Documentation of Coursework
As an LAIB major, I have taken classes across a wide variety of disciplines including Language, Business, Culture and Literature. Below, I will highlight some of my academic journey.
Spanish
Business
Culture and Literature
LAIB 1270 - Introduction to Language and International Business
Introduced me to the connection between language skills and international business. This course helped establish a "road map" for my major.
ACCT 2010 - Financial Accounting Concepts
Introduced me to the fundamentals of financial accounting and how businesses make use of financial data. The course gave me a practical understanding of the financial side of business and how accounting plays a role in business decisions.
MKT 3010 - Principles of Marketing
Taught me the basics of marketing, including how organizations can better understand their consumer and create value based off of that knowledge.
MKT 4270 - International Marketing (Spain)
As a class, we examined marketing in an international context, paying close attention to how companies must adapt their strategies to different markets and cultures. Largely project based, we worked on several case studies for the purpose of familiarizing ourselves with various markets.
MGT 2010 - Principles of Management
Introduced me to many fundamental management concepts, primarily the driving forces behind organizations.
MGT 3030 - Global Business
In this class, we examined business from an international perspective, including the challenges and opportunities that come with operating internationally. Here, I obtained a great understanding of how cultural differences affect business practices.
ECON 2210 - Principles of Microeconomics
Introduced me to many fundamental management concepts, primarily the driving forces behind organizations.
ECON 3100 - International Economics
This course examined the economic relations between countries around the world and the motivating factors behind international trade.
PCID 3040 - Business Communication and Information Design
By taking this class, I gained an invaluable understanding of how to effectively communicate in a professional environment in addition to how to present information in a clear, easy to understand format.
Samples of Coursework
Here you will find selected work samples that showcase much of what I have learned here at Clemson. I have selected a few pieces that represent my linguistic proficiency, cultural competency, literary analysis, and business-related projects.
Linguistic Proficiency
SPAN 3080 - This paper examines how the discovery and colonization of the Americas challenged European religious and scientific beliefs during the Renaissance. It demonstrates my cultural competency by recognizing the limitations of European perspectives, appreciating Indigenous knowledge, and reflecting on how cultural beliefs influence the way societies understand the world.
SPAN 1010/1020 - Elementary Spanish
Introduced me to the foundations of Spanish through basic vocabulary, grammar and everyday communication. These courses gave me a necessary foundation to continue developing my Spanish.
SPAN 2010 - Intermediate Spanish
Moved beyond basic communication skills and focused on developing greater prose in Spanish. Strengthened my abilities in conversation, reading and writing.
SPAN 3050 - Intermediate Conversation and Composition I
This course helped me hone in on using Spanish more naturally through conversation and composition.
SPAN 3020 - Intermediate Spanish Grammar and Composition
In this class, I am continuing to refine my prose via written exercises aimed at developing grammatical accuracy. I am learning how to communicate with more precision and confidence.
SPAN 3140 - Hispanic Linguistics
Here, we examined Spanish from a linguistic perspective, including how the language is structured and the story behind the "why?".
SPAN 3160 - Spanish for International Business I
Connected my Spanish language skills with my understanding of the world of business. We learned business-specific vocabulary and what constitutes standard professional procedure in many Spanish-speaking countries. This was all accomplished via a semester long case study that required a deliverable in the form of a fictional business in a randomly assigned country. We had to research our country and form a relevant business from the ground up, establishing all sectors of a functioning corporation.
SPAN 4160 - Spanish for International Business II
Continuing my development of business-specific vocabulary and communication.
SPAN 3080 - The Hispanic World: Latin America
Explores the history, culture, and social issues of Latin America rooted in the region's rich history.
GER 2600 - Brecht in Translation
Introduced me to the works of German playwright Bertolt Brecht. This course opened my eyes to the analysis of theater from a cultural and historical perspective.
HIST 3390 - Africa 1875 to Present
In this class we studied major historical developments Across Sub-Saharan Africa. I had never before taken a course on African history, so this gave me a completely new perspective on the subject.
SPAN 3999 - In my Spanish Literary Analysis class which I took in Bilbao, we explored the character Águeda from one of Pio Baroja's short stories. In it, I speak on the character's family environment, and emotional transformation through love and disappointment. It demonstrates my ability to understand and articulate thoughts on interpersonal relationships and interactions in Spanish text.
Cultural and Literary Proficiency
Literature - SPAN 3020 - This paper analyzes how Gabriel García Márquez uses characterization, dialogue, and conflict in “La Prodigiosa Tarde de Baltazar” to explore social class, economic inequality, power, and human dignity. It demonstrates my literary analysis abilities by interpreting the characters’ actions and interactions, supporting my arguments with textual evidence, and connecting the story’s themes to modern economic inequality.
Culture - SPAN 3160 - As previously mentioned, my first Spanish for International Business course was centered around a semester long case study. This website displays the end product of that study on Argentinian markets and customers, and how my understanding of the country’s culture and economy can be utilized to create a successful brand.
Samples of Business Competency
ECON 3100 - This powerpoint displays a personal case study on Commodity Dependence in South American countries, and the possibility of escaping that economic trap. Viewers can understand that I have personal understanding of what this looks like at a market-level, while also having an enhanced understanding of the consequences for a national economy and the people that live in it.
MKT 4270 - In my International Marketing class, we explored several different markets in order to gain a better understanding of what different consumer groups are attracted to. This piece applies international business and marketing concepts, including push and pull factors, market competition, pricing strategies, and localization to analyze China's expanding economic presence in Africa. It demonstrates my ability to gain cultural understanding of an unfamiliar environment, and how I am able to capitalize on both the differences and similarities.
My Time Studying Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management
Before switching my major to Language and International Business in my Junior year, I previously studied Parks, Conservation, and Outdoor Recreation. This program taught me plenty about both the event planning space and conservation initiatives. I switched into LAIB after realizing that I wanted my life to move in a different direction, one that was geared towards working in aviation, something PRTM couldn't prepare me adequately for. Nonetheless, my time spent in PRTM left me with many lessons that I still carry with me today, below I have listed a few courses that left a lasting impression on me as a student and young professional.