French Major (BA) and Minor

MAJOR

The major in French consists of nine courses and a comprehensive examination or, with faculty approval, a senior thesis/project. One of the nine courses must be 400‑level. Up until FR 302H, students must take French courses in sequential order, starting at the level they are placed into in their first year. At the 302H level, with the approval of the professor, they may simultaneously take another upper‑level course. After 302H, students may take any upper‑level course they desire.

All French majors must take FR 380H Introduction to French Culture and FR 370G The Francophone World. If one of these courses is not offered when a student is eligible to take them, the student should discuss with discipline professors to find a suitable replacement course.

French majors are expected to speak the language well enough to be rated at the Intermediate High‑level of proficiency as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), and are therefore strongly urged to spend at least one semester abroad. The Global Education Office will assist students in identifying appropriate programs. Please note that all study abroad must be approved by language faculty and cleared by the Reg‑ istrar. Students are also encouraged to participate in Eckerd’s language‑intensive winter terms offered in France or other francophone regions. Students who are exempt from the two‑semester general education language requirement must complete eight courses above the 102 level and the comprehensive exam or senior thesis/project.

Majors who transfer credit (from the U.S. or abroad) are required to take at least one advanced course (beyond FR 302H) at Eckerd. Native speakers who wish to major in French must take eight courses above the 302H level and complete the comprehensive examination or, with faculty approval, a senior thesis/project.

Students who major in International Business, International Relations and Global Affairs, or International Studies are strongly encouraged to develop double majors with a modern language. All of the international disciplines have an extensive language requirement for their majors, and students would in most cases already be near the completion of a language major by the time they graduate.

MINOR

The minor in French consists of five courses which must include FR 301H Composition and Conversation I or a higher level course. Minors who transfer credit (from the U.S. or abroad) are required to take at least one course at the 300 or 400 level at Eckerd. Native speakers who wish to minor in French must take four courses above the 302H level.