Academic Catalog

French (FREN)

FREN-COMP  Senior Comprehensive Exam  
(NULL credits)  (Both Fall & Spring Semesters)  

NULL

FREN-1000  Beginning French  
(4 credits)  (Fall Semester)  

This course is intended for students with little or no previous knowledge of French. It is a hybrid course that meets three days a week and has a substantial component of reading, writing, and practice online. This course is designed to develop a basic ability to communicate with French-speaking people and to understand and appreciate their cultures. Emphasis is on basic authentic functional communication in the target language and development of the student's ability to read, write, and speak the language and to gain a basic understanding of the spoken language. (C)

FREN-1020  Second Semester French  
(4 credits)  (Spring Semester)  

This hybrid course is a continuation and completion of the program described for FREN-1000. At the end of this course the student should achieve a novice-high or intermediate-low level of proficiency according to ACTFL guidelines. (C)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-1000.  
FREN-2010  Intermediate French  
(4 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This is an intensive hybrid course designed to improve skills in reading, writing, speaking, and comprehending French. Students will also gain a greater understanding of French and Francophone cultures in order to transition from the intermediate to advanced-level study of French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN-1020 or placement exam.  
FREN-3010  French Phonetics  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

In this course, students gain knowledge of the basic patterns of standard French pronunciation in order to improve their own pronunciation. The course includes study of phonemes (individual sounds) as well as rhythmic patterns of standard French pronunciation. Students work with laboratory and in-class pronunciation activities to improve their pronunciation of standard French.

Prerequisite(s): FREN-1020 or placement.  
FREN-3040  Introduction to French Literature  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This course is an introduction to critical reading and appreciation of literature using texts from French poetry, prose, and drama. There is a continued development of basic skills with emphasis on reading skills. (AE)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-2010 or placement.  
General Education Categories: Aesthetic Experience  
FREN-3300  Food in France  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

Perhaps no aspect of a culture represents its tradition and values to the outside world more than its food. French culinary tradition is, of course, known throughout the world and is a reflection of numerous aspects of culture, history, class, agricultural and geographical conditions, economics, and social change. This course will consider the culinary traditions in France from historical and cultural, as well as aesthetic perspectives (including representations in literature and film).

FREN-3500  French Study Abroad  
(1 credit)  (Discretion of Department)  

Students enroll in an approved study abroad program where they are placed in the appropriate level of intensive language courses (normally 20-23 hours of contact per week), which include the study of grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, conversation, and contemporary civilization in French. This experience allows students to increase their proficiency in French and gain insight into the culture. Variable credit. (GP)

General Education Categories: Global Perspective  
FREN-3510  Advanced French Grammar & Conversation  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This is an advanced level course that provides the student with a greater proficiency in the language. It includes a thorough grammar review stressing difficult points of syntax; written composition, phonetics, and the practical use of the spoken language in a wide variety of contexts: in contemporary communications media, journalism, business, economics, commercial, and technical terminology. (WC)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-2010 or placement.  
General Education Categories: Written Communication  
FREN-3610  French Civilization  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This course provides an historical approach to the accomplishments of the French people, including a study of French institutions and society from the Middle Ages through the twentieth century. (HI, WP, WC)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-2010 or placement.  
General Education Categories: Historical Inquiry, Western Perspective, Written Communication  
FREN-3620  Survey French Lit From Origin to Classic  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This course includes reading, discussion, and analysis of poetry and prose selected from some of the greatest and best-known masters of French literature from the ninth to the beginning of the seventeenth century. This class is taught in French. (AE, WP)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-2010 or placement.  
General Education Categories: Aesthetic Experience, Western Perspective  
FREN-3630  Survey French Lit-Classical to Symbolism  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This course includes reading, discussion, and analysis of poetry and prose selected from some of the greatest and best-known masters of French literature from the seventeenth century to the period of symbolism. This class is taught in French. (AE, WP)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-2010 or placement.  
General Education Categories: Aesthetic Experience, Western Perspective  
FREN-3640  Survey French Lit-Symbolism-Current  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This course includes readings and discussions of the major works in all the genres through textual analysis and translations. The class is taught in French. FREN-2010 or placement. (AE, WP)

General Education Categories: Aesthetic Experience, Western Perspective  
FREN-3650  Intro Francophone Literature & Cultures  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This course provides a general knowledge of various French-speaking literary and cultural traditions outside of geographic France, including francophone Africa, the French Caribbean, and Quebec. The course examines themes present in the literature of these regions in light of post-colonial thought and theories. (AE, GP)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-2010 or placement.  
General Education Categories: Aesthetic Experience, Global Perspective  
FREN-3700  History of French Cinema  
(3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

French cinema is renown throughout the world for its beauty, expressiveness, and often political and cultural engagement. This course seeks to introduce students to the structure of film as an artistic form, to "read" a film's structural and aesthetic value, and also to provide an overview of periods of French cinema, including poetic realism and the New Wave. Additionally, students will continue to progress in their development of the four skills in French: reading/writing, listening and speaking. The course structure will include viewing, reading and discussion, and is writing intensive. (AE, WC, VC)

Prerequisite(s): FREN-2010 or placement.  
General Education Categories: Aesthetic Experience, Visual Communication, Written Communication  
FREN-4710  Directed Readings I  
(1-3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This is a course in independent study designed to broaden and integrate the particular student's comprehension of French literature and culture and make up for the deficiencies of a student's background. Department approval.

FREN-4720  Directed Readings II  
(1-3 credits)  (Discretion of Department)  

This is a course in independent study designed to broaden and integrate the particular student's comprehension of French literature and culture and make up for the deficiencies of a student's background. Department approval.