Courses:
Course Descriptions
Current Courses
Future Courses
Major and Minors
Tutoring
Honors Program
Teacher Certification
Graduate Program in French
Courses
in the French Language
Course
in French Literature and
Civilization
Courses
in English
Courses in the French Language
The following courses emphasize the development of linguistic skills, speaking, understanding, reading and writing French. Students with previous study of French should take a proficiency exam for placement at the proper level. These courses satisfy the general curricular requirement for foreign languages.
50: 420: 101. Elementary French I
(R) (4)
Lab attendance required. For students
with no knowledge
of French or with no more than two years of high school
French. Entering students with previous French study will be placed according to the results of a proficiency exam. Students with three or more years of French in high school may not take 101 for credit.
Lays a foundation for speaking,
understanding, reading,
and writing the language.
50: 420: 102. Elementary French II
(R) (4)
Prerequisite: 50:420:101 or
equivalent. Lab attendance
required. For students with little knowledge of French or with no more than three years of high school French. Entering students will be placed according to the results of a proficiency exam. Students with more than three years of French in high school may not take 102 for credit. Note that 102 (109 for evening students) is the minimum level for fullfilling the college general degree requirement in foreign languages.
Continuation of 50:420:101.
50: 420: 108. Elementary French I
(R) (3)
Lab attendance required. For students
with no knowledge
of French or with no more than two years of high school
French. Entering students with previous French study will be placed according to the results of a proficiency exam. Students with three or more years of French in high school may not take 108 for credit. This course is only available at night.
Lays a foundation for speaking,
understanding, reading,
and writing the language.
50: 420: 109. Elementary French II
(R) (3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:108 or
equivalent. Lab attendance
required.
For students with little knowledge of French or with no more than three years of high school French. Entering students will be placed according to the results of a proficiency exam. Students with more than three years of French in high school may not take 109 for credit. Note that 109 (102 for day students) is the minimum level for fullfilling the college general degree requirement in foreign languages.
Continuation of 50:420:108.
50: 420: 131. Intermediate French I
(R) (3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:102 or
50:420:109 or equivalent or sufficient score on proficiency examination. Lab attendance required.
Completes the study of basic French
grammar, provides an
introduction to reading short prose texts, with oral
practice and review.
50: 420: 132. Intermediate French II
(R) (3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:131 or
equivalent.
Continuation of 50:420:131. Review of
French grammar, further
reading of French prose texts, with practice in speaking
and writing.
50: 420: 203, 204. French Composition and
Conversation I,
II (3,3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:132 or
equivalent.
Constant practice in speaking and writing,
with stress on
developing an adequate vocabulary and idiom in the
discussion of subjects
related to French society and culture.
50:420:321. Advanced Grammar and Stylistics
(3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:204, or 50:420:202, or permission
of instructor.
A study of advanced French grammar and
continued practice
in writing, with emphasis on analyzing style in
representative French
writers. Attention to diction, phonetics, and special
problems, as required.
50:420:322. Advanced Composition and
Conversation (3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:204, or 50:420:202, or permission
of instructor.
Conversation and composition in French on
cultural, historical,
literary, social and other aspects of French
civilization.
19th Century French Civilization (includes study in France)
Prerequisite: see instructor.
An introduction to French Civilization of the 19th Century, with an emphasis on several famous writers of the period: Balzac, Hugo, Flaubert, Zola and Maupassant. Students will become acquainted with the major literary and artistic movements in 19th Century France. At the end of the semester, students will have the opportunity to visit Paris and Normandy, where several of the writers lived and worked and where their works were set. Click here for details
Courses in French Literature and Civilization
These courses are conducted in French and are open only to students with demonstrated ability in the French language. These courses satisfy the general curricular requirement of one term of a foreign language or literature, as well as that of Global Studies.
50:420:201,202. Modern French Readings I,II (G) (3,3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:132, 50:420:204, or equivalent.
Oral and written practice continued.
Extended reading of medium-length works and excerpts from
French writers of the 19th and 20th centuries, with discussion of
their significance.
50:420:307. The French Film in French (G) (3)
Prerequisite:50:420:132, or 50:420:202, or 50:420:204, or equivalent.May be taken as part of a minor in film studies.
Study of major French films of the 20th century, with some emphasis
on the historical and cultural background. Includes filmmakers
from the post-war period, the New Wave, and the postmodern era.
50:420:336. The Modern French Novel (G) (3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:202, or 50:420:204, or equivalent.
Reading and discussion of major French novels of the 19th and 20th centuries,
with some emphasis on the historical and cultural background.
Includes such authors as Balzac, Gide, Colette, Sartre, and Camus.
50:420:342. The Modern French Drama (G) (3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:202, or 50:420:204 or equivalent.
Study of the French theater through reading and discussion of
selected plays from the 19th century to the present time including authors such as Musset, Rostand, Sartre, Ionesco,
and Genet.
50:420:353,354. Individual Study in French (G) (BA,BA) (1-3)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Independent study guided by a member of the faculty, intended
to provide opportunity for advanced students to investigate areas
not covered in the regular curriculum.
50:420:360. French Civilization (G) (3)
Prerequisite: 50:420:132 or equivalent when conducted in French. May be given
in English; language announced during preregistration.
Historical study of the people and culture of France and an examination
of French values and attitudes as seen in the literature, arts, politics of the country, and in France's relationship to the rest of the world.
50:420:421. Prelude to Revolution (G) (3)
Prerequisites: 50:420:202, or 204 or permission of instructor.
Reading of major works of the classical era and their relationship to political and cultural trends, including
such authors as Corneille, Molière, Voltaire, and Rousseau.
Additional focus on history, painting and architecture.
50:420:441. The Age of Machines (G) (3)
Prerequisites: 50:420:202, or 204 or permission of instructor.
Focus on major literary movements
of the 19th century and their relationship to political and cultural trends. Study of selected works by such authors as Hugo,
Sand, Balzac, Baudelaire, Flaubert and Zola.
Additional focus on history, painting and architecture.
50:420:451. Changing Times (G) (3)
Prerequisites: 50:420:202, or 204 or permission of instructor.
Study of major works of the 20th century by such authors
as Gide, Giraudoux, Sartre,
Camus, Duras and others.
Additional focus on history, painting and film.
50:420:495,496. Honors Program in French (G) (3,3)
Prerequisite: Permission of department chairperson.
The following courses are given in English translation; all readings, lectures, classes, assignments and tests are in English. These courses are open to all students, and they may be used to satisfy the general curricular requirements in Literature and Global Studies. Students must complete the English composition requirement before taking these courses. Students wanting to take these courses for credit toward a French major or minor must meet the conditions described above under Major and Minor Requirements.
50: 420: 240, 241. French Studies in
English Translation:
Special Topics (3, 3)
The topic is announced during
preregistration.
Treats a particular theme or genre in
French literature.
50: 420: 243. Francophone
Literature in English
Translation (3)
This course may be taken as part of a
major in African-American
Studies.
A study of the Francophone literature of
Africa, the
Caribbean, and North America. Reading and discussion of selected works in
prose, poetry,
and drama by representative writers of French
expression in English
translation. Topics include Negritude, the place of Quebec in the French-speaking world, the treatment of
African women
in literature, the search
for minority identity, and others.
50: 420: 244. Women in French Literature in
English Translation
(3)
This course may be taken as part of a
minor in Women's
Studies.
A study of major French works by and/or
about women, by
such writers as Molière, Balzac, De Charrière, Colette and
Duras.
50: 420: 245 Crime Fiction in French
Literature in English
Translation (3)
This course may be taken as part of a
major in Criminal
Justice.
Using short novels and films, the course
looks at the way
crime and justice have been represented in French
literature from the
eighteenth century until the present. Ideas covered will
include the bandit
as folk hero, the aristocratic lawbreaker, the criminal
as victim of society
and as monstrous genius, crimes of passion, police in
literature, the
genre of the detective novel, courtrooms, and images of
policing in modern
society. Reading includes works by authors such as
Diderot, Balzac, Hugo,
Mérimée, Mauriac, Simenon, Camus and
others, and a selection
of French films are shown.
50: 420: 305, 306 French Film in English
Translation (3,3)
These courses may be taken as part of a
minor in Film
Studies.
Survey of the history of French cinema from
its beginnings
to the present day. Analysis and interpretation of
selected film masterpieces
by major French filmmakers.
50: 420: 360 French
Civilization. (3)
May be given in French; language
announced during preregistration.
Historical study of the people and culture of France and an examination
of French values and attitudes as seen in the literature, arts, politics of the country, and in France's relationship to the rest of the world.
50: 420: 391, 392 French Studies in
English Translation:
Special Topics (3,3)
The topic is announced during
preregistration.
Treats a particular topic related to French/Francophone culture or to
a historical period.