French
The primary goal of the French program is to provide students with the opportunity to:
- Develop a solid command of the French language
- Learn about the history, literature and culture of France and the French-speaking world
- Become familiar with the role of French in today’s global context
- Prepare for a variety of potential careers in which their French skills will be an asset, including careers in the medical field, business, public relations, journalism, diplomacy, international NGOs, tourism and hospitality,
- Acquire an intellectual background that characterizes those educated in a liberal arts setting
Please note that FREN 212, the pre-requisite for FREN 300, is offered in fall semesters only and FREN 300 in spring semesters only
Major in French
- A minimum of 28 credits at the 300-level or above is required for a French major.
- At least twelve of these credits must be completed at the University of St. Thomas.
The major normally consists of courses in the following areas:
- Eight credits in advanced language study at the 300-level or beyond (grammar, composition or oral-intensive)
- Eight credits in literature
- Eight credits in civilization or culture
- Four additional credits in French to be selected in consultation with the French faculty
Courses in a second foreign language are highly recommended.
The department strongly encourages all students planning a major in French to spend some time (a summer, a January term, a semester or an academic year) in a French-speaking country and to participate in a French course on campus upon their return.
For administrative purposes, students will complete assessment measures at the beginning of their major (in their 300 class) and during their final semester.
Minor in French
- A minimum of sixteen credits at the 300-level or above is required for a French minor.
- At least eight of these credits must be completed at St. Thomas.
A typical minor consists of courses in the following areas:
- Eight credits in French language study at the FREN 300-level or beyond (phonetics, grammar, composition or conversation)
- Four credits in French literature, civilization or culture.
- Four additional elective credits in FREN to be selected in consultation with the French faculty.
French Undergraduate Courses
| Course Number | Title | Credits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| FREN 111 | Elementary French I | 4 | |
| Description of course Elementary French I : | Practice in understanding, speaking, reading and writing simple French for beginners. Students must be placed into FREN 111. | ||
| FREN 112 | Elementary French II | 4 | |
| Description of course Elementary French II : | Continuation of FREN 111. Prerequisite: FREN 111 or equivalent completed with a C- or better | ||
| FREN 211 | Intermediate French I | 4 | |
| Description of course Intermediate French I : | Introduction to cultural and literary materials along with rapid review of basic skills in reading, speaking, writing and understanding oral French. Prerequisite: FREN 112 or equivalent completed with a C- or better | ||
| FREN 212 | Intermediate French II | 4 | |
| Description of course Intermediate French II : | Continuation of FREN 211 with emphasis on oral and written use of complex sentence structure. Prerequisite: FREN 211 or equivalent completed with a C- or better | ||
| FREN 243 | Individual Study | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Individual Study : | No description is available. | ||
| FREN 297 | Topics | 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| FREN 298 | Topics | 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| FREN 300 | Adv Oral & Written French I | 4 | |
| Description of course Adv Oral & Written French I : | A course required for all potential majors or co-majors as a preliminary to the upper-division courses they may take, as well as for any student wishing to investigate fine points of grammar and inherently intricate areas of pronunciation and intonation. Oral and written skills will be assessed. Prerequisite: FREN 212 or equivalent completed with a C- or better | ||
| FREN 301 | French Poetry | 4 | |
| Description of course French Poetry : | Individualized and group exercise in oral expression and comprehension focusing on the study of the elements of French versification from the 16th century to the present. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 302 | Questions de langage | 4 | |
| Description of course Questions de langage : | Intensive practice in both oral and written French using selected materials to acquire a high level of oral comprehension and communication as well as competence in writing French. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or its equivalent | ||
| FREN 309 | Intro to French Lit I | 4 | |
| Description of course Intro to French Lit I : | Excerpts of French literature from the Middle Ages to the Age of Reason will be studied. Emphasis will be placed on reading skills and the tools for literary analysis. Recommended as a prerequisite for upper-level literature courses. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 310 | Intro to French Lit II | 4 | |
| Description of course Intro to French Lit II : | Excerpts of post-revolutionary French literature. Emphasis will be placed on reading skills and the tools for literary analysis. Recommended as a prerequisite for upper-level literature courses. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 311 | French Civilization I | 4 | |
| Description of course French Civilization I : | An introduction to the most significant historical, cultural, social, religious and economic realities of France from the prehistoric period through the middle of the 17th century. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 312 | French Civilization II | 4 | |
| Description of course French Civilization II : | An introduction to the most significant historical, cultural, social, religious and economic realities of France from the 18th century to the present. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 370 | French Phonetics | 4 | |
| Description of course French Phonetics : | A course designed to improve pronunciation and intonation by means of phonetic transcription and technological aids. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 371 | Individualized Fren Conv | 4 | |
| Description of course Individualized Fren Conv : | Individualized French conversation practice in comprehension and speaking involving group and individualized activities. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or permission of instructor | ||
| FREN 393 | Individual Study | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Individual Study : | No description is available. | ||
| FREN 401 | French Theater | 4 | |
| Description of course French Theater : | Intensive study of the trends in French theater with analysis and interpretation of selected works from the seventeenth century to the present. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 402 | The French Novel | 4 | |
| Description of course The French Novel : | In depth study of selected works of fiction primarily from the 19th and 20th centuries. Prerequisite: FREN 300 or equivalent | ||
| FREN 489 | Topics | 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| FREN 490 | Topics | 4 | |
| Description of course Topics : | The subject matter of these courses will vary from year to year, but will not duplicate existing courses. Descriptions of these courses are available in the Searchable Class Schedule on Murphy Online, View Searchable Class Schedule | ||
| FREN 495 | Individual Study | 2 OR 4 | |
| Description of course Individual Study : | No description is available. | ||