French Major

Major Requirements

A major in French is a program of study of French language and literature. It consists of a minimum of eight courses at the 300 and 400 levels.

350-Level Electives

• Two FREN courses at the 350-level are required

NOTE: These courses must be taken before any 400-level literature course. A student who has completed a 400-level course may not take a 350-level survey course.

Advanced Composition, Grammar, and Conversation

• FREN 361 - Advanced French Composition, Grammar, and Conversation
  Note: This course may be taken for major credit on campus only. An exception is made for students who have received credit for this course by scoring 5 on the AP language exam 

400-level Electives

• Five FREN 400-level electives:
  • two must come from the Pre-1800 (category 1) list
  • two must come from the Post-1800 (category 2) list

Pre-1800 (category 1)

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of FRPR in the course offerings.

• FREN 423 - The 18th-Century Epistolary Novel in France
• FREN 429 - The Age of Enlightenment
• FREN 434 - Storytelling: Medieval and Early Modern Short Stories
• FREN 436 - Crossroads: Literature of Medieval and Early Modern Voyages
• FREN 481 - Special Topics in French (pre-1800)

Post-1800 (category 2)

Courses fulfilling this requirement have an attribute of FRPO in the course offerings.

• FREN 432 - Twilight Zone: The "Fantastique" in 19th-Century French Literature
• FREN 445 - Writing the Self in the 20th Century: Autobiography in French
• FREN 453 - Contemporary Literature in French
• FREN 455 - Francophone Voices from North Africa
• FREN 482 - Special Topics in French (post-1800)

Additional Regulations

The following regulations apply:

1. Only 300- and 400-level courses in language and literature may be counted.
2. No course with a grade of less than C– is credited toward a major. For graduation, the minimum GPA required in courses counting toward a major is 2.00 (C); all departmental courses taken in the major are used to calculate this average.
3. No more than two departmental courses counting toward a major may be taken in any one term.
4. Independent study courses are permitted only when the 400-level distribution requirements are met.

Honors and High Honors

Departmental honors requires a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and an average in all major courses of 3.50. After selecting a topic and adviser, the student registers for  during one of the semesters of the senior year and writes a paper of significant length and depth. The quality of the paper determines whether the student receives honors (A– or higher required).

Departmental high honors requires a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and an average in all major courses of 3.70.

After selecting a topic and adviser, the student registers for  in the seventh term in order to compile a bibliography, gather materials, and begin the preparation of a thesis. The student then registers for  in the eighth term in order to complete the thesis. The final version serves as the basis for an oral examination by three or more members of the faculty. The quality of the thesis and of the oral defense determines whether the student receives high honors (A or higher) or honors (A–).

A 490-course registration must be in addition to the minimum major requirement. The expected length of an honors paper or high honors thesis is established by the adviser and is normally 45 pages for honors and 75 pages for high honors.

Romance Languages and Literatures Department

For more information about the department, including Faculty, transfer credit, awards, etc., please visit the  catalog page.