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French Studies

The French studies major provides students with a command of the French language sufficient to live and work successfully in a French-speaking environment. It enables them to develop an in-depth knowledge of French-language literatures and critical approaches, and, through it, an awareness of French and Francophone modes of thought and expression. It also offers them the opportunity to develop simultaneously a broad knowledge of French and Francophone cultures through a flexible, interdisciplinary program combining course work in a number of fields that may serve as the basis for future work or further academic or professional studies. The major consists of a minimum of eight courses:

* Four FREN courses numbered 220-399.

FREN215 or the equivalent is the prerequisite for all FREN courses numbered 220 or higher.

Courses numbered 220-299 are introductory courses intended for students who have completed FREN215 or have taken an equivalent course elsewhere or have placed out of FREN215 through the placement test. In general, these courses are designed for students who have not yet studied abroad in a French-speaking country.

300-level courses are upper-level courses intended for students who have already completed two courses in French beyond FREN215 or who have studied abroad in a French-speaking country for at least a semester:

* Four other courses whose content is devoted substantially to the study of French or Francophone literature, history, culture, or society.

These courses may be in French or English and may include

  • courses from the French section's normal offering of 200- or 300-level courses.
  • courses listed as FRST (French Studies) or FIST (French, Italian, Spanish in Translation).
  • courses taken through approved study-abroad programs.
  • courses offered by other departments and programs on campus that treat French or Francophone culture, politics, or history. These courses must be approved by the student's major advisor.

Starting with the Class of 2010, a minimum grade of B- is required for courses taken on campus to count toward the FRST major or the RMST major where the student is combining French with one or two other Romance cultures.

All majors are strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester studying abroad in a French-speaking country. In addition to Wesleyan's program in Paris (the Vassar-Wesleyan Program), Wesleyan-approved study abroad programs currently exist in Cameroon, France (Aix-en-Provence, Grenoble), Madagascar, and Senegal. Wesleyan also sends one exchange student a year to the Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris. Students who have strong academic reasons for wishing to participate in other French-based programs may also petition the International Studies Committee for permission to do so. For information on the approved programs and the petition process, contact the Office of International Studies, 105 Fisk Hall (x 2550, gwinter@wesleyan.edu).