PROGRAMS & PRIZES


° The French Major
° The French Minor
° Study Abroad
° Awards

The French Major

The French major program consists of at least 10 semester courses at the intermediate level or above, including the following:

      • French 301 (Composition and Conversation)
      • at least two courses at the 400 level
      • at least two courses taken in the fourth year

Students are assigned their own advisor within the department to make them aware of the College's many academic opportunities and help them devise their individual curriculum. Classroom instruction in the languages is complemented by small-group practice with native foreign language assistants and through the use of state-of-the-art facilities in the Multimedia Resource Center. Co-curricular activities are provided by language tables, language clubs, honor societies, film series, lectures and cultural outings.

Majors are urged to seriously consider spending their third year at one of Holy Cross study abroad sites in France: the Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, the Université de Strasbourg, and the Université Catholique d'Afrique Centrale in Cameroon.

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The French Minor

The French minor consists of at least 6 semester courses at the intermediate level or above, including :

      • French 301 (Composition and Conversation)

All other courses above French 301 normally approved for the major qualify for the minor, with prerequisites applying as stipulated.

French courses taken in the Study Abroad programs count toward the minor. However, minors who study abroad will be required to take:

      • at least three courses at Holy Cross
      • at least one in their fourth year

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Study Abroad

        Why Study abroad ?

• Distinguish yourself from the pack: only 1% of undergraduates nationwide study abroad
• Enhance your skills and boost your resumé: companies today seek employees with international experience, foreign language capabilities and a global perspective
• Develop your fluency in French: studying in France or Cameroon will allow you to perfect your French at lightning speed!
• Meet new friends and cultivate lifelong relationships with your host family and students from Africa, America, and Europe
• Gain valuable work experience for the competitive job market with an internship abroad
• Challenge yourself: become more aware of who you are as a person and as an American
• Travel extensively: world-class cities, cultural treasures, and natural wonders are hours away!
• Broaden your academic horizons: you will have access to courses and disciplines not offered at Holy Cross
• Learn through seeing and doing: visit important historical sites and monuments, observe the blending of old and new as French and African societies advance into the 21st century
• Finally, it's painless! Holy Cross students abroad have extensive academic resources: native language tutors and experts to help with language skills and writing assignments, contact with Holy Cross Foreign Language Assistants who have already spent a year teaching at the College, and a preliminary intensive language workshop in Tours and Yaoundé to get your French up to speed and ease the transition into a new environment...
  
  
  

        Who can go abroad ?

• Juniors ! The application and selection procedure begins in sophomore year
• ANY MAJOR ! All students, French majors in particular, are encouraged to study abroad at one of Holy Cross study abroad sites. Study abroad in France or Cameroon is easiest for students in humanities, social sciences and fine arts. Students in the sciences will probably need to plan their coursework more carefully but are still eligible and encouraged to go abroad
• GPA of at least 3.0
• French proficiency equivalent to the completion of Intermediate French 2
• Participation in Holy Cross Study Abroad programs qualifies for financial aid from the College
  
  
  

        Where can I go ?

Tours, France

Students spend the month of September in Tours, where they undergo four weeks of intensive language study at the Institut de Touraine. Students may then opt to study for a full academic year at Dijon or Strasbourg in France, or at Yaoundé in Cameroon. Institut de Touraine Syndicat d'initiative de Tours

Dijon, France

Located in the Burgundy region of France, Dijon (best known for its mustard!) is a medium-sized city with a large and vibrant university only one hour from Paris by high-speed train (TGV). Its large student population of nearly 30,000 means that it abounds in restaurants, cafés, music and cultural activities geared to students. Holy Cross students often pursue studies in the English literature program there. Courses available also include Psychology, Political Science, French Literature, Linguistics, History, Art History, Economics, Classics, Sociology and more. Université de Bourgogne Syndicat d'initiative de Dijon

 

Strasbourg, France

Strasbourg is the capital of Alsace, the Fench region often referred to as the crossroads of Europe because of its proximity to Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Strasbourg is also the seat of the European Parliament, an important political institution that makes the city an excellent choice for those interested in Political Science. Students may enrol at the IEP (Institut d'Etudes Politiques), at the University of Strasbourg (Université Marc Bloch, Robert Schumann, Louis Pasteur) and at the Institut de Théologie Catholique for courses in Religious Studies program. Université de Strasbourg Syndicat d'initiative de Strasbourg

 

 

Yaoundé, Cameroon

Cameroon offers a stimulating environment for students in African Studies, International Relations, Development Studies, French, and the historical legacy that has made Africa what it is today: conquest and domination by European powers, independence struggles, political turmoil, and the development of democratic institutions. Holy Cross's program in Yaoundé is a partnership with the Catholic University of Central Africa. Students will draw up an individual plan of study with choices of courses in Economics, Accounting, Political Science, Law, Sociology, Anthropology, History, Mathematics, French, Religious Studies, Francophone Literature, and Visual Arts, among others. Université Catholique d'Afrique centrale

 

        For more information :

• For more information, contact our Study Abroad Liaison Professor Shapiro (Stein 409).
• The Study Abroad Office is located in Smith 217. Click here to access Study Abroad page.

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Awards

• French Honor Society - Pi Delta Phi (www.pideltaphi.org) was founded at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1906. The purpose of this Society is to recognize outstanding scholarship in French and Francophone studies, to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world, and to stimulate French and francophone cultural activities. Holy Cross students interested in joining the Society must have taken 6 French courses and have a French GPA of 3.0. For more information, contact Professor Kom

• Bourgeois Prize - Awarded each year to the student who writes the best French essay. For more information, contact Professor Kom

• Shirley Verrett French Prize - In memory of Rev. Lionel P. Honoré, S. J. - Awarded each year to the top French major in the graduating class as determined by the French faculty. For more information, contact the Section Coordinator, Professor Enjolras

• Edna Dwyer Grzebien Prize - Awarded to the student who demonstrates outstanding ability in two or more languages. For more information, contact the Department Chair, Professor Gago-Jover

• Concours des 10 mots - Contest held every year at all levels of French language up to Composition and Conversation. Students are invited to write a short story or a poem including 10 specific words. The best text at each level is awarded a prize by the French section

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