Literature and Languages

"Familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar"—Toni Morrison
The study of literature draws connections between the global and the everyday. Literature bears us into awareness and allows us to live thousands of experiences simultaneously.
Our mission is to educate each student to become a productive worker, a responsible citizen, and a cultured member of society.
The department's major programs aim to provide life enrichment through a liberal arts curriculum, and life skills through professional experiences to all its students.
The curricular objectives are consistent with those of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the Modern Language Association of America, the several American associations of teachers of foreign languages, and other professional organizations.

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Department Chair

Dr. Robin Cadwallader
814.471.1111
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Meet our Faculty

Majors, Minors & Concentrations
Curriculum
Outside the Classroom
Literature Program Highlights

Majors, Minors & Concentrations

Majors:

American Studies, B.A. - Download Plan of Study | Course Catalog Major Requirements
English, B.A.
Spanish, B.A.
Spanish, International Business/Modern Language, Interdisciplinary, B.A.

Minors:

Concentrations:

English, Literature Concentration, B.A. - Course Catalog Major Requirements
English, Media Studies Concentration, B.A. - Course Catalog Major Requirements
English, Secondary Education Concentration, B.A. - Course Catalog Major Requirements
English, Secondary Special Education Concentration, B.A. - Course Catalog Major Requirements
Spanish, Secondary Education Concentration, B.A. - Course Catalog Major Requirements
Spanish, Secondary Special Education Concentration, B.A. - Course Catalog Major Requirements

Curriculum

Literature & Languages students benefit from one-on-one student-teacher mentorship for research and graduate studies. Over 30% of our majors and minors pursue graduate degrees. The department offers a variety of grants, work-study programs, and other types of generous student research support and academic enhancement, immersion trips and study-abroad opportunities and support. The Writing Center offers both excellent writing support as well as opportunities for work and research. The department also encourages students to join student clubs and organizations, offers opportunities to volunteer for community service events, organizes reading series, sponsors the literary journal Tapestries, and endorses other campus-wide publications.

Literature & Languages faculty teach, specialize, and have an interest in a variety of areas:

British and American literature
African-American literature
women’s studies
Shakespearian studies
18th century Irish periodical literature
world literature
ecofeminism
Willa Cather
animal rights literature
post-colonial studies
subaltern studies
graphic novels
diaspora and migration studies
race theory
environmental writing and literature
Marxism

popular culture
vegetarian theory
monsters in literature
medicine in literature
Romance and Latin American literature
genre studies (i.e. testimonios)
modern American working-class literature
Italian cinema
the politics of food
corporate social responsibility in professional sports
Deaf culture
medical ASL
writing pedagogy
writing center administration
strategic business communication

Visit the academic catalog and scroll to the School of Arts & Letters to view degree requirements.

Outside the Classroom

From clubs to campus publications, students have several opportunities to gain real-world experience and add to their resumes. Here are just a few of the offerings for Literature and Language students:

RED Radio - Student Radio Station
Troubadour - The Troubadour is a bi-weekly student publication of Saint Francis University.
ASL Club - The ASL Club is a vibrant student organization who enjoys working with the Deaf community to create awareness of Deaf Culture and American Sign Language! One of the first steps in breaking down walls of oppression or discrimination is to create awareness. Many people have few experiences with a person from the Deaf community and often view deafness as a disability. The Club, with support from the Deaf Community spreads awareness and allows people to realize that Deaf individuals are highly successful just like any hearing person.
Literary Club - Many of our majors are active members of the Literary Club, which, in addition to hosting public readings and writing workshops, provides transportation and travel money for off-campus cultural events. Last year, for instance, members of the Literary Club, accompanied by Dr. Kirk Weixel, attended a production of Rent in Pittsburgh.
Bell Tower - Saint Francis University Yearbook
Environmental Studies Program
Peer-reviewed journal, Legacy

View All Student Opportunities

Literature Program Highlights

A record of better than 96 percent employment or grad-school enrollment within three months of graduation.
A multi-disciplinary approach that places the study of English, literature and communications in the context of our society by incorporating courses in philosophy, history, sociology and political science.
Interactive student/instructor relationships with highly qualified faculty, that enable students to utilize vast practical experience.
Independent study programs that allow you to pursue areas of special interest while working closely with a faculty mentor.
A focus on ethics, as it pertains to media and society, integrated into all communications classes.
A new media lab for print and video editing and design.

Students Participate in Domestic Dental Mission Trip

Ten students volunteered with MOM-n-PA, the Pennsylvania Dental Mission of Mercy, held at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre.

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Shayna Boisvert

English and Philosophy double major, Shayna Boisvert, will be presenting at the National Popular Cultural Association Convention held in Washington, DC, this spring and is also seeking publication for a novel she wrote.

Read More

Remembering Anne Crusan ’73

The Saint Francis University theatre community lost one of its brightest stars in Anne Crusan ’73 when she recently passed away on August 26, 2018.

Read More

Project GetSTEAM

Through a partnership with The Indiana NAACP, and WIN Committee, along with American Association of University Women of Indiana County, the Project GetSTEAM initiative intends to introduce and excite girls ages 8-15 years old about opportunities within the STEAM field.

Learn more

Meet Jack Weidner

From a young age, Jack Weidner always thought that he wanted to be a doctor, but he also had a passion for writing and the arts.

Read how Jack combined his passions

SFU's Roots Run Deep in Seattle

Assistant Professor of English, Dr. Roxana Cazan, along with some colleagues, truly valued meeting up with SFU alumnus, successful business leader, and generous benefactor, Mr. Bill Adamucci during a recent trip to Seattle, WA.

Learn more about their incredible trip

Visions Magazine Winners

Saint Francis University’s Literature & Languages Department sponsored its second annual writing contest for local high school students. Students submitted their short fiction, poetry, essays, and personal narratives for the contest.

Congratulations Dr. Hicks!

Dr. Jason Hicks, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Graduate Education program and Principal at the Greater Altoona Career and Technology Center, completed his doctorate degree.

Read more on Dr. Hicks

SFU Hoop House Produces 100lbs of Vegetables in First Semester

The hoop house closed its first semester with a successful harvest, producing over 100 pounds of cold-season crops. The greens were used by Torvian Dining Hall, providing farm-to-table food options for the university.

Learn more about the Hoop House

New Music From Fine Arts Chair Jim Donovan

Instructor and Chair of the Fine Arts Department releases a new album. Learn how the music came together and how you can experience the new songs.

Read the Interview

Congratulations Dr. Toth!

Dr. Brian Toth, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Graduate Education and Superintendent of St. Mary's School District, was elected as one of five Pennsylvania superintendents to serve on the American Association of School Administrators Governing Board. Dr. Toth has also been nominated to be considered for the 2018 John C. Maxwell Transformational Leadership Award.

Brandon Fiume: Focusing on Multiple Tracks

Learn how a desire to learn something new and a passion for trains helped Brandon discover his creative side and “think outside the box…car.”

Read Brandon's Story

From SFU to NYC: Cecelia MacDonald

Cecelia MacDonald started taking classes at Saint Francis University when she was just 13 years old. Nine years later at the age of 22, she sits at her desk in a midtown Manhattan high rise, looking out a roomful of floor-to-ceiling windows at a sea of skyscrapers.

Read her incredible story

From SFU to NYC: Cecelia MacDonald

New Greenhouse to Provide Fresh Food Options and Student Opportunities

The Environmental Studies program plans to use the hoop house as an ongoing teaching tool for students and a healthy food source for the university.

More about the Hoop House

Environmental Studies

Professor's Immigration Story Inspires Powerful New Book

Dr. Roxana Cazan, assistant professor of English, has been published multiple times. Her latest book, The Accident of Birth, shines light on the plight of refugees in the Middle East through the eyes of a naturalized American citizen.

the inspiration behind the book

"My Life with Quadriplegia"

Hundreds of students and faculty gathered to hear SFU mom Jan Scheuermann's Endowment Series lecture.

Read Jan's incredible story

Up, Up, and Away

Armed with tenacity and an entrepreneurial spirit, Kathi Landreth Leiden ’86 is soaring high as the founder and president of Zephyr, the leading national helium supplier.

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How modern education yielded medieval knowledge

We caught up with Christie Olek, B.A. in History 2015, to see what she’s been up since graduating from Saint Francis University.

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A childhood trip to Gettysburg leads to a lifelong passion

Cody Turnbaugh's determination to shed a light on a Civil War solider led to a research trip to the National Archives.

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Best Seat in the House

Aimed toward middle school readers, the story centers on two brothers separated by age and distance who, in the wake of a family tragedy, attempt to reconnect through the game of baseball.

Read about Craig's first novel

Protests, Parties and Politics

From interning with Fox News Radio and attending parties with delegates to participating in protests, Amanda Schiavo and Harry Olafsen gained a wealth of experience to guide their futures as they interned at the National Conventions.

Read about their internships

Back to school

The move-in dust has settled, and our students are getting down to business with the first week of classes already under their belts!

Check out statistics, video links, photo galleries and more

Extra, Extra!

The Spring/Summer 2016 issue of the Saint Francis University Magazine has hit the shelves (and is in the mail)!

Catch up on all the latest stories in this issue

College to the Cleveland Clinic

Elisha Fleig, Class of 2013, shares how her double major in Physician Assistant Science and Spanish prepared her to land her dream job as a PA-C at the Cleveland Clinic Bone Marrow Transplant Unit.

Read Elisha's story

Extra, extra! Read all about it

Kimberly Elter, a recent graduate and current intern at the Blair County Chamber of Commerce, was featured in the July issue of Blair Business Mirror.

Read more about Kimberly's internship

Standing up for social justice

English major Tara Fritz describes herself as a strong feminist, standing up for women and all other marginalized people. Her dedication to social justice is reflected in her academics, extra-curriculars and creative writing, and she got an award to prove it.

Read her story

A view from the Hill

Tori Martin, a fourth-year Master of Occupational Therapy student, is interning on Capitol Hill. The first Occupational Therapy student to intern on Capitol Hill through the Ann Eppard Scholarship, Tori is finding a voice among the people who make decisions about healthcare in the U.S.

How did Tori get on the Hill?

Poland Bound: World Youth Day 2016

Matthew Fraley (Digital Media/Marketing major) has been selected to take part in the Knights Pilgrimage to Krakow and World Youth Day 2016. Congratulations!

Learn more about the trip.

Senior History Award Winner

Known affectionately by her classmates as a "hippie" and by her professors for wearing t-shirts bearing the names of bands they have actually heard of, Madeline’s quietly analytical presence has contributed greatly to every history class she has taken at Saint Francis.

Read about her successes

Teaching the Second World War

Garrett knew he wanted to design some kind of senior capstone project that would help him be the best high school history teacher he could be. Hoping to connect students with the past, he created a lesson plan that would incorporate local community members’ involvement in World War II.

Learn about his project

“Real Housewives of the American Civil War”

Combining his passions for studying war and gender studies, Harry has investigated individual women’s lives during the American Civil War in order to make arguments about the “domestic war” within homes.

Read about his research

The Question of Religious Tolerance

While conducting research as a history major at Saint Francis, Nick's personal commitment to his own faith, as well as current events left him questioning the tolerance of one particular faith -- Islam.

Read about his research

Going Global

Entering Saint Francis University as a middle childhood education major, Beth Wheeler never even dreamed about studying abroad, but one little bite from the travel bug and her life changed forever.

Follow on Beth's journey

On the (crime) scene

Eight-year-old Dallas Mosier wants to be a forensic scientist when she grows up. Fast forward 14 years, and you will find her still in full pursuit of her dreams.

Alumni Profile Dallas Mosier

Information or Infotainment?

Senior strategic communications major and pre-law minor Amanda Schiavo presented research at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). Her study explored three major news outlets, revealing that post-debate media coverage of the candidates’ debate statements is not reflective of their statements.

Read more about Amanda's research

Riding the Ed Tech wave

Tim Fish merged his love of education and technology into a career that has including everything from co-authoring a book on technology leadership to helping his district raise money through a platform designed to evaluate teachers now used in more than 100 districts.

Read Tim's story

Marriage of Art & Health Sciences

Danielle MacMurtrie, a newly minted Doctor of Physical Therapy, finished off her final years at Saint Francis University creating an anatomy painting series for the School of Health Sciences.

Read more

SFU Spotlight

Brewing a Career

Senior Aaron Kirsch, the first student in the new Fermentation Arts program at Saint Francis University, learned to be the person behind that flavor and texture as he gained hands-on experiences through an internship with Draai Laag in the summer of 2015.

Read more about Aaron's internship