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.
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.