B.A. programs in French
French and Francophone Language and Culture
FRE 1120. Elementary French I (4). This course stresses oral comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. May not be taken by native speakers. May not be taken concurrently with FRE 1121 and/or 2220.
FRE 1121. Elementary French II (4). Prerequisite: FRE 1120 or equivalent. This course places further emphasis on oral comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing. May not be taken by native speakers. May not be taken concurrently with FRE 1120 and/or 2220.
FRE 2220. Intermediate French (4). Prerequisite: FRE 1121 or equivalent. This intermediate course offers a rapid overview of basic French grammar and expands students’ oral and written French expression through structured activities and compositions. May not be taken concurrently with FRE 1120, FRE 1121, or by native speakers.
FRE 3244. Intermediate French Conversation (3). Prerequisite: FRE 2220 or equivalent. Through readings and films about contemporary issues facing French society, this course aims at developing oral communication skills in a broad cultural context.
FRE 3420. French Grammar and Composition I (3). Prerequisite: FRE 2220 or equivalent. This course is an in-depth study of French grammar emphasizing subtleties of written expression.
FRE 3421. French Grammar and Composition II (3). Prerequisite: FRE 2220 or equivalent. This course is a further study of the subtleties of written expression in the French language.
FRE 3440. Commercial French (3). Prerequisites: FRE 2220 or equivalent. This course develops language and correspondence skills appropriate to business transactions in such areas as sales, finance, transportation, management, etc.
FRE 3501. Contemporary France (3). Prerequisite: FRE 3420. This course, taught entirely in French, provides the student with an understanding of French culture and society from WW II through the present day. Topics include high vs. popular culture, political life, Franco-American relations, economics, media, France and the European Union, social interactions of the French, family life, education system, religion, cuisine, and immigration and multiculturalism. Activities and assignments emphasize French writing and speaking skills.
FRE 3780. French Phonetics (3). Prerequisite: FRE 3420. This course targets pronunciation practice using the phonetic alphabet with the objective of improving production of standard French pronunciation. French majors only.
FRE 4410. Advanced Conversation (3). This course is about oral expression, listening skills and vocabulary acquisition in French in a variety of domains using contemporary materials.
FRE 4422. Advanced Grammar and Composition (3). Prerequisite: FRE 3420 and FRE 3421. This course aims at developing writing and speaking ability at an advanced level through a review of French grammar, an introduction to Comparative Stylistics of French and English, the reading of sophisticated French prose, and the writing of two research papers.
FRE 4905r. Directed Individual Study (3). In this course, students arrange with individual faculty members to undertake specialized study in areas outside of or in addition to the regular curriculum. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
FRE 4930r. Special Topics (3). Prerequisite: Divisional coordinator permission. This course allows students to study literary topics of a special kind, depending on student interest and faculty expertise. May be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours.
FRE 4935r. Honors Thesis (1–6). This course may be repeated to a maximum of nine semester hours, three hours of which may be applied to the requirements for the major with permission of the department. All honors work is directed by the student’s honors committee.
FRE 4942r. Internship in Applied French (1–6). (S/U grade only.) Prerequisite: Advanced standing in French. This course provides academic credit for students working in governmental agencies or private business where students employ the foreign language. Departmental permission required. May be repeated to a maximum of six (6) credit hours; repeatable within the same term.
French and Francophone Cultures in Translation
Note: FRT courses do not count toward the major unless the student reads the works in French, writes all assignments in French, and can provide a letter from the instructor granting him/her permission to take the course for major credit.
FRT 3140. Masterworks of French Literature in Translation (3). This course is a survey of selected masterpieces of French literature, ranging from the Middle Ages to the present. The readings and instruction are in English.
FRT 3520r. French and Francophone Cinema (3). This Francophone cinema course is offered in two versions: one focusing on the relationship between cinema and Francophone cultures and societies, and another taking a chronological and thematic approach to the movements and directors of metropolitan French cinema. This course is taught in English and, with instructor permission, three hours may be used for major or minor credit. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
FRT 3561. French Women Writers (3). Prerequisites: ENC 1101 and ENC 1121, or equivalent. This course addresses issues of race, gender, and class in a selection of works written by prominent French/francophone writers. Taught in English. Can be used for minor credit with permission of the coordinator.
Literatures, Cultures and/or Societies of French Expression
FRW 3100. Survey of French Literature I: Early-Modern France (3). Prerequisite: FRE 2220; FRE 3420 or FRE 3421 recommended. This course is an introduction to the study of early-modern French literature by reading and discussing works representative of the various schools and movements.
FRW 3101. Survey of French Literature II: Modern France (3). Prerequisite: FRE 2220. This course is an introduction to the study of modern French literature by reading and discussing works representative of the various schools and movements. (Spring semester only.)
FRW 4420. Medieval and Renaissance Literature (3). Prerequisite: FRW 3100. This course is an introduction to the poetry and prose of the medieval and early-modern periods. Emphasis is on the themes of love and friendship.
FRW 4433. 17th- and 18th-Century Literature (3). Prerequisite: FRW 3100 or FRW 3101. This course surveys major works in the areas of theatre, philosophy, and prose fiction. Special attention is given to the possible meanings of central concepts such as Classicism and Enlightenment.
FRW 4460. 19th-Century Literature (3). Prerequisite: FRW 3101. This course focuses on major themes and issues in 19th-century literature and culture.
FRW 4480. 20th-Century Literature (3). Prerequisite: FRW 3101. This course is a survey of the major works (novels, theatre, poetry) and movements of 20th-century French literature.
FRW 4761r. Studies in Francophone Literatures and Cultures (3). Prerequisite: FRW 3100 or FRW 3101. This course is an examination of selected aspects of cultural forms (books, film, music, etc.) associated with one or more French-speaking regions located outside France, including North Africa, West Africa, the Antilles, Quebec, Indo-china, and French-speaking islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.
FRW 4770r. Francophone Caribbean/African Cultures (3). Prerequisite: FRW 3101. This course examines the literature of Africa and the Caribbean written in French with an emphasis on Negritude and/or Creolite. May be repeated to a maximum of six semester hours.