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The Bachelor of Arts in French

Total Course Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree: 120 units

See Bachelor's Degree Requirements in the University Catalog for complete details on general degree requirements. A minimum of 40 units, including those required for the major, must be upper division.

A suggested Major Academic Plan (MAP) has been prepared to help students meet all graduation requirements within four years. You can view MAPs on the Degree MAPs page in the University Catalog or you can request a plan from your major advisor.

General Education Pathway Requirements: 48 units

See General Education in the University Catalog and the Class Schedule for the most current information on General Education Pathway Requirements and course offerings.

Diversity Course Requirements: 6 units

See Diversity Requirements in the University Catalog. Most courses taken to satisfy these requirements may also apply to General Education .

Literacy Requirement:

See Mathematics and Writing Requirements in the University Catalog. Writing proficiency in the major is a graduation requirement and may be demonstrated through satisfactory completion of a course in your major which has been designated as the Writing Proficiency (WP) course for the semester in which you take the course. Students who earn below a C- are required to repeat the course and earn a C- or higher to receive WP credit. See the Class Schedule for the designated WP courses for each semester. You must pass ENGL 130I or JOUR 130I (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before you may register for a WP course.

Course Requirements for the Major: 25-41 units

Completion of the following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, is required of all candidates for this degree.

This major can be completed with a minimum of 25 upper-division units.

Language Competence Prerequisite: 0-16 units

Only upper-division French courses count toward the French major. The prerequisite for all upper-division French courses is FREN 202 (Fourth Semester French) or its equivalent language competence. Students with little or no previous language preparation or competence must complete some or all of the following courses.

0-4 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
FREN 101 First-Semester French   4.0 FS  GE
Introduction to French language and culture. Emphasis on the fundamental skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing French. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (003787)
FREN 102 Second-Semester French   4.0 FS  GE
Prerequisites: FREN 101 or equivalent.
Continuation of FREN 101. Emphasis on the fundamental skills of understanding, speaking, reading, and writing French. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (003792)
FREN 201 Third-Semester French   4.0 FA  GE
Prerequisites: FREN 102 or equivalent.
Reviewing and expanding of language skills and cultural concepts introduced in FREN 101 and FREN 102. This course includes composition and reading. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (003795)
FREN 202 Fourth-Semester French   4.0 SP  GE
Prerequisites: FREN 201 or equivalent.
Reviewing and expanding of language skills and cultural concepts introduced in FREN 101, FREN 102, and FREN 201. This course includes composition and reading. 3 hours discussion, 2 hours activity. This is an approved General Education course. (003794)

Note: Some or all of these courses may be waived by the Department through demonstrated language competence or high school or community college study. Students with one year of high school French should enroll in FREN 102; two years: FREN 201; three years: FREN 202. Please consult the department for proper level of placement.

Upper-Division Requirements: 25 units

2 courses selected from:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
FREN 301 Composition and Conversation   3.0 INQ  
Prerequisites: FREN 202 or equivalent.
See description below. 3 hours discussion. (003805)
FREN 302 Composition and Conversation   3.0 INQ  
Prerequisites: FREN 202 or equivalent.
See description below. 3 hours discussion. (003806)
FREN 303 Composition and Conversation   3.0 INQ  
Prerequisites: FREN 202 or equivalent.
FREN 301 - FREN 303: Practice in speaking, writing, and reading. Focus on the development and accurate use of complex language patterns. These courses are non-sequential. 3 hours discussion. (003807)

4 courses required:

SUBJ NUM Title Sustainable Units Semester Offered Course Flags
FREN 330 French Culture and Civilization   3.0 INQ  
Prerequisites: FREN 202 or equivalent.
An introduction to French history and geography as well as French art, literature, philosophy, education, economy, social classes, and politics. 3 hours discussion. (003812)
FREN 340 Survey of French Literature   3.0 INQ  
Prerequisites: FREN 301, FREN 302, or FREN 303.
A survey of French literature with special emphasis on genres, literary techniques, and methods of analysis, early French literature to the French Revolution. 3 hours discussion. (003815)
FREN 345 Survey of French Literature   3.0 INQ  
Prerequisites: FREN 301, FREN 302, or FREN 303.
A survey of French literature with special emphasis on genres, literary techniques, and methods of analysis, Romantic to Contemporary Period. 3 hours discussion. (003816)
FREN 497 Writing Proficiency   1.0 FS  GW
Prerequisites: ENGL 130 or JOUR 130 (or equivalent) with a grade of C- or higher; upper-division standing
 Corequisites: another upper-division French literature course.
Writing essays in English on French literature. Purpose is to ensure ability to write correct English in a style suitable to general essay writing. 1 hour discussion. This is an approved Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement course; a grade of C- or higher certifies writing proficiency for majors. (003823)

FREN 497 should be taken concurrently with any other upper-division French (FREN) literature course.

9 units selected from:

Any upper-division French (FREN) courses.

Electives Requirement:

To complete the total units required for the bachelor's degree, select additional elective courses from the total University offerings. You should consult with an advisor regarding the selection of courses which will provide breadth to your University experience and possibly apply to a supportive second major or minor.

Grading Requirement:

All courses taken to fulfill major course requirements must be taken for a letter grade except those courses specified by the department as Credit/No Credit grading only.

Advising Requirement:

Advising is mandatory for all majors in this degree program. Consult your undergraduate advisor for specific information.

Honors in the Major:

Honors in the Major is a program of independent work in your major. It requires 6 units of honors course work completed over two semesters.

The Honors in the Major program allows you to work closely with a faculty mentor in your area of interest on an original performance or research project. This year-long collaboration allows you to work in your field at a professional level and culminates in a public presentation of your work. Students sometimes take their projects beyond the University for submission in professional journals, presentation at conferences, or academic competition. Such experience is valuable for graduate school and professional life. Your honors work will be recognized at your graduation, on your permanent transcripts, and on your diploma. It is often accompanied by letters of commendation from your mentor in the department or the department chair.

Some common features of Honors in the Major program are:

  1. You must take 6 units of Honors in the Major course work. All 6 units are honors classes (marked by a suffix of H), and at least 3 of these units are independent study (399H, 499H, 599H) as specified by your department. You must complete each class with a minimum grade of B.
  2. You must have completed 9 units of upper-division course work or 21 overall units in your major before you can be admitted to Honors in the Major. Check the requirements for your major carefully, as there may be specific courses that must be included in these units.
  3. Your cumulative GPA should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
  4. Your GPA in your major should be at least 3.5 or within the top 5% of majors in your department.
  5. Most students apply for or are invited to participate in Honors in the Major during the second semester of their junior year. Then they complete the 6 units of course work over the two semesters of their senior year.
  6. Your honors work culminates with a public presentation of your honors project.

While Honors in the Major is part of the Honors Program, each department administers its own program. Please contact your major department or major advisor to apply.

Catalog Cycle:14