French
Professors deGraff and Hilliard; Associate Professor Teixidor; Instructor Shotwell (Department of Modern Languages)
In its full range of courses, the French section of the Modern Languages Department seeks to develop student proficiency in four areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Courses at all levels are designed to provide continued opportunities for use of the language in a variety of modes and settings, on campus and abroad. In addition to imparting linguistic skills, the French section of the Modern Languages Department nurtures critical thinking and synthesis in a program balancing language, civilization, and literature. The French faculty believes that a multifaceted study of another culture sensitizes students to realities other than their own, and encourages them to become more understanding of cultural differences at the same time that they are developing an appreciation for the literature and language which evolves from another culture.
The department offers a number of study abroad
opportunities. Individual faculty members accompany
groups of students to France during the January term,
and the college has established a fall and spring semester
program in Paris and in Poitiers. In addition, through
its affiliation with ISEP, the college has exchange programs
with several universities in France and in the
Francophone world. The college also offers an exchange
program with the University of Nice that is fully funded
by a scholarship.
The program for a major in French consists of a
minimum of 34 semester hours (including the capstone
course) and 11 courses of at least 3 semester-hour credit
numbered 221 or above, planned in consultation with
an adviser in the department. FREN 241, 351 and 356
must be completed as soon as possible since these courses
are prerequisites for upper-level literature and civilization
courses. To major in French, students must have
departmental permission. All majors must take any tests
related to departmental assessment activities. French
majors are required to have a study abroad experience,
in a country where French is the native language, for an
entire semester.
The program in FRENCH includes:
Major: (a total of 34 hours)
Group I (5-6 core courses)
FREN 220 – Language Development (may be
waived by department)
FREN 232 – Conversation
FREN 241 – Reading in French Literature (or
241*)
FREN 316 - Advanced Language Development (or
310* or 313*)
FREN 351 and 356 – Survey of French Literature
Group II (two courses)
FREN 261 – Civilization
FREN 275 – French Cinema
FREN 366 – Modern French Civilization
Group III (at least two of these literature courses)
FREN 435 – Studies in the 17th Century
FREN 437 – Studies in the 18th Century
FREN 443 – Studies in the 19th Century
FREN 445 – Studies in the 20th Century
FREN 447 – Francophone Literature
FREN 448 – Literature and Film of Africa
FREN 455* – La Belle Epoque
FREN 472 – Women in French Film
Group IV (two electives)
FREN 221 – Phonetics (or 222*)
FREN 256 – Paris Old and New
FREN 273 – Business French
FREN 332 – Advanced Conversation
FREN 349 – Teaching Methodology for Foreign Languages
FREN 450 – Internships in French
FREN 381 or 481 – Special Topics in Language or
Literature (only one 381 or 481 allowed)
Group V (Capstone - one hour course)
FREN 495, is a one-hour capstone course.
Minor: (a total of 18 semester hours from the three groups)
Group I (oral French)
FREN 232
Group II (Language Development)
FREN 316
Group III (civilization)
FREN 261 or FREN 366
Group IV (two literature courses)
FREN 241 (or 241*) plus either 351 or 356
Group V (one elective)
See list above (not FREN 495)
*Courses with asterisks are taught in Paris.
Students are allowed to substitute courses taken
abroad if they have been pre-approved.
Modifications of these groupings may occur if students
elect to complete a portion of their study in courses
taken abroad in programs other than our own in Paris,
Poitiers or Nice. The department will accept a maximum
of one half the major and one half of the minor courses
in transfer from other institutions.
To receive an education endorsement in French,
students must successfully complete all courses required
for the French major including French Phonetics (FREN
221) and Teaching Methodology for Foreign Languages
(FREN 349). Students must spend a semester abroad or
complete a comparable program, as determined in consultation
with the department.