni-receive-prestigious-fulbright-us-student-opportunity/

Did you know? The Perlmutter Fellows Program provides financial support, mentorship, professional development and community for emerging Jewish leaders at the College of Charleston. In this four-year program, selected fellows participate in networking events and enrichment opportunities, receive one-on-one professional mentorship, and benefit from individual academic consultation with program professors.

Founded through the generosity and work of Martin “Marty” Perlmutter, the program is designed for students who are passionate about Jewish communal engagement, leadership and academic excellence. Fellows major or minor in Jewish Studies while building meaningful connections on campus and within the broader Jewish community.

Learn more about the Perlmutter Fellows Program and application opportunities - https://charleston.edu/jewish/perlmutterfellows.php

Congratulations to Dr. Max Kovalov, who was awarded a Fulbright Scholar Grant by the Fulbright-Iceland Commission! Dr. Kovalov will be hosted by the University of Iceland in March-August 2027 and will work on the project, “Ukraine Beyond Borders.”

This bi-national program of educational exchange between the US and Iceland is designed to foster collaboration between Icelandic and US scholars, scientists and students and to promote Iceland-US relations.

Did you know you can explore the world, study abroad multiple times and address important issues before graduating? The International Scholars Program helps students do exactly that!

As a joint initiative of the School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs, the Department of International Studies and the Honors College, this program gives undergraduate students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of global education and receive professional mentoring.

Global thinkers come from all backgrounds and interests. Whether you’re passionate about economics or public health, political science or pre-med, this program will open doors to possibilities all over the world. International Scholars complete a double-major in International Studies and any other major of choice.

Through a fully funded, three-week study abroad excursion, additional abroad opportunities and colloquium events, the cohort allows students a sense of belonging in a small group setting.

Interested in becoming an International Scholar? Apply to the Honors College by the appropriate deadline and you’ll be considered for an invitation to interview! There’s no separate application process. The International Scholars Program welcomes approximately ten new students each year.

Reach out to director Bryan Ganaway with questions and learn more here: https://charleston.edu/school-languages-cultures-world-affairs/student-programs/index.php -b245774b-4b9b-4023-81de-a14fc31246eb-1

Last week was the annual awards ceremony for the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs!
 
It was wonderful to celebrate the students recognized for their achievements and hard work throughout the year. Congratulations to this year’s recipients as they begin their next chapter after graduation!

Congratulations, grads!

Once a Cougar, always a Cougar 👏🤍🎓 We are so proud of you!

Tomorrow 🎓💫

We can't wait to watch over 70 LCWA students walk the stage and officially become College of Charleston alumni!

Reminder of all the details here https://today.charleston.edu/2026/04/21/spring-commencement-2026-everything-you-need-to-know/