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Department ofFrench and Francophone Studies
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Majors and Minors

Majors and Minors

B.A. in French and Francophone Studies

This option is designed for students interested in a wide variety of careers that involve contact with French people and organizations here and abroad, communicating French language and culture to Americans, or graduate study in French. This option involves 33 credits beyond the intermediate level (FR 003).

  • FR 201 (3) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension
  • FR 202 (3) Grammar and Composition
  • FR 316 (3) French Lingustics
    OR FR 417 (3) French Phonology
    OR FR 418 (3) French Syntax
  • FR 402Y (3) Advanced Grammar and Writing
  • FR 430 (3) Contemporary France
Three of the following courses:
  • FR 331 (3) French Culture and Civilization I
  • FR 332 (3) French Culture and Civilization II
  • FR 351 (3) Introduction to French Literature I
  • FR 352 (3) Introduction to French Literature II
Three courses from the following list:
  • FR 410 (3) French Press
  • FR 426Y (3) French Literature of the Renaissance
  • FR 436Y (3) Readings in Seventeenth-Century French Literature
  • FR 445Y (3) Readings in the French Enlightenment
  • FR 452Y (3) 19th Century French Literature
  • FR 453Y (3) La Belle Epoque
  • FR 458 (3) African Literature of French Expression
  • FR 460 (3) Contemporary French Literature
  • FR 470 (3) Race and Gender Issues in Literatures in French
  • FR 471 (3) Francophone Women in Literature and Culture
  • FR 487 (3) Topics in French Film History and Theory I
  • FR 488 (3) Topics in French Film History and Theory II
  • FR 497 (3) Special Topics

Required courses may be substituted with the approval of the Advisor in the French Department. Students may obtain equivalent credits for one or more of the required courses by participating in the University’s education abroad programs in Aix, Paris, Montpellier, Besançon, and Sénégal.

This option is designed for students who want to know more about French and francophone culture as represented in literature, and who are interested in professions such as medicine, law, teaching, publishing, and librarianship, as well as those wishing to pursue graduate study in French. This option involves 33 credits beyond the intermediate level (FR 003).
  • FR 201 (3) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension
  • FR 202 (3) Grammar and Composition
  • FR 316 (3) French Linguistics OR FR 417 (3) French Phonology OR FR 418 (3) French Syntax
Three of the following courses:
  • FR 331 (3) French Culture and Civilization I
  • FR 332 (3) French Culture and Civilization II
  • FR 351 (3) Introduction to French Literature I
  • FR 352 (3) Introduction to French Literature II
Five courses in French literature from the following list:
  • FR 422 (3) Old French Literature
  • FR 426Y (3) French Literature of the Renaissance
  • FR 436Y (3) Readings in Seventeenth-Century French Literature
  • FR 445Y (3) Readings in the French Enlightenment
  • FR 452Y (3) 19th Century French Literature
  • FR 453Y (3) La Belle Epoque
  • FR 458 (3) African Literature of French Expression
  • FR 460 (3) Contemporary French Literature
  • FR 470 (3) Race and Gender Issues in Literatures in French
  • FR 471(3) Francophone Women in Literature and Culture
  • FR 487 (3) Topics in French Film History and Theory I OR FR 488 (3) Topics in French Film History and Theory II
  • FR 497 (3) Special Topics
Required courses may be substituted with the approval of the Advisor in the French Department. Students may obtain equivalent credits for one or more of the required courses by participating in the University’s education abroad programs in Aix, Paris, Montpellier, Besançon, and Sénégal.
This option prepares students for careers in law, teaching, research, librarianship, translating, and computer science, as well as for future graduate studies in French and/or linguistics. It involves 33 credits beyond the intermediate level (FR 003).
  • FR 201 (3) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension
  • FR 202 (3) Grammar and Composition
  • FR 316 (3) French Linguistics
Three of the following courses:
  • FR 331 (3) French Culture and Civilization I
  • FR 332 (3) French Culture and Civilization II
  • FR 351 (3) Introduction to French Literature I
  • FR 352 (3) Introduction to French Literature II
Five courses in advanced French and Linguistics from the following list: Required courses may be substituted with the approval of the Advisor in the French Department. Students may obtain equivalent credits for one or more of the required courses by participating in the University’s education abroad programs in Aix, Paris, Montpellier, Besançon, and Sénégal (for more information please contact an Adviser in the French and Francophone Studies Department).

B.S. in French and Francophone Studies

This option is designed for students interested in a career in international business. Please note the Basic Degree requirements for students earning the B.S. in French/Business are different from those listed for the B.A. degree. Check the Penn State Bulletin for details.

I. FRENCH (33 credits)

  • FR 201 (3) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension
  • FR 202 (3) Grammar and Composition
  • FR 316 (3) French Linguistics
    OR FR 417 (3) French Phonology
    OR FR 418 (3) French Syntax
Three of the following courses: 
  • FR 331 (3) French Culture and Civilization I
  • FR 332 (3) French Culture and Civilization II
  • FR 351 (3) Introduction to French Literature I
  • FR 352 (3) Introduction to French Literature II
Additional Required courses:
  • FR 401 (3) Advanced Oral Communication
  • FR 402Y (3) Advanced Grammar and Writing
  • FR 409 (3) Commercial and Technical Translation
  • FR 430 (3) Contemporary France
  • 400-level French course (3)

II. BUSINESS (23 credits)

  • ACCTG 211 (4) Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making
  • BA 301 (3)  Finance
  • I B 303 (3) International Business Operations
  • I B 403 (3) International Business and National Policies
    OR MKTG 220 (3) Personal Selling
  • BA 304 (3)  Management and Organization
  • BA 303 (3) Marketing
  • SCM 200 (4) Introduction to Statistics for Business
    OR STAT 200 (GQ) (4) Elementary Statistics

III. RELATED AREAS (12 credits)

  • ECON 102 (GS) (3) Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy
  • ECON 104 (GS) (3) Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy
  • ECON 333 (GS) (3) International Economics
    OR MKTG 445 (3) Global Marketing
  • ENGL 202D (GWS) (3) Effective Writing: Business Writing

Required courses may be substituted with the approval of the Advisor in the French Department. Students may obtain equivalent credits for one or more of the required courses by participating in the University’s education abroad programs in Aix, Paris, Montpellier, Besançon, and Sénégal.

*The French-Engineering option is open only to students in an Engineering major.*

Please note that Basic Degree requirements for the BS in French/Engineering are different from those for the BA degree. Check the Blue Book for details.

I. FRENCH (33 Credits)

  • FR 201 (3) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension
  • FR 202 (3) Grammar and Composition
  • FR 316 (3) French Linguistics
    OR FR 417 (3) French Phonology
    OR FR 418 (3) French Syntax
Three of the following courses:
  • FR 331 (3) French Culture and Civilization I
  • FR 332 (3) French Culture and Civilization II
  • FR 351 (3) Introduction to French Literature I
  • FR 352 (3) Introduction to French Literature II
All of the following courses:
  • FR 401 (3) Advanced Oral Communication
  • FR 402Y (3) Advanced Grammar and Writing
  • FR 409 (3) Commercial and Technical Translation
  • FR 430 (3) Contemporary France
  • one 400-level French course (3)\

 

II. ENGINEERING (21 credits) *

Select 21 credits of engineering courses in consultation with an engineering advisor

NOTE: All French-Engineering majors are required to participate in a one-semester study or work experience in a French-speaking country, during which up to 9 credits in French and up to 12 credits in Engineering may be earned. The work experience may take the form of a professional internship (ENGR 195I) or be part of a cooperative education sequence (ENGR 295I, 395I, or 495I). Students should complete FR 201, 202, 331, 332, 351, 352 and one French linguistics course prior to a study or work experience abroad.

Required French courses may be substituted with an approval of the Advisor in the French and Francophone Studies Department.

Questions pertaining to General Education requirements or to career opportunities should be addressed to your major advisor in Engineering.

*See the “Baccalaureate Degree Programs Bulletin” for a list of the total credits required to earn a B.S. degree in the selected engineering major

This option is designed to allow students to combine fluency in French with other academic disciplines. The Applied French option develops basic skills in French (speaking, understanding, reading, and writing) as well as a basic knowledge of French literature and culture. At the same time, it provides a concentration in a professional area in which a command of French can be particularly relevant or useful. Courses in French culture and civilization are essential to all B.S. options, and students are encouraged to participate in one of the University’s Education Abroad programs (see below).

I. CORE COURSES (18 credits)

  • FR 201 (3) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension
  • FR 202 (3) Grammar and Composition
  • FR 316 (3) French Linguistics
    OR FR 417 (3) French Phonology
    OR FR 418 (3) French Syntax
Three of the following courses:
  • FR 331 (3) French Culture and Civilization I
  • FR 332 (3) French Culture and Civilization II
  • FR 351 (3) Introduction to French Literature I
  • FR 352 (3) Introduction to French Literature II

 

II. APPLIED FRENCH (15 credits)

  • FR 401 (3) Advanced Oral Communication
  • FR 402Y (3) Advanced Grammar and Writing
  • FR 430 (3) Contemporary France
  • 6 credits of 400-level French courses

 

III. SUPPORTING/RELATED AREA (18 credits)

Select 18 credits in related areas such as Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management; Linguistics; Sociology; Economics; Science Technology and Society; or in another professional area where competency in French is desirable. The courses are to be selected in consultation with an advisor. At least six credits of such courses must be at the 400-level.

Students may obtain equivalent credits for one or more of the required courses by participating in the University’s education abroad programs in Aix, Paris, Montpellier, Besançon,  and Sénégal.

The French Minor

The French minor is designed to give students the opportunity to improve their knowledge of French language and culture (literature, civilization, history, film). Courses taken for the minor may also be counted for Basic Degree and major requirements.

Requirements: 18 credits

Prescribed Courses (6 credits):

  • FR 201 (3) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension
  • FR 202 (3) Grammar and Composition


Additional Courses (6 credits):

Select 6 credits from 1. and 2., or 2. and 3., or 1. and 3:
  1. FR 316 French Linguistics (3)
  2. FR 331 French Culture and Civilization I (3) or 332 French Culture and Civilization II (3)
  3. FR 351 Introduction to French Literature I (3) or 352 Introduction to French Literature II (3)


Supporting Courses (6 credits):

Two 400-Level French courses chosen in consultation with a French Department advisor.

Students may obtain equivalent credits for one or more of these courses by participating in the University’s education abroad programs in Aix, Avignon, Brest, Paris, Montpellier, Brussels, Besançon, Québec, and Sénégal (for more information please contact an Advisor in the French and Francophone Studies Department).

Students wishing to graduate with a minor must declare the minor no later than the end of the semester prior to graduation. All required course work must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher by the end of the semester the student plans to graduate.

Completion of the minor should help students in their graduate work or in securing positions which require the use of the French language, such as business, journalism, civil service, law, and teaching.