DESCRIPTION OF THE MAJOR

French and Francophone Studies is an interdisciplinary major designed to introduce students to the rich diversity of the French-speaking world. Making use of a developing knowledge of the French language, students combine studies in the histories, literatures, and cultures of France and of different Francophone countries or areas. The major develops advanced French language skills and offers critical skills in textual and contextual analysis. Students may choose to focus on French and Francophone literature or on other areas of cultural study. The major is particularly recommended for students interested in pursuing work or study in international fields.

All majors are required to prepare a final project during the required senior capstone seminar and to complete a final portfolio demonstrating oral, written, and reading proficiency and the scope of their cultural knowledge. The final project, a focused study of a particular field of cultural production or of a geopolitical area in relation to the student's chosen track, is decided upon in consultation with the student's advisor. This work may take many forms: a more traditional literary study of a genre, work, or author; an examination of a different area of cultural production (art or architecture, film, television, radio, comic books, etc.); or a historical or political study of an event, movement, or system within the French-speaking world.

Prerequisites for entrance into the major:

FR 110, 111, and 210 or equivalent must be completed before taking any course in the major (with the exception of FR 200 which is taught in English). FR 211 may be taken concurrently with 200-level courses. Native speakers of French should meet with their advisor to determine alternative courses.

Curriculum

Major requirements            33 Credits

I. Required Courses                      12 Credits

FR 200            Introduction to French and Francophone Literatures and Cultures (offered in English)            3

FR 222            Stylistics and Advanced Composition                                                                                    3

FR 240            Spoken French through Cultural Study                                                                                  3

FR 250            Introduction to Textual Analysis and Research Methods                                                        3

 

II.  Possible Tracks for Major Study

Majors in French and Francophone Studies complete a total of 21 upper-level credits within one of two tracks:

            I.  Language and Literature

            II. Language and Cultural Studies

 

Advanced work for track  

I. Language and Literature:

Required courses for track:                                                                                 12 credits

FR 320            Approaches to Literary Studies                                                    3

One 300-level literature course:                                                                           3

            FR 331 The Modern Novel in French OR

            FR 333 Modern French and Francophone Theater OR

            FR 336 French Poetry OR

            FR 337 Topics in Francophone Literature

FR 452            Translation Theory and Practice                                                    3

FR 480            Senior Capstone Seminar                                                              3

 

Electives: (select total of 3)                                                                                    9 credits

In French: (minimum of 2)

FR 331            The Modern Novel in French                                                         3

FR 333            Modern French and Francophone Theater                                      3

FR 336            French Poetry                                                                                3

FR 337            Topics in Francophone Literature (Topic varies. May be repeated for credit)            3

FR 350            Sounds and Structures of French                                                    3

FR 370            French Cinema                                                                               3

FR 371            Francophone Cinema                                                                      3

FR 380            Topics in Parisian Culture (Topic varies; may be repeated for credit)            3

FR 399            Selected Topics                                                                              3

FR 400            Seminar in French and Francophone Cultural Studies                       3

FR 432            Nineteenth-Century French Narrative Prose                                    3

FR 499            Independent Study                                                                          3

Outside Courses: (maximum of 1)

AACS 323            Caribbean Literary Experience II                                               3

ENG 306            Literature of Western Europe: Renaissance Through Modern        3

ENG 322            The Nineteenth-Century European Novel                                     3

ENG 323            Twentieth-Century European Fiction                                            3

ENG 420            Literary Criticism

 

II. Language and Cultural Studies: 

Required courses for track:                                                                                12 credits

FR 341            Approaches to Cultural Studies                                                   3

FR 350            Sounds and Structures of French                                                 3

FR 400            Seminar in French and Francophone Cultural Studies                   3

FR 480            Senior Capstone Seminar                                                            3

 

Electives: (select total of 3)                                                                                  9 credits

In French: (minimum of 2)

FR 320            Approaches to Literary Studies                                                   3

FR 331            The Modern Novel in French                                                      3

FR 333            Modern French and Francophone Theater                                   3

FR 336            French Poetry                                                                             3

FR 337            Topics in Francophone Literature (Topic varies. May be repeated for credit)            3

FR 370            French Cinema                                                                            3

FR 371            Francophone Cinema                                                                   3

FR 380            Topics in Parisian Culture (Topic varies; may be repeated for credit)            3

FR 399            Selected Topics                                                                           3

FR 432            Nineteenth-Century French Narrative Prose                                 3

FR 452            Translation Theory and Practice                                                   3

FR 499            Independent Study                                                                       3

Outside courses: (maximum of 1)

AACS 321            Haiti: Its History, Peoples, and Culture                                    3

AACS 323            Caribbean Literary Experience II                                            3

HIST 310            Modern France Since 1815                                                      3

HIST 430            The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era                         3

POL 332            European Political Systems       

DESCRIPTION OF THE MINOR

The French and Francophone Studies minor is designed to allow students to include work in the French language and in French and Francophone culture in their undergraduate program of study. This minor is particularly relevant for students interested in an international framework for their major studies (African, African-American, and Caribbean Studies; Anthropology; Art History; Communications; Economics and Finance; English; Geography; History; Latin American Studies; Marketing and Management; Musical Studies; Philosophy; Political Science; Sociology; Theater; Women's Studies).

Prerequisites for entrance into the minor:
FR 110, 111, and 210 or equivalent must be completed before taking any course in the minor (with the exception of FR 200 which is taught in English). FR 211 may be taken concurrently with 200-level courses. Native speakers of French should meet with their advisor to determine alternative courses.

Minor Requirements                                                                    18 credits

I. Required Courses                      15 Credits

FR 200            Introduction to French and Francophone Literatures and Cultures (offered in English)      3

FR 211            Intermediate French II

FR 222            Stylistics and Advanced Composition                                                                              3

FR 240            Spoken French through Cultural Study                                                                            3

FR 250            Introduction to Textual Analysis and Research Methods                                                  3

 

II. Elective Course                                                                             3 Credits

(select one course)

FR 320            Approaches to Literary Studies                                                                                        3

FR 331            The Modern Novel in French                                     3

FR 333            Modern French and Francophone Theater                  3

FR 336            French Poetry                                                            3

FR 337            Topics in Francophone Literature                               3

FR 341            Approaches to Cultural Studies                                  3

FR 350            Sounds and Structures of French                                3

FR 370            French Cinema                                                           3

FR 371            Francophone Cinema                                                  3

FR 380            Topics in Parisian Culture                                            3

FR 399            Selected Topics                                                          3

FR 400            Seminar in French and Francophone Cultural Studies   3

FR 432            Nineteenth-Century French Narrative Prose                3

FR 452            Translation Theory and Practice                                   3

FR 499            Independent Study                                                       3

DCURRENT FRENCH & FRANCOPHONE FACULTY

Madhuri Mukherjee, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Kara Rabbitt, Ph.D., Cornell University
Kris Vassilev, Ph.D., Rutgers University
Bruce Williams, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Keumsil Kim Yoon, Ph.D., Université de Paris--Sorbonne

ADDITIONAL FACULTY

Melvin Edelstien, Ph.D., Princeton University (History)
John Mason, Ph.D., CUNY (Political Science)
Krista O’Donnell, Ph.D., SUNY (History)
Ousseynou Traore, Ph.D., Université de Paris--Sorbonne, University of Wisconsin—Madison (African, African-American and Caribbean Studies)
 

COURSE LISTING

Major in French and Francophone Studies (total of 33 credits) 

200-level Requirements (12 credits):

FR 200 Introduction to French and Francophone Cultures

FR 222 Stylistics and Advanced Composition

FR 240 Spoken French through Cultural Study

FR 250 Textual Analysis and Research Methods

Required for graduation:

FR 480 Senior Capstone Seminar (3 credits)

Upper-level Requirements (18 credits in track):

--9 credits in core courses for track

--9 credits of electives (maximum of one in another discipline or in a film course)