French and Francophone Studies (BA)
Program Requirements
The major consists of at least 32 semester hours of advanced language, literature, and civilization courses, including 20 semester hours of core requirements. Students are encouraged to improve their language skills through study abroad. They can count up to 16 credits of coursework towards the French major taken in one of the approved study-abroad programs. Upon return from study- abroad, students are expected to complete at least 4 credits towards the major at Simmons. Otherwise, students are expected to take all classes for the major at Simmons with the possibility of transferring courses by petition and only in cases of extreme hardship. The department reserves the right to deny a transfer of credit from any institution, including Colleges of the Fenway offerings.
Four semester hours of advanced work in language:
Four semester hours of Francophone civilizations, selected from:
| FREN 310 | Inside France: Studies in French Culture | 4 |
| FREN 311 | Contemporary Issues in France | 4 |
| FREN 314 | Topics in French Cinema | 4 |
| FREN 316 | Outside France: Perspectives from the French Speaking World | 4 |
Four semester hours of introduction to Francophone literature:
| FREN 265 | Francophone Short Stories | 4 |
| FREN 266 | The Quest for Identity: The Self and The Other in the French Literary Tradition | 4 |
Eight semester hours of advanced work in language, literature and culture, selected from:
| FREN 322 | French Theater: the Actor & the Script | 4 |
| FREN 326 | The City As Text: Paris and Its Literary Representations | 4 |
| FREN 395 | Seminar: Special Topics in French | 4 |
Twelve semester hours of elective courses in language, literature, or civilization.
Recommendations: Proficiency in a second modern language beyond the intermediate level is strongly recommended for all French and Francophone Studies majors.
Capstone experience:
Majors in French and Francophone Studies will start fulfilling the capstone requirement by taking a 300 level literature or civilization course either during their junior year or Fall semester of their senior year. After taking the class, students will write a research paper in the language studied, and give a formal presentation to faculty and students in the Department
Honor Society
Outstanding students in French and Francophone Studies may be named to Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society, through the Simmons University Chapter, Pi Mu, established in 2018.