French (FREN)
French is part of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. Both a major and minor is available in French and Francophone Studies which focuses on both language skills and and cultural aspects.
Special Considerations
Students who directly enroll in and complete a 300- level French language course with a grade of 'C' or higher may be awarded credit for 201 and 202 courses provided they have not previously earned any lower division credit in that particular language.
Students who earned/received credit for a higher level French language course may not take or repeat a course at a lower level and receive credit for that course.
Requirements for the Major in French and Francophone Studies
Students majoring in French are required to complete a semester of study abroad in a country where the French language is spoken, taking a majority of courses in French in a program approved by the language major advisor. In rare instances, exceptions to this policy may be granted, at the discretion of the faculty of the program, through a waiver process administered by the Coordinator of the French program.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Major Courses | 16 | |
| Intermediate Active French | ||
| Intermediate Active French | ||
| Advanced French 1 | ||
| The French World: France | ||
or FREN 306 | The Francophone World: Global South | |
| Introduction to French and Francophone Literatures | ||
| Literature Requirement | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| French Novel | ||
| French Poetry | ||
| French Non-Fiction | ||
| French Theater | ||
| French Film Seminar | ||
| 400-Level Elective | 3 | |
Select one French (FREN) course at the 400-level | ||
| Upper-Level Elective | 3 | |
Select one French (FREN) course at the 300-or 400-level | ||
| Semester of Study Abroad | ||
| Total Hours | 25 | |
- 1
Students must earn a grade of 'C' or higher in order to continue in the major.
Requirements for the Minor in French and Francophone Studies
The curriculum consists of 18 credit hours as described below. Courses taken to meet the requirements of the Minor in Francophone Studies will NOT count toward requirements in programs other than Francophone Studies. Exceptions may be granted in extraordinary circumstances and with permission of both the French Language Coordinator and the Department Chair in Art History, History and/or Philosophy. The candidate for the Minor in Francophone Studies is strongly encouraged to participate in an extended study, travel, or work-abroad experience.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Minor Courses | 9 | |
| Intermediate Active French | ||
| Intermediate Active French | ||
| Advanced French 1 | ||
| Electives 2 | 9 | |
| Select 9 credit hours (at least 6 hours must have the 'FREN' subject code): | ||
| 19th-Century Art | ||
| The French World: France | ||
| The Francophone World: Global South | ||
| Introduction to French and Francophone Literatures | ||
| French Novel | ||
| French Poetry | ||
| French Non-Fiction | ||
| French Theater | ||
| French Film Seminar | ||
| The Art & Craft of Translation | ||
| Advanced Composition | ||
| French Phonetics | ||
| French for Professional Fluency | ||
| Europe from Louis XIV to the French Revolution (1600-1800) | ||
| Existentialism | ||
| Total Hours | 18 | |
- 1
Students must complete FREN 303 with a grade of 'C' or higher as it is pre-requisite for all other upper-level French courses.
- 2
With prior approval from the French Language Coordinator, special topics courses or courses taken abroad whose main subject is French or Francophone culture, may be applied to this requirement.
FREN 101. Beginning Active French. 3 Hours.
A first semester comprehensive introduction to the four skills of the language: oral expression, aural comprehension, reading, and writing. Communication skills and intercultural competence are emphasized through extensive use of French in the classroom.
FREN 102. Beginning Active French. 3 Hours.
A second semester comprehensive introduction to the four skills of the language: oral expression, aural comprehension, reading, and writing. Communication skills and intercultural competence are emphasized through extensive use of French in the classroom.
Prerequisite: FREN 101 with a minimum grade of D.
FREN 201. Intermediate Active French. 3 Hours.
An intensive first semester review of the language at the intermediate level with an emphasis on the development of fluent oral skills, refinement of grammatical structures, vocabulary building, and expansion of reading and writing skills. Oral communication is stressed in class.
Prerequisite: FREN 102 with a minimum grade of C-.
FREN 202. Intermediate Active French. 3 Hours.
An intensive second semester review of the language at the intermediate level with an emphasis on the development of fluent oral skills, refinement of grammatical structures, vocabulary building, and expansion of reading and writing skills. Oral communication is stressed in class.
Prerequisite: FREN 201 with a minimum grade of C-.
FREN 280. Selected Topics in French. 1 to 4 Hours.
The study of selected topics, at the introductory or intermediate level, in French.
FREN 303. Advanced French. 3 Hours.
Advanced French language course designed to move the student toward content-based courses. Topics focus on: refinement of listening and speaking skills, reading French, and oral and written communication. The course stresses improvement in the ease and richness of expression, as well as intercultural competency. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 202 with a minimum grade of C-.
FREN 304. The French World: France. 4 Hours.
In this course, students will learn about France and its multifaceted identity through social and cultural institutions and through the study of past and contemporary issues with emphasis on history, geography, and social and political systems. Students will reflect on their own American and regional cultures. Overall, students will discover the diversity of France and the various factors (geography, history, politics, immigration, global trends for example) that contributed to shaping its identity. This course will be taught in French with a strong emphasis on intercultural competence.
Prerequisite: FREN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 306. The Francophone World: Global South. 4 Hours.
A decolonial approach to exploration of French-speaking regions of the Global South. Topics may include the Maghreb, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Ocean, French Polynesia, and the Caribbean. This introductory course to Francophone Studies focuses on key historical moments, indigenous histories and myths, plurilingualism, and cultural practices. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 308. Introduction to French and Francophone Literatures. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the literatures of France and the French-speaking world. Topics include: reading techniques that appreciate style, syntax, and rhetorical devices from the Renaissance to the 21st Century. Diverse literary genres and authors are studied with an emphasis on the historical, social, and cultural contexts of the chosen works. Students will acquire academic writing skills in French. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 412. French Novel. 3 Hours.
Readings from selected texts that represent the evolution of the French novel. Attention is paid to technique and style, with emphasis also on the historical and social importance of each novel. The student also becomes familiar with a substantial corpus of critical literature. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 413. French Poetry. 3 Hours.
Study of a variety of texts from representative poetic movements from the 17th century through the 20th century. Emphasis is placed on poetry as a social and historical document and close attention is also paid to the evolution of poetic structure and technique. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 414. French Non-Fiction. 3 Hours.
A careful reading of selected major essays, journalistic articles and reviews, biographies and autobiographies, and other non-fictional texts by writers in French. The course focuses on important themes and perspectives of influential French authors, contemporary and historical, as well as on the basic elements and strategies of their prose styles. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 415. French Theater. 3 Hours.
A careful reading of representative texts of the French theater designed to acquaint the student with the different genres of theater and to teach the student to read critically. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 421. French Film Seminar. 4 Hours.
A study of French film as an art form. Using a representative sample of films as 'texts,' the course considers narrative processes, representational modalities, and the language of film (cinematographic techniques and devices). Other topics of consideration may include the contrastive analysis of literary and cinematic fictions; the cinematic depiction of social and cultural realities (film as cultural mirror, film as propaganda); the historical development of a national film industry; and the director as auteur. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 308 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 440. The Art & Craft of Translation. 3 Hours.
Discuss and practice the craft of translating various genres of written French texts into English and the reverse. Theoretical and practical aspects of translations will be addressed as well as the creative writing aspect of translation and its cross-cultural and linguistic implications. Conducted in French and English.
Prerequisite: FREN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 441. Advanced Composition. 3 Hours.
Improve written expression in French in a variety of genres and registers from formal argumentative papers to creative works of fiction. Continue to develop skills to write sophisticated and accurate French on complex topics, and read authentic texts written in French with increasing ease. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 442. Oral Proficiency: Conversing and Interpreting in French. 3 Hours.
A practical approach to speaking French. Using a wide variety of spoken samples
for listening practice and role-play tasks for speaking practice, the course examines the functions and contexts of oral proficiency levels from intermediate to superior abilities. The course also considers techniques of oral assessment and the nature of professional interpreting as a career. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 443. French Phonetics. 4 Hours.
An introduction to the nuances of French pronunciation, the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), and its application to problems of correct phonetic utterance. Students focus on pitfalls of pronunciation for native speakers of American English, transcribe French sentences to and from IPA, refine their listening comprehension and oral expression. Conducted in French and English.
Prerequisite: FREN 303 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 444. French for Professional Fluency. 3 Hours.
Refine linguistic skills and cultural knowledge through an exploration of Francophone professional cultures. Includes a focus on cross-cultural differences in Francophone workplaces. Professional domains of study include the Arts, Law, NGOs, Healthcare, Trade, and the Hospitality Industry. Conducted in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 304 with a minimum grade of C or FREN 306 with a minimum grade of C.
FREN 470. Independent Study in French. 1 to 4 Hours.
Independent study of selected topics in French at an advanced level. Specific topics vary from semester to semester. Permission of the instructor required.
FREN 480. Advanced Topics in French. 1 to 4 Hours.
The study of selected topics at the advanced level in French.