Bachelor of Arts in French

General Description | Prerequisites | Major | Sample 4-Year Progression | Minor | Courses | Career Option l Ciné-Club Du Cercle Français-French Film Series l
French Club

The purpose of the French major is to enable students to attain an advanced level of competency in speaking, listening, reading and writing, and to provide them with a comprehensive knowledge of the historic and contemporary culture and institutions of France and the francophone world. The French language is studied not as an end in itself, but as a vehicle for students' broader and more informed participation in their chosen fields. Courses taken abroad in the CSU International Program may be counted toward the major or minor. Programs are available in Aix-en-Provence, Paris and Québec.

General description of the French program:

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Basic French Prerequisites

These requirements may be substituted partially or completely by two or more years of high school French, a high school advanced placement certificate or college transfer credits.

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French Major

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The French minor presupposes 15 units or the equivalent of FREN 101, 102, 201, and lab courses 101L, 102L, and 201L. All or part of these may have been completed elsewhere. Also, the student who wishes to minor in French is required to take:

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French courses (FREN)

Classes are offered in the semesters indicated; if not indicated, please refer to the current class schedule.

101 First-Semester French (4) / Fall

Assumes no prior experience in French. Moves from simple, everyday greetings to basic vocabulary and phrases describing people, places, clothing, food, travel, studies, sports, and professions. Competency-based testing of listening, speaking, reading, writing, and cultural skills. Requires concurrent enrollment in FREN 101L.

101L Language Laboratory (1) / Fall

A minimum of two academic hours (100 minutes) weekly of practice sessions in the language laboratory. CR/NC only. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in FREN 101.

102 Second-Semester French (4) / Spring

Students progress through increasingly complex sentence structures. Listening and speaking competence tested at intermediate-low levels; reading and writing at intermediate-mid levels. (Testing includes cultural knowledge.) Requires concurrent enrollment in FREN 102L. Prerequisite: FREN 101 or placement by examination.

102L Language Laboratory (1) / Spring

A minimum of two academic hours (100 minutes) weekly of practice sessions in the language laboratory. CR/NC only. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in FREN 102.

201 Third-Semester French (4) / Fall

An in-depth review of fundamentals and an introduction to more sophisticated grammatical patterns. Testing (includes cultural knowledge) of speaking and listening skills at the intermediate-mid levels, reading and writing at the intermediate-high levels. Requires concurrent enrollment in lab, FREN 201L. Prerequisite: FREN 102 or placement by examination.

201L Language Laboratory (1) / Fall

A minimum of two academic hours (100 minutes) weekly of practice sessions in the language laboratory. CR/NC only. Prerequisite: concurrent enrollment in FREN 201.

202 Oral French (4) / Spring

Required of majors. Extensive use of oral group activities, use of periodicals and listening comprehension through video, film, tapes. Practical work in phonetics and intonation. Speaking and listening competence at advanced-low level. Prerequisite: FREN 201 or placement by examination.

300 Introduction to Literary Analysis & Critical Writing (4) / Fall

Study of advanced aspects of French grammar and stylistics with a focus on introducing students to literary analysis, including poetry, theater, and narrative prose. Oral and written presentations. Prerequisite: FREN 201 or equivalent, and FREN 202.

314 French Literature in English Translation (4)

Studies in French-speaking Caribbean, African, Near Eastern, Asia and North American literatures in English translation. Topics may include non-western cultural and religious values, colonialism vs. emerging nationalism, and the quest for identity, personal, cultural and national. Satisfies GE category C2 (World Literature). Prerequisite: completion of GE category A.

320 France Yesterday (4) / Fall, alternate years

French civilization: history, social and political institutions, and the arts, as revealed in written documents and visual media (architecture, painting, graphics, etc.), from the medieval period to the Revolution. Readings, discussion,and oral and written reports in French. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent (may be taken concurrently).

321 France Today (4) / Fall, alternate years

French civilization: history, social and political institutions, and the arts, as revealed in written documents and visual media (architecture, painting, graphics, etc.), from the Revolution to the present. Readings, discussion,and oral and written reports in French. Prerequisite: FREN 300 (may be taken concurrently).

410 French Literature (4) / Spring, alternate years

Readings in theatre, prose and poetry representing major writers and movements from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Classical and the pre-Romantic periods. May be organized around themes or genres or by aesthetic movements. Readings, discussion, and oral and written reports in French. Prerequisite: FREN 320.

411 French Literature (4) / Spring, alternate years

Readings in theatre, prose and poetry representing major writers and movements from the 19th and 20th centuries. May be organized around themes or genres or by aesthetic movements. Readings, discussion, and oral and written reports in French. May be repeated for credit when content is different. Prerequisite: FREN 321.

415 Special Topics in French Culture (4) / Fall, alternate years

Topics vary according to current interests and issues, e.g. the Francophone world, the French film, French feminism, French impressionism, Theatre and society, etc. Readings, discussios, and oral and written reports. May be repeated for credit when topics change. Prerequisite: FREN 320 or 321 (may be taken concurrently).

475 Senior Seminar (4) / Spring, alternate years

An advanced writing course, culminating in a research paper on a literary or cultural topic. Prerequisite: FREN 321 or 411 (may be taken concurrently).

495 Special Studies (1-4)

Directed individual study. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.

499 Internships (1-4)

Students in the intern program apply skills and methods mastered in their coursework in French in a variety of situation in public and private agencies. Credit is awarded for completion of 3 hours of work (weekly average) per unit, participation in a seminar or conferences, and a final report. Placement must be arranged in advance with department coordinator.