World Languages and Cultures

Faculty

Linda Ledford-Miller, Ph.D., Chair
Marzia Caporale, Ph.D.
Marie Karam, M.A., Director of Language Learning Center
Robert A. Parsons, Ph.D.
Virginia A. Picchietti, Ph.D.
Yamile Silva
Jamie H. Trnka, Ph.D.
Joseph P. Wilson, Ph.D.
Habib K. Zanzana, Ph.D.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of World Languages and Cultures is to prepare students to become proficient in a language, a literature, and a culture other than English and American so that they may lead empowered and productive lives as global citizens. Foreign language students, especially majors and minors, employ their enhanced cultural awareness, intercultural sensitivity, and global perspective, in order to meet the innumerable challenges of an ever increasingly interrelated and interdependent world.

The Department of World Languages and Cultures at The University of Scranton adheres to the Ignatian principle that foreign language education is a vital part of the student’s intellectual formation. Foreign language acquisition is a vital part of the liberal arts education that is at the core of Jesuit education. Proficiency in foreign languages allows students to understand better the world in which they live; to comprehend better the intellectual and cultural traditions of others; to serve more fully their fellows. The faculty work to develop in their students an informed sense of moral and ethical responsibility, in keeping with the Jesuit mission of cura animae and cura personalis. Academic and professional growth is nurtured through close contact with faculty and staff; a sense of service is fostered through multiple opportunities to work and interact with the local community; and a sense of international responsibility is created by prolonged interaction with international scholars here at the University, as well as study abroad in other countries. The faculty adheres to the highest standards of professional and scholarly responsibility in all their dealings with students, other faculty, other departments, and the University community.

Overview

The program of the Department of World Languages and Cultures is designed to enable students to read, write, speak and comprehend one or more foreign languages; to think and express themselves logically, precisely and critically in one or more foreign languages; to acquire skills in literary criticism by reading representative foreign authors; to gain insight into the evolution of the culture and civilization of foreign peoples as reflected in their literature.

The Bachelor of Arts program in Classical Languages gives students a solid foundation in Latin and Greek to engender an appreciation of the liberal aspects of Classical studies. Classics majors are encouraged to take their junior year abroad at Loyola University’s Rome Center of Liberal Arts, with which The University of Scranton is affiliated.

Foreign language majors and students pursuing teaching certification must complete 36 credits in one language beginning with the intermediate level if it is modern (or 30 credits if beginning at the 300-level), and the elementary level if it is classical. Foreign language majors normally take at least 12 credits in a second language, either modern or classical, as their cognate. A double major may be pursued by taking 36 credits in one language, beginning with the intermediate or elementary level, and by satisfying the major and cognate requirements of another department. The placement of students at a particular foreign-language level is the responsibility of the department.

The department urges students to study abroad during their junior year. In addition, it strongly recommends that students returning from the foreign study experience take at least one course per semester in their major language during the senior year. All returning students are required to take at least one upper-division 300- or 400-level course in their major language at The University of Scranton. Courses taken abroad in the target language may count toward majors and minors.

Minors in Language

French, German, Greek, Italian, Latin, Spanish: 18 credits at the elementary level or above. Placement in a previously studied language will be determined by placement testing in the Language Learning Center.

Portuguese: 15 credits consisting of PORT 110, PORT 210, and two advanced Portuguese courses.

Minors in Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Russian are sometimes possible, depending upon the availability of courses in these languages or through study abroad. Arabic, Chinese and Japanese: 18 credits at the elementary level or higher. Russian: 16 credits consisting of RUSS 110, RUSS 210 and 6 additional credits.

Students who minor in two languages must complete 12 credits in each language beginning at the intermediate level or higher.

Elementary courses in any language are not normally open to students who have studied two or more years of the same language in high school. Native speakers of a language normally begin above the 311-312 level. Any deviation from these policies must be approved by the Department of World Languages and Cultures.

Major in International Language-Business

The major in International Language-Business is a professionally oriented program. Its purpose is to make language study a more career-structured discipline by providing students with the opportunity to acquire a liberal education while, at the same time, taking courses specifically relevant to a business enterprise.

More information on this major...

Foreign Language Curriculum
Dept. and No.				Descriptive Title of Course	Credits
				FIRST YEAR	FALL	SPRING
MAJOR (GE HUMN)		LANG 1 211-212 or 311-312		Intermediate or Conversation/Composition	3	3
COGNATE		LANG 101-102 or 211-212		Second Modern or Classical Language	3	3
GE SPCH- RTG		COMM 100 - WRTG 107		Public Speaking - Composition	3	3
GE QUAN		QUAN ELECT		Quantitative Reasoning Elective		3
GE C/IL		C/IL 102		Computing & Information Literacy	3
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL 120 - T/RS 121		Intro. to Phil. - Theology I	3	3
GE FSE -PHED		INTD 100 - PHED ELECT		Freshman Seminar - Physical Education	1	1
					16	16
				SECOND YEAR
MAJOR		LANG 311-312 1		Adv. Conversation - Comp.	3	3
COGNATE		LANG 211-212 or 311-312		Second Modern or Classical Language	3	3
GE HUMN		HUMN ELECT		Humanities Electives	3	3
GE NSCI		NSCI ELECT		Natural Science Electives	3	3
GE PHlL - T/RS		PHIL 210 - T/RS 122		Ethics - Theology II	3	3
GE PHED		PHED ELECT		Physical Education	1	1
					16	16
				THIRD YEAR
MAJOR		LANG ELECT2		Advanced Lang. Electives	6	6
COGNATE		COGNATE ELECT		Cognate Electives	3	6
GE PHIL-T/RS		PHIL - T/RS ELECT		Philosophy or T/RS Elective	3
GE S/BH		S/BH ELECT		Social/Behavioral Electives	3	3
GE ELECT		FREE ELECT		Free Electives	3	3
					18	18
				FOURTH YEAR
MAJOR		LANG ELECT		Advanced Lang. Electives	6	6
COGNATE		COGNATE ELECT		Cognate Electives	3	3
GE ELECT		FREE ELECT		Free Electives	6	6
					15	15
					Total: 130 Credits
1 Students who begin language at the Advanced (311) level will take 6 fewer credits in the major and 6 more credits in the cognate or free elective area in either the junior or senior year. In their second year, they will choose advanced language electives. 2 Spanish majors will take SPAN 320-321 and three of the following four courses: SPAN 313, 314, 330, 331.