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French
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  2. Programs
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  4. French
  5. Minor

Minor

Minor
  • French and Italian opens in a new tab
Program Minimum Units
24 Units
University Minimum Units
18 Units
Interests
Literature & Culture, Art: Visual & Performing, International Relations, Architecture & the Built Environment
Academic Areas
Social Sciences, Humanities & Arts, Law

Overview

The mission of the undergraduate degree in French is to expose students to various perspectives on the French language, culture, and history by providing majors and minors with training in writing and communication as well cultural, textual, and historical analysis. Through such skills, students develop into critical and global thinkers prepared for business, social service, journalism, and government careers or graduate study in French.

Declaring the Minor

To declare, students should complete the French declaration worksheet opens in a new tab, sending it to the department Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) for approval. Once signed, they should send the worksheet to the DLCL Undergraduate Student Services Officer opens in a new tab via email, before completing the final step of declaration via Axess.

Requirements Overview

To earn a minor in French, students' plans must adhere to these common overarching requirements:

  • Complete at least six courses at three units or more and 24 overall units of coursework in the department.

  • These 24 units may not be used toward any other major or minor.

  • Courses applied to the minor must be taken for a letter grade, and a grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or better must be achieved in each course.

Requirements

Program Details

Preparing for the Minor

To enroll in all French literature courses taught in French, students must pass first-year French [FRENLANG 1, 2, 3 or FRENLANG 1A, 2A] or complete the placement exam.

Additionally, students are highly encouraged to complete FRENLANG124 Advanced French: Composition, Writing, and Presentation or successfully tested above this level through the Language Center.

Complete any of the following course(s):
FRENLANG 124

Advanced French: Composition, Writing, and Presentation

4 Units

Required Courses

Complete at least 2 FRENCH courses for a total of at least 8 units. At least 1 of the required courses must be taken in the French language at the 100- or 200-level (FRENLANG 124 is the only language class that counts for this requirement).

Courses listed below are EXAMPLES and students are not restricted to this list. Students should refer to course descriptions to make sure the course is being taught in French the year they take it.

Complete at least 2 of the following courses:
FRENLANG 124

Advanced French: Composition, Writing, and Presentation

4 Units
FRENCH 132

Literature, Revolutions, and Changes in 19th- and 20th-Century France

3-5 Units
FRENCH 133

Literature and Society in Africa and the Caribbean

4 Units
FRENCH 181

Philosophy and Literature

3-5 Units
FRENCH 192

How French Women (Re)invented Cinema

3-5 Units
FRENCH 219

Sex, Gender, and the Body in Renaissance France

3-5 Units

Electives

  • Coursework within the department. Additional FRENCH courses taught by French faculty (may be conducted in English or French) at the 100- or 200- level. 

  • Language coursework. Up to three language courses in French at or above FRENLANG 21C for a maximum of 12 units. 

  • Coursework in other departments relevant to the degree, with approval by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. 

  • Bing Overseas Study Program. Courses taken at the Bing Overseas Studies in Paris program with prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. 

  • Education as Self-Fashioning (ESF) courses taught at least partially by a French and Italian Department faculty member. Students may count a maximum of ten units. 

  • Structured Liberal Education. Students may count up to 10 units of SLE toward the major electives. 

  • Digital Humanities course. Student work must reflect French interests. Prior approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Maximum of five units.