WHAT ARE THE MAJOR/MINOR REQUIREMENTS?
For a complete list of French Major Requirements, please click HERE.
For a complete list of French Minor Requirements, please click HERE.
WHY SHOULD I STUDY FRENCH?
Regardless of
the career of life path you choose, a major in French will provide you
with the tools you need to succeed. Not only will you attain advanced
fluency in written and spoken French, but you will also acquire the
kinds of skills that admissions boards and employers look for the most:
critical thinking, problem solving, effective written and oral
expression, and sensitivity to cultural difference.
WHAT COULD I DO WITH A FRENCH MAJOR?
Just
about anything you want! Graduates of the French Department have
achieved success in the most diverse careers. Foreign language
teachers, a cardiologist, a veterinarian, a naval commander at the
Pentagon, a professor of political science, lawyers, sales
representatives, journalists, an anesthesiologist, a law professor,
translators, a senior applications programmer, travel agents,
independent business owners, a senior museum preparatory, nurses,
financial managers, stock brokers, and an industrial attache for a
French trade commission - all graduated with a B.A. in French from UC
Davis.
WHAT COURSES DO FRENCH MAJORS TAKE?
The
curriculum in the French major encompasses a wide array of courses in
literature, language, and culture. Students may train in French and
Francophone literatures from the Middle Ages through the twenty-first
century; theoretical and applied linguistics; and the history and
culture of nearly all geographic regions of the French-speaking world,
especially the Caribbean, Africa, and Vietnam. Some examples of
upper-division courses in the French major are:
- The Making of Modern France
- Topics in Contemporary French Culture
- History of the French Language
- Modern French Thought
- Post-Colonialist and Francophone Literature
- Paris: Modernity and Metropolitan Culture
WHAT ARE THE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES?
In addition, the following is the student learning outcomes for majoring in French: click HERE.
COULD I DOUBLE (OR EVEN TRIPLE) MAJOR?
Absolutely!
Most French majors have one additional major, and sometimes even two.
The requirements for the major in French include only forty-four units
at the upper division. Even students with majors in unit-heavy fields
(the sciences or engineering) are usually able to accommodate a major
in French.
WHAT ARE THE FRENCH FACULTY LIKE?
The French faculty are active and prominent in their fields,
including literature, linguistics, and pedagogy. All are devoted
undergraduate teachers and spend a considerable amount of time
mentoring students. French majors enjoy a low student/teacher ratio,
small class sizes, and active student organizations. The French
Department maintains a chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the National French
Honor Society, and sponsors a particularly active French club.
WHAT ABOUT STUDYING IN FRANCE?
French majors are strongly encouraged to study in France, whether it is for a summer, a semester, or a full year. The University of California's outstanding Education Abroad Programs afford students the opportunity of living in France's most exciting and beautiful cities, of taking classes with native French students and faculty, of exploring new intellectual and cultural horizons, and of forming lasting friendships and connections with people from all over the world. EAP has centers in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Grenoble, and Bordeaux. The French Department is committed to making study abroad possible for any student who fulfills the admissions requirements. The major advisor works closely with individual students to choose the most appropriate EAP center and to develop an academic plan for studying abroad.
