The French Studies major provides liberal arts training that sharpens communicative, analytical and interpretive skills. It is designed to help students appreciate the language, literature and culture of France and the Francophone world. It also aims to form general habits of thought and expression that allow students to interpret complex symbolic systems and gain insights into aesthetic experience. Students learn to use diverse texts as a means for understanding culturally specific as well as universal problems, and they do so in ways that stimulate their curiosity and learning beyond their time at the university.
A core set of courses devoted to fundamentals in language, civilization, and literature (18 hours; also the Minor) offers equal instruction across three areas: formative language development in reading, writing, listening, and speaking; a survey of French political, historical, and cultural thought; an introduction to French literature with a sampling of movements and historical periods:
The core:
Complete one course from the following:
Complete two of the following:
Electives (12 hours)from the following:
NOTE: French Studies majors can select Fren 445, BUS M 596R or Fren 490R as ONE of the five required 400-level courses.
Minor required for French Studies Major: Option 1: a minored defined by another department (after consultation with an advisor in French and Italian Department). Option 2: 15 hrs of course work in different but related fields (after consultation with advisor in French and Italian Department).
Co-Curricular Activities: various organizations, activities and programs afford an opportunity to reinforce departmental values and interest, as well as provide specific language or cultural training and practice.
Immersive environment: some co-curricular activities help establish and maintain an on-campus French-speaking community, which nourishes the immersive language environment necessary for foreign language study
Designed to provide an immersive French-language environment
Provides assistance to students for improving written expression and reinforces grammatical skills taught in the classroom
2-3 mos. in-country work and service opportunities for 10-15 students each spring/summer, coordinated through the French Embassy placement includes government agencies, non-profit organizations, etc.
Active campus club that provides an extracurricular cultural and linguistic environment focusing on awareness of the French-speaking world regular attendance is 200-300 students/activity
Cultural experience and language immersion through French-language films
Incentives for excellence:
Provides incentive to students to perform at their best and participate in a larger French community by recognizing excellence in the discipline
Provides incentive to students to perfect their written expression and share their creativity
Other
Regular lectures by invited/guest speakers to stimulate humanistic inquiry and help faculty and students stay abreast of developments in the discipline