B.A. in French

Goals of the Major

A major in French consists of at least 24 credit hours beyond FRE 201 with a grade of C- or higher in every course counting toward the major, and with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 in the major (see curriculum for course distribution). The major is designed to allow students to gain advanced linguistic, cultural, and literary competence in the communities that speak this language. With each course students further develop the capacity to communicate with and to critically see and understand the linguistic communities being studied. Not only do students learn to understand, interpret, and analyze communication patterns and cultural products (new technologies, film, literature, etc.) from other geopolitical positions, but this process also fosters a greater appreciation of the learners’ own language, culture, and society. As part of the development of analytical and critical skills, students learn to build coherent arguments orally and in writing; to develop tools for the interpretation of various texts; to perform research and write critical papers; to find and evaluate sources of information; to heighten their sensitivity to the contexts of language, and to appreciate language as art.  Students will also acquire a broad, structured knowledge of the relevant history, literature and culture in the target language. Finally, they will learn to carry out cultural comparisons and to view their own culture with new eyes.

You do not have to be a student of the College of Arts and Sciences to major in a modern language; you need only the approval of your college or school advisor and to complete the departmental requirements. If you wish to complete a double degree, consult with an Arts and Sciences Advisor.

Students completing a major in a modern language are encouraged to study abroad. The Department and Study Abroad sponsor a semester-long study abroad program in Paris (UParis) for students of all majors and minors and all levels of ability in the French language; French majors and minors are especially encouraged to apply. For more information, please click here. The Study Abroad Office (in Dooly Memorial Classroom, Building 1111, Memorial Drive, Suite 125) sponsors programs for Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish. It is also possible to fulfill some Arts and Sciences distribution requirements abroad. In order to take full advantage of study abroad, students should visit Study Abroad early in their university careers, discuss course equivalencies with the Study Abroad Advisor for their chosen languages (contact the Department office for names and office hours), and consult with their major advisors. Credit hour toward the major for courses taken abroad will be determined on an individual basis. 

Students with transfer credit hours must take at least 18 graded credit hours at or above the 300-level at the University of Miami; i.e., up to 6 credit hours may be transferred towards the French major from another institution or a study abroad program not administered by UM. Up to 12 credit hours taken abroad in a UM-administered program may count towards the major. 

Capstone Courses

The final course in the major is the capstone course (501) which must be taken in residence. This course will:

•  Integrate the various skills acquired during the course of study (linguistic, analytical, knowledge-based);
• Incorporate interpretive as well as presentational modes of communication;
• Contain an over-arching and cohesive theme;
• Include an element of collaboration among students.

It will constitute a moment of recapitulation of, synthesis, and reflection on a student’s experience in the major as well as a bridge towards graduate-level studies, should s/he decide to pursue them.

Of the 24 credit hours required for the major, a minimum of 12 credit hours must be earned in courses taught by MLL faculty (whether on campus or in faculty-led study-abroad programs). Since we encourage students to study abroad in UM-sponsored programs, up to 12 credit hours from these programs may be applied toward the major. Up to 6 transfer credit hours from other institutions may count toward the major; whether these are credit hours transferred from another U.S. institution or from non-UM study abroad programs, transferred credit hours must be granted UM equivalency in order to be eligible to count toward the major. Please note, however, that the total number of combined UM study-abroad (exclusive of MLL faculty-led programs) and transfer credit hours shall not exceed 12 credit hours.

For example: 

• A student may use 3 transfer credit hours with UM equivalency and 9 credit hours from a UM-sponsored study abroad program toward fulfillment of the major; the remaining 12 credit hours must be earned in courses taught by MLL faculty.
• A student may use 6 transfer credit hours with UM equivalency and 6 credit hours from a UM-sponsored study abroad program toward fulfillment of the major; the remaining 12 credit hours must be earned in courses taught by MLL faculty.
• A student may use 12 credit hours from a UM-administered study-abroad program not led by MLL faculty and 12 credit hours in courses taught by MLL faculty to fulfill the major.

Exceptions to this 12 credit hours rule may be made in cases where a student will participate in a UM-administered study-abroad program for a full academic year. 

Curriculum Requirements

¹

Not all students begin the major or minor in FRE 202. Students with significant prior study of French should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies about enrolling directly in FRE 203 or a 300-level French class.

Native speakers of French pursuing a major or minor in French cannot take 200-level classes and must start from 300-level classes. Please, consult with the Director of Undergraduate Studies

²

 In consultation with their FRE advisor students can have up to 1 course (3 credits) from among the MLL courses or FRE courses taught in English (numbered 310-319) count toward their major.

³

 Students satisfy this requirement by the time they start the major with FRE 202

⁴

If the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "People & Society", the student does not need to satisfy the requirement for a People & Society cognate.

⁵

If the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "STEM", the student does not need to satisfy the requirement for a STEM cognate.

⁶

This requirement is waived if the STEM cognate includes a Natural Science course from the approved list.

⁷

Students satisfy this requirement by taking four writing courses, at least one of which must be in one of the student's major disciplines. Since all FRE courses above 203/208 are designated as writing (WRIT) courses, all French majors satisfy this requirement by completing their major.

⁸

A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation. Sufficient credits must be earned in electives to enable the student to complete this minimum of 120 credits. The exact number of elective credits required will vary depending on the number of credits needed to complete all other graduation requirements.

Suggested Plan of Study 

These  Suggested Plans of Study are samples of  four-year plans, but an individual student's actual plan is likely to vary from these sample plans in a number of ways, depending on such factors as (1) AP, dual-enrollment, and transfer credits that a student brings in; (2) the student's initial placement in composition, mathematics, and French; and (3) the minor chosen by the student, as well as any additional minor or major the student chooses to complete.  For example, a student is not required to complete a cognate in People & Society if the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "People & Society," and similarly, a student is not required to complete a cognate in STEM if the student has a minor (or second major) that counts as "STEM."

For students starting the major with FRE 101

For students starting the major with FRE 202

¹

 Ideally through Faculty Led Study Abroad

²

 Also satisfies Advanced Writing Requirement

Mission

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures seeks to promote global literacy. All majors (French, German, Spanish) in the department are articulated through the notion of global literacy. In its undergraduate programs, the MLL Department’s mission is to provide rigorous instruction, speaker series, study abroad, research and service-learning opportunities allowing students to gain the advanced linguistic, literary and cultural competence needed as we strive to develop future leaders of our nation and the world. Through our courses and co-curricular activities, students acquire a broad, structured knowledge of history, literature and culture in the target language; they develop analytical, critical, and communication skills; and they attain information and communication technology literacy needed in an increasingly complex and globalized society. Finally, they acquire intercultural competence and learn to view themselves through the lens of another language and culture.

Goals

• To acquire a broad, structured knowledge of history, literature and culture in the French language.
• To develop analytical, critical, and communication skills.
• To attain information and communication technology literacy needed in an increasingly complex and globalized society.
• To acquire intercultural competence and learn to view themselves through the lens of another language and culture.

Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop oral communicative abilities in French by the time they complete their major.
• Students will develop written communicative abilities in French.
• Students will learn to reflect and critically think about language, literature, and culture, history, and politics of different societies by studying texts written in French and writing about them.