Program Overview

French Undergraduate Major (BA, HBA)

The French Undergraduate Major is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the French language and culture. French is the official language in 29 countries around the world and an official language of the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, and the International Red Cross. It is a growing language with a steady increase in the number of French speakers, especially across the African continent, making French a key language for students interested in international affairs, political science, economics, global business, agriculture, and humanitarian work.

Overview

In addition to developing communication skills, including speaking, listening, reading, and writing, as a student of French at OSU, you will acquire a better knowledge and understanding of the diversity of francophone cultures and values around the world. You will also have the opportunity to enhance your analytical and critical skills, thus preparing you to succeed in a variety of rewarding careers.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate Intermediate-High or equivalent proficiency on an officially certified oral examination in a language other than English.
• Read and analyze written literary and nonfiction genres from multilingual and non-English speaking cultures in their original language.
• Understand, analyze, and interact with visual and multimodal genres such as film, video, and social media from multilingual and non-English speaking cultures.
• Explore and reflect on the experiences of members of linguistic or cultural communities that have been historically marginalized due to race, gender, sexual identity, social class, or other social constructs.
• Understand, analyze, and reflect on personal identity and positionality in global/polycultural contexts.
• Describe ways in which linguistic behavior is used to reinforce social identities.
• Understand and explain the concept of colonialism and identify its social and economic effects in different parts of the world.
• Demonstrate understanding of the nature of nationalism and its effects on relations within and between countries.
• Describe the role of language in creating and maintaining systems of ideological and social control.
• Interact with community organizations affiliated with multilingual and non-English speaking communities.
• Experience everyday life in multilingual and non-English speaking communities for at least one full term.
• Integrate academic topics from the classroom with multilingual/polycultural interpersonal relationships.

Requirements

All prospective majors must see a World Languages and Cultures advisor at least once a year.

French Undergraduate Major Track I

In order to qualify for Track I, students with no previous experience in French must first complete the lower-division French language sequences (FR 111, FR 112, FR 113, FR 211, FR 212, FR 213). Students with previous French experience are encouraged to take a placement test and to enroll in the lower-division course they placed into, after talking with a WLC advisor.

• Required French core courses may not be taken S/U.
• Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (B average or better) in required core courses for the major.
• Students are strongly encouraged to take more upper-division courses in French, and to pursue another major or additional minors to broaden their university experience and to better prepare themselves for the job market.

Course List

• FR 311, FR 312, FR 313: THIRD-YEAR FRENCH (9 credits)
• FR 333: FRENCH CULTURE AND SOCIETY SINCE THE REVOLUTION (3 credits)
• FR 339: FRENCH: FRANCOPHONE STUDIES (3 credits)
• FR 340: INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH LITERARY STUDIES (3 credits)
• FR 411: FOURTH-YEAR FRENCH (3 credits)
• FR 439: FRENCH/FRANCOPHONE STUDIES (3 credits)
• French electives selected from upper division courses as approved by the major advisor (21 credits)
• Bacc Core Courses (51 credits)
• Liberal Arts Core (15 credits)
• General Electives (69 credits)
• Total Credits: 180

French Undergraduate Major Track II

In order to qualify for Track II of the French Undergraduate Major, students must meet with a WLC advisor and present documentation certifying Intermediate High level on a standardized proficiency exam approved by the French Section of World Languages and Cultures.

• Required French core courses may not be taken S/U.
• Students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (B average or better) in required core courses for the major.
• Students are strongly encouraged to take more upper-division courses in French, and to pursue another major or additional minors to broaden their university experience and to better prepare themselves for the job market.

Course List

• FR 333: FRENCH CULTURE AND SOCIETY SINCE THE REVOLUTION (3 credits)
• FR 339: FRENCH: FRANCOPHONE STUDIES (3 credits)
• FR 340: INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH LITERARY STUDIES (3 credits)
• FR 411: FOURTH-YEAR FRENCH (3 credits)
• FR 439: FRENCH/FRANCOPHONE STUDIES (3 credits)
• French electives selected from upper division courses as approved by the major advisor (21 credits)
• Bacc Core Courses (51 credits)
• Liberal Arts Core (15 credits)
• General Electives (78 credits)
• Total Credits: 180

Sample Plan

Degree plans are subject to change and the following is only an example of how students may complete their degree in four years. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best degree plan for them.

French Major Track I

• First Year:
  • Fall: FR 111, Bacc Core: Math, Bacc Core: Writing I, Bacc Core: Speech, PAC Elective
  • Winter: FR 112, Bacc Core: Perspectives - Biological Science, CLA Core: Humanities, General Electives, PAC Elective
  • Spring: FR 113, CLA Core: Social Sciences, Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity, Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts, Bacc Core: Fitness, PAC Elective
• Second Year:
  • Fall: FR 211, Bacc Core: Perspectives - Physical Science, Bacc Core: Social Processes, Bacc Core: Writing II, General Electives
  • Winter: FR 212, Bacc Core: Perspectives - Additional Science, Bacc Core: Western Culture, CLA Core: Non-Western Culture
  • Spring: FR 213, Bacc Core: Difference Power and Discrimination, CLA Core: Fine Arts, General Electives
• Third Year:
  • Fall: FR 311, Bacc Core: Contemporary Global Issues, CLA Core: Additional Course, General Electives
  • Winter: FR 312, FR 319, Bacc Core: Science Technology & Society, General Electives
  • Spring: FR 313, FR 300, WLC 334, General Electives
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: FR 339, FR 340, WLC 320, General Electives
  • Winter: FR 411, WLC 429, General Electives
  • Spring: FR 333, FR 439, FR 315, General Electives

French Major Track II

• First Year:
  • Fall: FR 339, Bacc Core: Math, Bacc Core: Fitness, Bacc Core: Writing I, Bacc Core: Speech
  • Winter: FR 319, Bacc Core: Perspectives - Biological Science, CLA Core: Humanities, General Electives, PAC Elective
  • Spring: FR 300, CLA Core: Social Sciences, Bacc Core: Cultural Diversity, Bacc Core: Literature & The Arts, PAC Elective, General Electives
• Second Year:
  • Fall: FR 319, Bacc Core: Perspectives - Physical Science, Bacc Core: Social Processes, Bacc Core: Writing II, PAC Elective
  • Winter: WLC 320, Bacc Core: Perspectives - Additional Science, Bacc Core: Western Culture, CLA Core: Non-Western Culture, General Electives
  • Spring: FR 333, WLC 230, Bacc Core: Different, Power & Discrimination, CLA Core: Fine Arts, General Electives
• Third Year:
  • Fall: WLC 429, Bacc Core: Contemporary Global Issues, CLA Core: Additional Liberal Arts Course, General Electives
  • Winter: WLC 334, Bacc Core: Science Technology & Society, General Electives
  • Spring: FR 315, General Electives
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: FR 340, General Electives
  • Winter: FR 439, General Electives
  • Spring: FR 411, General Electives

Major Code

The Major Code for the French Undergraduate Major is 925.