French Studies B.A.
Program description
When you think of French, does your mind fill with stereotypical images of culture and language? You likely know that French is spoken on 5 continents and is the sixth most-commonly spoken language in the world. Studying French and Francophone Studies at the University of Minnesota takes you far beyond the stereotypes and basics. The major in French and Francophone studies introduces students to world cultures and history, preparing them for our interconnected, global future. The program cultivates students' cultural sophistication and their skills in language, communication, analysis, and argument. It opens doors, strengthens skills vital to today's careers, and helps you to think about many interesting questions and topics in ways you likely have not before.
A major in French combines beautifully with almost any other major on campus. Recent research shows that employers prefer to hire employees who have double-majored, as it often leads to more innovative thinking skills, making you more marketable. French complements many CLA majors, reinforcing the kinds of skills Liberal Arts degrees are rightly heralded for, or it can help develop parallel skills to majors in other colleges (Business, Science, Agriculture, Design), where critical thinking and communication skills can work together with analytical and practical skills developed from the other discipline. We have seen the vast majority of our majors be double majors, and go on to successful careers in international fields, as well as in education, law, medicine, business. These students choose French as a second major, rather than a minor, because it allows them to reach a higher level of language proficiency while achieving a depth of cultural understanding that is not possible in the shorter program.
Students who come into our department will quickly discover that this idea of combining disciplines is well-entrenched in our faculty and course offerings, which sets us apart from many language departments which focus more on traditional approaches to the discipline. While well-versed in traditional notions of language and culture, with admirable command of the language, its pedagogy and literatures, our faculty are deeply committed to research in fields such as film and the moving image, genocide studies, representations of the body, disability studies, gender and queer studies, migration, and more. Courses cover not only the French language and cultures of Europe, but also of Africa and North America. Elective courses reflect this variety of interests, allowing our students to develop curiosity and knowledge about a wide variety of relevant and current avenues of thought.
Some nuts and bolts: Students must complete FREN 1501/2, and at least four 3xxx-level courses totaling 12 credits, on the UMN TC campus. They can transfer a great deal of coursework from study abroad. We accept appropriate coursework (agreed upon with a departmental advisor before going abroad) from our Montpellier programs, the Senegal MSID program, and others. The majority of our majors do study abroad, if even just in a shorter-term summer program, and these experiences are almost always a life highlight.
A major in French combines beautifully with almost any other major on campus. Recent research shows that employers prefer to hire employees who have double-majored, as it often leads to more innovative thinking skills, making you more marketable. French complements many CLA majors, reinforcing the kinds of skills Liberal Arts degrees are rightly heralded for, or it can help develop parallel skills to majors in other colleges (Business, Science, Agriculture, Design), where critical thinking and communication skills can work together with analytical and practical skills developed from the other discipline. We have seen the vast majority of our majors be double majors, and go on to successful careers in international fields, as well as in education, law, medicine, business. These students choose French as a second major, rather than a minor, because it allows them to reach a higher level of language proficiency while achieving a depth of cultural understanding that is not possible in the shorter program.
Students who come into our department will quickly discover that this idea of combining disciplines is well-entrenched in our faculty and course offerings, which sets us apart from many language departments which focus more on traditional approaches to the discipline. While well-versed in traditional notions of language and culture, with admirable command of the language, its pedagogy and literatures, our faculty are deeply committed to research in fields such as film and the moving image, genocide studies, representations of the body, disability studies, gender and queer studies, migration, and more. Courses cover not only the French language and cultures of Europe, but also of Africa and North America. Elective courses reflect this variety of interests, allowing our students to develop curiosity and knowledge about a wide variety of relevant and current avenues of thought.
Some nuts and bolts: Students must complete FREN 1501/2, and at least four 3xxx-level courses totaling 12 credits, on the UMN TC campus. They can transfer a great deal of coursework from study abroad. We accept appropriate coursework (agreed upon with a departmental advisor before going abroad) from our Montpellier programs, the Senegal MSID program, and others. The majority of our majors do study abroad, if even just in a shorter-term summer program, and these experiences are almost always a life highlight.