French and Francophone Studies Courses
Course descriptions listed on this page for the French and Francophone Studies program are from the 2020-2021 College Catalog. For more information on the courses offered during the fall and spring semesters, please log in to the course schedule through STAR.
FREN 101 — Elementary French 1
This first half of an introduction to the fundamentals of the French language focuses on the acquisition of the basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills and presents an introduction to the cultures of the French-speaking world. This course is restricted to students with no previous study of French. Five class hours weekly. Conducted in French.GPA units: 1.25Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Annually FallFREN 102 — Elementary French 2
This second half of an introduction to the fundamentals of the French language reinforces and deepens basic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in French as well as knowledge of the cultures of the French-speaking world. Prerequisite: Students must complete a language placement exam or FREN 101 in order to enroll in this course. Students who have taken any higher level FREN course may not register for FREN 102.GPA units: 1.25Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Fall, SpringFREN 201 — Intermediate French 1
The first half of a review of the fundamentals of French supplemented by reading of literary and cultural material and by practice in oral expression. Prerequisite: Students must complete a language placement exam or FREN 102 in order to enroll in this course. Students who have taken any higher level FREN course may not register for FREN 201.GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Fall, SpringFREN 202 — Intermediate French 2
The second half of a review of the fundamentals of French supplemented by reading of literary and cultural material and by practice in oral expression. Prerequisite: Students must complete a language placement exam or FREN 201 in order to enroll in this course. Students who have taken any higher level FREN course may not register for FREN 202.GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Fall, SpringFREN 301 — French Composition & Conversatn
Designed for gaining proficiency in oral and written French. Emphasis on developing correctness and fluency in everyday situations. Regular methods of instruction include discussions, web activities, skits, listening comprehension, grammar review. Required for French majors and minors. Recommended for first-year students with advanced placement. Four class hours weekly. French.Prerequisite: Students must complete a language placement exam, FREN 202 or have French AP credit in order to enroll in this course. Students who have taken any higher level FREN course may not register for FREN 301.GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Fall, SpringFREN 302 — Approaches To Reading & Writing
Designed to give students the tools to read and write critically in French. Students will examine texts representative of major genres and will acquire lexical flexibility, rhetorical skills and stylistic proficiency. Conducted in French.Prerequisite: FREN 301GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 303 — French Life & Letters/MA-1800
An overview of French life and letters from the Middle Ages to 1800. Focus is on literature, but other types of material are included to provide insights into the cultural, historical, and ideological contexts. Designed to give students the tools to read and write critically in French. Students will examine texts representative of major genres and will acquire lexical flexibility, rhetorical skills and stylistic proficiency. Conducted in French.Prerequisite: FREN 301GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 305 — Writing Around the Arts
Arts will be the thematic focus of the course and will encompass readings on urbanism and architecture, film, advertising, comic books, choreography, equestrian theater, political songs, painting, and photography. Designed to give students the tools to read and write critically in French. Students will examine texts representative of major genres and will acquire lexical flexibility, rhetorical skills and stylistic proficiency. Conducted in French.Prerequisite: FREN 301GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 306 — Paris Through the Looking Glass
Paris will be the thematic focus of the course and will encompass a variety of readings on the City of Lights' history, urban design and landscape, landmarks and symbols, cultural institutions, artistic and intellectual neighborhoods. We will also examine how poets, novelists, playwrights, and filmmakers have represented Paris by studying sample(s) of their respective art form. Designed to give students the tools to read and write critically in French. Students will examine texts representative of major genres (poetry, theater, novel) and will acquire lexical flexibility, rhetorical skills and stylistic proficiency. Conducted in French.Prerequiste: FREN 301GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 307 — The Fantastic
The FantasticPrerequisite: FREN 301GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 308 — Francophone Journeys
Prerequisite: French 301GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 401 — Advanced French
Designed for students who seek to reach an advanced level of proficiency in French. The four skills are stressed. Particular emphasis on exercises that focus on complex language structures. Prerequisite: Two French courses at the 300 Level.GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 402 — Translation
Through the translation of selected passages, seeks to teach students to write with precision and clarity in both French and English. Conducted in French.Prerequisite: Two 300-level FREN courses or equivalent.GPA units: 1Common Area: Language StudiesTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 406 — Fiction Writing
Prerequisite: Two 300 level FREN CoursesGPA units: 1Typically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 427 — 20Th -21st Century Novel
The major trends and theories by prominent 20th-21st Century novelists are considered. Selected works by authors such as Gide, Proust, Mauriac, Sartre, Colette, Camus, Breton, De Beauvoir, Beckett, Bernanos, Giono, Vian, Queneau, Perec, Pagnol, Tournier, Robbe-Grillet, Sarraute, Duras, Hyvrard, Modiano, Sollers, Lainé, Wittig, Roche, Yourcenar, Leduc, Ernaux, Angot, Germain and others. This course fulfills the literature requirement for the major. Conducted in French.Prerequisite:Two 300-level French courses or the equivalent.GPA units: 1Common Area: LiteratureTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 471 — Masterpieces of French Cinema
Prerequisite: Two 300-level FREN coursesGPA units: 1Common Area: ArtsTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 472 — Race & Gender in French Cinema
Prerequisite: Two 300-Level French coursesGPA units: 1Common Area: ArtsTypically Offered: Every Third YearFREN 491 — Tutorial
Eligible students may elect one or both of these courses with the permission of the section coordinator. Tutorials are normally offered only to students who have previously taken all other advanced courses offered in a given semester.GPA units: 1Typically Offered: Fall, SpringFREN 492 — Tutorial
Eligible students may elect one or both of these courses with the permission of the section coordinator. Tutorials are normally offered only to students who have previously taken all other advanced courses offered in a given semester.GPA units: 1French and Francophone Studies