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French and Francophone Studies

The dragon gargoyle atop Notre-Dame in Paris, France.

In today’s world of globalization it is crucial for students to have an understanding of a broad range of cultures and languages. The French and Francophone studies program at Brandeis offers students a chance to study the Francophone world from a historical as well as a more contemporary perspective. By combining courses that span the geographical and cultural diversity of the modern Francophone world with more historically determined courses that plumb the earliest reaches of French cultural history, students can achieve a unique understanding of these rich and politically significant cultures. 

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Learning Goals for French and Francophone Studies

Curriculum Overview

How to Become a Major or a Minor:

Students considering a French major should complete the language requirement as soon as possible. Students who complete a 30-level French course or earn an AP French score of 4 or an SAT II score of 620 in French are advised to enroll in FREN 105a. Students with an AP French score of 5 should enroll in FREN 106b. Normally, students should take FREN 106b, FREN 110a, and/or FREN 111a before taking courses numbered above FREN 111. Students interested in learning more about the major, the minor, or about studying abroad are encouraged to speak with the undergraduate advising head.

The major consists of nine semester courses:

A. FREN 106b (The Art of Composition).

B. FREN 110a (Cultural Representations) or FREN 111a (The Republic).

C. Seven additional French and Francophone courses numbered above 110.

Notes:

• Students who take FREN 110a or FREN 111a to fulfill the major requirement may count FREN 111a or FREN 110b, respectively, as an elective.
• French majors have the option of writing a Senior Essay (FREN 97a) in fall of the senior year as one of their electives. (Please download guidelines here.)
• Students may receive credit for electives for the major for courses taken in French abroad, with prior permission of the undergraduate advising head.
• A French major who wishes to do an internship in a French or Francophone environment on or off campus may enroll in FREN 92a. Students arrange their own internships but they must have written permission of the undergraduate advising head before enrolling. 
• Students may receive credit for an elective for the major for one cross-listed or related course taught in English with prior permission of the undergraduate advising head.

All students pursuing a French and Francophone Studies major will be assigned an adviser in the department.

Honors

The minor consists of five semester courses:

A. FREN 106b (The Art of Composition).

B. FREN 110a (Cultural Representations) or FREN 111a (The Republic).

C. Three additional French and Francophone courses numbered above 34.

Notes:

• Students who take FREN 110a or FREN 111a to fulfill the minor requirement may count FREN 111a or FREN 110b, respectively, as an elective.
• Students may receive credit for electives for the minor for courses taken in French abroad, with prior permission of the undergraduate advising head.
• A French minor who wishes to do an internship in a French or Francophone environment on or off campus may enroll in FREN 92a. Students arrange their own internships but they must have written permission of the undergraduate advising head before enrolling.

All students pursuing a French and Francophone Studies minor will be assigned an adviser in the department.

• Thematic classes based on a general concept, such as The Republic (FREN 111a), Literary Responses to Mass Violence (FREN 137a), and Jewish Identities in France since 1945 (FREN 147a);
• Classes devoted to specific periods in French cultural history, such as the Middle Ages (FREN 120a, The Middle Ages: Before France Was France) or the nineteenth century (FREN 135a, Rebellion Against Romanticism);
• Classes devoted to a specific cultural or geographic locale, such as Subsaharan Africa and the French Language (FREN 165b).

Students are encouraged to take a variety of classes to ensure that they have a good understanding of both the history and the geographical expanse of French and Francophone culture.

Study Abroad

Our students have enrolled in programs in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Senegal, Mali, Madagascar, Cameroon, and Morocco. Brandeis' proximity to Montreal offers less formal opportunities for weekend or vacation French immersion experiences. Please see the Study Abroad section of the ROMS website, here.

Career and Education Opportunities

Students who have pursued French and Francophone studies have gone on to have successful careers in the Foreign Service, and in the areas of international development, international business and academia. The Hiatt Career Center has a page devoted to French and Francophone studies, which has a host of information specific to majors.