Literature & Languages

English

Chair: Dr. Robin Cadwallader

The English major cultivates your ability to express ideas in clear, persuasive language through the study of composition, literature, and digital media. Never more relevant than it is today, literature puts you in touch with the world’s most perceptive and discriminating minds, offering insights into timeless human ideas, anxieties, and desires. You will develop strong critical thinking and analytical skills that are highly sought after by employers and graduate schools.

You will explore American, British, and World literatures through lively classroom discussions with dynamic faculty. You can work with a faculty member on your research interests and present at conferences or in print, publish your creative writing in our literary magazine, or learn tutoring in the campus writing center.

Graduates in English pursue a wide range of careers, including law, medicine, political science, teaching, digital humanities, editing, and publishing.

World Languages: Spanish Majors, World Language Majors and Minors

Coordinator: Dr. Margaret Morales

St. Francis University realizes the face of the people in our country has changed and we live in a multicultural world where the importance of a global perspective is emphasized more every day. It therefore strives to educate its students to be responsible citizens who are well prepared to contribute to not only the improvement of our own society, but also that of the entire global community. The mission of the World Languages Department is to develop proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking or signing the language chosen and to understand and appreciate the culture of the people who speak or use it. It also wants to assure that its students be as marketable and competitive as possible when seeking jobs, and proficiency in a world language has become an important skill employers are looking for, especially in Spanish and ASL. This mission is reflected in each of the descriptions of the department’s majors and minors below. They aim at providing life enrichment through a liberal arts curriculum. The curricular objectives of the Department are consistent with those of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, and the Modern Language Association of America.

SFU offers three Spanish majors: B.A. in Spanish, B.A. in International Business and Spanish (IBMS), B.A. in Secondary Education in Spanish. All Spanish majors are required to study abroad, the length of which is determined according to which of the majors they choose as well as the students’ linguistic competency. The International Business Modern Language major (IBML) is one in which students can study a language of their choice. Details are given below.

SFU currently offers two Spanish minors -a Minor in Spanish and a Minor in Spanish for Health Sciences. World language minors offered are an ASL Minor, French Minor, French Cultural Studies Minor, Global Cultures & Languages Minor, Italian Studies Minor, and a World Languages Minor.

The French and Spanish minors have a study abroad requirement. Spanish minors must take 3 to 6 credits abroad in a total immersion program. French minors must take 12 credits above the French 202 level abroad. 

International Business/Modern Language Major

Coordinator: Dr. Margaret Morales

This interdisciplinary major in International Business/Modern Language is offered in conjunction with the Business Administration Department and is one in which students can study a language of their choice. A full semester abroad in a total immersion program in the target language country may be required to complete this major, the length of which is determined according to the student’s linguistic competency, unless the student is a native speaker of that language.

The graduate competent in business and a foreign language has a clear edge in the domestic and international job markets. Opportunities for graduates with a language and business competence have increased significantly in recent years and are projected to do so well into the future. Personnel are sought by national and local governments, hospitals, multinational corporations, social agencies, libraries, museums, airlines, and travel agencies. Further information can be provided upon request by the departmental advisors and the Office of Career Counseling and Placement.

Spanish

Coordinator: Dr. Margaret Morales

Saint Francis University offers three Spanish majors and two Spanish minors with an emphasis on communication and culture: B.A. in Spanish, B.A. in International Business and Spanish (IBMS), B.A. in Secondary Education in Spanish, a Minor in Spanish and a Minor in Spanish for Health Sciences.

Majors and minors in Spanish are offered through a variety of courses taken at Saint Francis University and an approved study abroad program. Study abroad is required to complete the Spanish language major or minor, the length of which is determined according to the student’s linguistic competency and the program they choose.

Students in the health sciences majors may earn a minor in medical Spanish with an emphasis on communication with Spanish-speaking patients and their families. They will learn how to explain and discuss complicated medical procedures and diseases, using the appropriate medical terminology and vocabulary. SPAN 203 and SPAN 303 must be taken at Saint Francis University. Students pursuing a Minor in Spanish for Health Sciences may opt to go on a HUGS trip to a Spanish-speaking country during spring break for a week of medical service and interpreting instead of a 3 or 4 week program abroad, but they will have to take an additional Spanish course on campus.

The study of Spanish can also be incorporated into a program leading to elementary and secondary teaching certification. For teaching certification, consult the program requirements under Education . Other employment opportunities are provided upon request by the departmental advisors and the Office of Career Services.

World Languages

Program Coordinator: Dr. Margaret Morales

Besides Spanish, the world languages department offers courses in German as well as minors in ASL, French, French Cultural Studies, Global Cultures & Languages, Italian Studies and World languages. Students interested in those programs of study should consult the appropriate sections of this catalog.

Saint Francis University may award academic credit for course work completed at an accredited institution in any human language as long as the course content and goals are similar to those specified at Saint Francis for French and Spanish. Approval of transfer credit by currently enrolled students must be obtained in advance from the coordinator of Languages and Cultures.

The curricular objectives of the department are consistent with those of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign languages and the Modern Language Association of America.