French Courses
French Program
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FREN 121 Accelerated Elementary French
Units: 2
DescriptionIntroduction to French language and culture. Emphasis on oral communication. Development of elementary reading and writing skills.Prerequisite
Permission of department.
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FREN 221 Intensive Intermediate French
Units: 2
Fulfills General Education Requirement (COM2)
DescriptionReinforcement of communicative language skills. Increased emphasis on reading, writing, and culture.Prerequisite
FREN-121 or equivalent.
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FREN 301 French Conversation through Cinema
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelopment of speaking ability in French, with stress upon vocabulary expansion, pronunciation and communicative accuracy, through representations of French culture in film.Prerequisite
FREN-221 or permission of department.
- FREN 304 French Grammar Review
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FREN 305 Writing in French through Culture and Literature
Units: 1
DescriptionDevelops competent writing skills through topics in French and Francophone literature and culture. Students will engage in writing exercises in a variety of textual genres including essay, review, explication de texte (textual explication), and short paper.Prerequisite
FREN-221 or permission of department.
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FREN 306 French at Work
Units: 1
DescriptionTask-based course designed to develop students' ability to interact in French situations specific to the workplace. Acquisition of business terminology and etiquette and exploration of cross-cultural differences, economic and political issues influencing business in the French-speaking world. -
FREN 311 French and Francophone Culture
Units: 1
DescriptionExploration of significant themes and issues in contemporary French and Francophone cultures set in the context of French history and cultural traditions.Prerequisite
FREN-221 or permission of department.
- FREN 320 The Individual in Society
- FREN 324 Francophone Cultures and Literature
- FREN 325 The Origins of France
- FREN 326 Revolution in France
- FREN 327 The Question of Modernity
- FREN 328 Introduction to Maghrebian Literature and Culture
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FREN 388 Individual Internship
Units: 0.25-1
DescriptionInternship experience outside of the department in fields related to French studies. No more than 1.5 unit of internship in any one department and 3.5 units of internship overall may be counted toward required degree units.Prerequisite
Permission of the department.
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FREN 389 Practice Assistantship
Units: 0.5
DescriptionStudents lead practice sessions associated with the elementary and intermediate language sequence in French. The practice assistantship does not count as credit toward the major or minor. Up to one unit can be applied toward graduation credit.Prerequisite
Permission of the department.
- FREN 397 Selected Topics
- FREN 402 Advanced French Conversation
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FREN 406 Summer Undergraduate Research
Units: 0
DescriptionDocumentation of the work of students who receive summer fellowships to conduct research [or produce a creative arts project] in the summer. The work must take place over a minimum of 8 weeks, the student must engage in the project full-time (at least 40 hours per week) during this period, and the student must be the recipient of a fellowship through the university. Graded S/U.Prerequisite
Approval for summer Arts and Sciences fellowship by faculty mentor.
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FREN 412 French and Francophone Culture in Conversation
Units: 1
DescriptionFor advanced students of French. Further refines and enhances oral expression and explores topics in current events in the French and Francophone world and how those events relate to the past. Broaden vocabulary, hone grammatical precision, and expand the sophistication of spoken French. Critical analysis of French and Francophone cultural production through oral presentations and leading class discussion.Prerequisite
FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, or FREN-328
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FREN 414 Advanced French Grammar and Culture Studies
Units: 1
DescriptionAn in-depth review and focused investigation of French grammar and syntax designed to further refine and enhance the written expression of more advanced students of French. Also explores French grammar in action through personal and creative writing, the study of contemporary cultural issues, and consideration of the French language as alive and evolving.Prerequisite
FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, or FREN-328
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FREN 415 Traduction
Units: 1
DescriptionTranslation of literary, journalistic, and technical texts from French to English and English to French. Includes a community-based learning component (involving both linguistic and "cultural" translation), an introduction to interpreting techniques, and readings on different theories of translation.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 420 The French Middle Ages
Units: 1
DescriptionAnalysis of issues such as morality and literacy, governance, social order, human values and ideals, authorship, gender, and artistic production as manifested in significant texts from the 11th to the 15th centuries.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
- FREN 421 Renaissance
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FREN 422 Le Siecle Classique
Units: 1
DescriptionExploration of both triumphs and powerful tensions within 17th-century culture, with attention to such issues as political patronage of the arts, women intellectuals and salon culture, courtly life at Versailles, social satires of Molire, and place of dissent within the absolutist state.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 423 Enlightenment
Units: 1
DescriptionLiterary and philosophical texts of 18th century, emphasizing questions on selfhood, social life, gender relations, and power. Topics include the libertine tradition, novel and society, women writers and Enlightenment's others.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 424 From Romanticism to Decadence
Units: 1
DescriptionIssues of gender, subjectivity, and socio-historical contexts in works by poets, novelists and historians in the numerous and varied cultural movements of 19th-century France. Recent topics include visual culture in 19th-century France and literary and cultural scandals.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 430 What are the Liberal Arts for? A French Perspective
Units: 1
DescriptionExplores the connection between education and civic duties within the French context: Can truth not be truth? Do facts have alternative versions? Why do truth and facts matter to our democracy?Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 461 From Modern to Postmodern
Units: 1
DescriptionTrends in 20th century and contemporary French poetry, drama, and fiction, set in the context of painting, film and experimental art forms. Recent topics include otherness, gender, creativity, the nature of truth, and the quest for self-expression.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
- FREN 462 Contemporary Ideas
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FREN 465 French Film
Units: 1
DescriptionSurvey of development of French cinema with emphasis on the contemporary period. Introduction to film aesthetics and film theories. Film topics include French current events and trends, personal and social challenges, ethnicity, women's issues, and historical or political perspectives.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 467 French Culture in the Making: Conception and Actualization of a French Film Festival
Units: 1
DescriptionExperience in the creation and preparation of a major cultural event on French cinema leading to significant enhancement of knowledge of French contemporary cinema and culture, substantial improvement of French language skills, and exposure to cultural management. Activities will be carried out in French and include writing, editing, translation and interpretation, film programming, advertisement and marketing development, outreach promotion, media relations at the local, national, and international levels, and event management.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 471 Francophone Studies
Units: 1
DescriptionLiterary and cultural studies of modern Francophone texts by African, Caribbean, Qubecois, Maghrebian, and other French-speaking writers. Recent topics include: tradition, postcolonialism and modernity; aesthetics; ngritude; and globalization.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
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FREN 480 Food: French and Italian Rituals
Units: 1
DescriptionExamines the impact of food on French and Italian culture and society. Through literary texts, philosophy, history, film, and the visual and performing arts, explores the complex relationship between food, culture, and identity.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.
- FREN 486 Paris As Visual Cliche
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FREN 491 Honors Thesis I
Units: 0.5
DescriptionResearch on a topic of interest, design of an original thesis and draft of a first version of the honors thesis under the supervision of a thesis's advisor. Graded Pass/Fail.Prerequisite
Acceptance into French Honors Program.
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FREN 492 French Honors Thesis II
Units: 1
DescriptionCompletion of a 25-30 page honor thesis and presention of research at the French Studies Symposium.Prerequisite
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FREN 495 Independent Study
Units: 0.5-1
DescriptionSpecial projects individually pursued under supervision of faculty member.Prerequisite
Permission of department.
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FREN 497 Selected Topics
Units: 1
DescriptionExperimental topics based on student and faculty interests. Recent topics: autobiography, the emergence of drama, the letter in philosophy and literature, women writing in French.Prerequisite
Two classes in the 320 series: FREN-320, FREN-324, FREN-325, FREN-326, FREN-327, FREN-328.