French (FREN)

FREN 1110 Elementary French I    3 Credits

Attributes: MWAC Magis Core: Writing Across Curriculum

Designed for students with no prior experience with French or whose placement scores are in the range for this course level. This course, the first of a two-semester sequence, teaches the essentials of pronunciation, structure, and usage, allowing students to acquire the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Language cultures are explored through a variety of media. Students attend three classes per week and do mandatory online work determined by the instructor. Previously FR 0110.

FREN 1111 Elementary French II    3 Credits

Attributes: MWAC Magis Core: Writing Across Curriculum

Prerequisite: FREN 1110.

This course, a continuation of FREN 1110, teaches the essentials of pronunciation, structure, and usage, allowing students to acquire the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Language cultures are explored through a variety of media. Students attend three classes per week and do mandatory online work determined by the instructor. Previously FR 0111.

FREN 2210 Intermediate French I    3 Credits

Attributes: MWAC Magis Core: Writing Across Curriculum

Prerequisite: FREN 1111.

This course, the first of a two-semester sequence, prepares students to continue the study of language on a more advanced level, and includes review of essential points of grammar, vocabulary building, and regular practice in speaking and writing. The language cultures are explored through a wide variety of materials (literary texts, press articles, films, etc). Students attend three classes per week and do mandatory online work determined by the instructor. Previously FR 0210.

FREN 2211 Intermediate French II    3 Credits

Attributes: LCEL LACS Minor: Elective, MWAC Magis Core: Writing Across Curriculum

Prerequisite: FREN 2210.

This course, a continuation of FREN 2210, prepares students to continue the study of language on a more advanced level, and includes review of essential points of grammar, vocabulary building, and regular practice in speaking and writing. The language cultures are explored through a wide variety of materials (literary texts, press articles, films, etc). Students attend three classes per week and do mandatory online work determined by the instructor. Previously FR 0211.

FREN 2219 French Syntax and Expression    3 Credits

Attributes: MWAC Magis Core: Writing Across Curriculum

Prerequisite: FREN 2211.

This course provides a rigorous review of French grammar and syntax and examines the critical differences between English and French. The goals of this course are to prepare students for further advanced courses, and to use French more accurately by practicing the specifics of grammar and syntax. Furthermore, the students will examine and use the French language in varying levels of discourse and registers, ranging from everyday speech to short narratives. To achieve these goals, we will examine contemporary, historical and literary readings, which contain the grammar and syntax under study and insure that they are studied in context. Previously FR 0219.

FREN 2220 Topics in Language and Culture    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FREN 2211.

This course improves proficiency in written and oral expression by focusing on topics in French language and culture. Students develop advanced writing and speaking skills while concentrating on grammar, style, and appropriateness. Weekly compositions, based primarily on the genres or topics studied allow students to identify and correct grammatical mistakes. Students present research in class in French. Films and various cultural artifacts (proverbs, songs, historical materials) familiarize students with idiomatic French. Previously FR 0220.

FREN 3251 Culture and Civilization of France and the Francophone World I    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FREN 2211.

This course explores France and French-speaking people in a cultural, social, and historical context. Students use multimedia, Internet, and audio-visual resources extensively and submit frequent oral and written reports. Previously FR 0251.

FREN 3252 Culture and Civilization of France and the Francophone World II    3 Credits

Attributes: WDIV World Diversity

Prerequisite: FREN 2211.

This course explores the regions and people that comprise the francophone world in a cultural, social, and historical context. Students use multimedia, Internet, and audio-visual resources extensively and submit frequent oral and written reports. Previously FR 0252.

FREN 3265 French Translation Workshop    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

In this course, students develop expertise in the art and craft of translation. The course presents terminology, advanced grammar analysis, and procedures that assist the translator in describing and solving translation problems. It uses real and simulated case studies in a variety of fields including commercial correspondence, tourism, food, transportation, telecommunications, social science, and literature. Students practice with native script, giving attention to individual interests and majors, using French-to-English and English-to-French translations. The class, which is conducted in both languages, uses human, computer-based, and print resources. Previously FR 0265.

FREN 3267 French Commercial Culture    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

This introduction to the business practices and economic situation of France in the context of the European Union emphasizes commercial vocabulary and business situations presented through extensive use of authentic material and documents. This course, which is of particular interest to students seeking a career in international business or international affairs, uses multimedia, Internet, and audio-visual resources extensively, and includes regular practice in speaking and writing. Previously FR 0267.

FREN 3271 Contemporary French Press and Media    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

Students read and discuss articles from representative magazines and newspapers in French, as well as reports from television news broadcasts and the Internet. The course considers how the media and technology are shaping French society in the 21st century and discusses a wide range of topics such as politics, education, religion, the arts, science, privacy, and censorship. Students complete frequent oral and written reports. Previously FR 0271.

FREN 3980 Internship    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

The internship program gives students first-hand experience in the fields of translation, interpretation, cataloging, public relations, advertising, teaching, etc., in the language of their specialization. Department members, who agree to guide the endeavor, supervise student work. When required by a faculty supervisor, an evaluation of student interns may be required from the institution where students work. The student's work should demand no less than one full day per week, or its equivalent. Previously FR 0377-0378.

FREN 3990 Independent Study    3 Credits

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

Students undertake readings and studies in a specialized area of French, under the direction of a member of faculty. Designed to fill the special needs of specific students, this course is offered at the discretion of the department chair. Enrollment by permission only. Previously FR 0381-0382.

FREN 4301 Survey of Literature in French I    3 Credits

Attributes: MELT Magis Core Exploration: Literature

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

This course presents a chronological view of French literature, emphasizing the most important writers and major literary movements and themes. Students will consider varied genres from the Middle Ages through the 17th century. Previously FR 0301.

FREN 4302 Survey of Literature in French II    3 Credits

Attributes: MELT Magis Core Exploration: Literature

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

This course presents a chronological view of French literature, emphasizing the most important writers and major literary movements and themes. Students will study the forces unleashed by the Revolution and considers the development of modern French literature. Previously FR 0302.

FREN 4305 French and Francophone Women Writers    3 Credits

Attributes: MELT Magis Core Exploration: Literature, WSGF Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies: Gender Focused

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

The course explores a wide range of literary genres produced by women writers from France and the francophone world, investigating women's issues such as race, gender, class, status, and power within the historical, political, and cultural contexts of their regions of origin. The course introduces French feminist theories. Students read and conduct discussions in French and complete frequent oral and written assignments. Previously FR 0305.

FREN 4366 Film and Literature in French    3 Credits

Attributes: MELT Magis Core Exploration: Literature

Prerequisite: FREN 2219 or FREN 2220.

This course examines the relationship between film and literature. Students view the film version of each work, which serves as a basis for class discussion. The course requires frequent oral and written works. Previously FR 0366.

FREN 4999 Capstone Seminar    3 Credits

Prerequisite: Senior standing.

Majors in French participate in an interdisciplinary seminar in the spring of their senior year. The focus of this seminar varies according to the professor, but possible topics include European Film, The Grand Tour, Immigration in Europe, Capital Cities, Language Teaching and Technology, Europe and America. Students research their capstone papers in the target language and present the final work in English and French. The instructor may, in some cases, evaluate work in the target language in consultation with colleagues in that area of expertise in the department. Seminar is conducted in English. Previously FR 0399.