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French Studies (BA)

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French and Italian Bachelors BA

Variable Credit Min

30.5

Variable Credit Max

45.5

Major Academic Plan

Title

Language Competence

Learning Outcome

Demonstrate advanced proficiency in French language skills. For speaking and writing advanced corresponds to officially designated ACTFL guidelines and ratings.

Title

Research

Learning Outcome

Analyze the literature language and cultures of the French-speaking world drawing upon an ability to evaluate and synthesize relevant primary and critical sources.

Title

Critical Thinking

Learning Outcome

Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate literary cultural and linguistic problems from the French-speaking world and to discuss them in clear written and oral expression.

Title

Portable Competencies

Learning Outcome

Graduates in French are able to synthesize and interpret information communicate effectively and navigate cultural difference. They can articulate the value of their humanities degree and the relationship between their academic experience and personal and professional goals.This results from coursework but also from experiential learning such as study abroad and internships.

Program Requirements

Students must complete the requirements for a primary major in another field.

The French and Italian Department requires a minimum of 21 major hours to be taken in residence at BYU for this degree program. These hours may also count toward BYU's 30-hour residency requirement for graduation.

The French Studies BA starts with FREN 321. As needed, students may take some or all of the following: FREN 101, 102, 201, 202. Students with prior experience in French can contact the French undergraduate adviser to select the appropriate beginning course. Native speakers and returned missionaries typically enroll in FREN 321; FREN 201 or FREN 202 may be appropriate for those with less language experience.

We recommend students participate in significant French-language experiential learning during the course of their major. This could take the form of a mission, Study Abroad program, internships, and/or a semester in the Language Immersion  Student Residence (or LISR).

We recommend students take HCOLL 310: Humanities in Professional Life (1.0) during their senior year, preferably the same semester as FREN 495: Senior Portfolio Capstone. HCOLL 310 helps humanities graduates articulate how their degree has trained them to communicate effectively, gather and synthesize information, interpret complex texts, and navigate different cultures.

Requirement 1 —Complete 4 Courses

course - Advanced French Part 1 3.0

course - Advanced French Part 2 3.0

course - Intro to French Linguistics 3.0

course - Intro to Literary Analysis 3.0

Requirement 2 —Complete 2 of 3 Courses

course - French Civilization to 1715 3.0

course - French Civilization 1715-Pres 3.0

course - Contemp. France, Francophone 3.0

Requirement 3 —Complete 12 hours

NOTE: Courses taken to complete requirements above may not be double counted here. NOTE: No more than 6 credits may come from any combination of the following: FREN 399R, FREN 445.

course - French & Italian Cinema 3.0

course - French Civilization to 1715 3.0

course - French Civilization 1715-Pres 3.0

course - Contemp. France, Francophone 3.0

course - Intro to French Language Tchg 3.0

course - Academic Internship - You may take once 0.5v

course - French Translation 3.0

course - History of French 3.0

course - Studies in French Linguistics 3.0

course - Advanced Francophone Culture 3.0

course - Studies in Period,Mvmt & Theme - You may take 5 times 3.0

course - Studies in Genre - You may take 5 times 3.0

course - Studies in Author - You may take 5 times 3.0

course - Studies in Literary Theory - You may take 5 times 3.0

course - Francophone Studies - You may take 5 times 3.0

course - Studies in French Culture - You may take 5 times 3.0

course - Women in French Literature - You may take 5 times 3.0

course - Direct Enrollment France - You may take once 1.0v

course - Individual Study - You may take 5 times 1.0v

course - Business Language - You may take once 3.0

Requirement 4 —Complete 1 Course

course - Senior Capstone 0.5

Note: In order to determine language proficiency, students in FREN 495 will take the official ACTFL Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), Writing Proficiency Test (WPT), and adaptive reading and listening comprehension tests. It is expected that French majors achieve ratings of Advanced Low or higher for each ACTFL evaluation.