Modern Languages and Literatures—French
College of Liberal & Creative Arts
Dean: Andrew Harris
Department of Modern Languages and Literatures
Humanities Building, Room 475
Phone: (415) 338–1421
Website: mll.sfsu.edu/french-program/
Chair: Charles Egan
Program Coordinator: Bérénice Le Marchand
Undergraduate Advisors: Anne Linton, Blanca Missé
Graduate Advisor: Bérénice Le Marchand
Program Scope
The French program offers a challenging and enriching experience for those who are interested not only in the French language but also in French and Francophone culture and society. French is one of the very few languages spoken all over the world, ranked the sixth most widely spoken language after Mandarin Chinese, English, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic. Today, more than 220 million people speak French throughout the world: roughly 51% live in Africa and the Middle East, 40% live in Europe, 8% in the Americas, and 1% in Asia/Oceania. As a result of population growth, there will be more than 700 million French Speakers by 2050, 80% of whom will be living in Africa. The French Program is excited to offer an avenue to engage with this expanding and diverse Francophone cultural and linguistic world.
We offer full-fledged Bachelor of Arts program and focus on developing proficiency in the language in a sociocultural context by offering a variety of courses and by conducting courses in culture and literature in French. Great importance is placed on participatory classes, which are small and practice-oriented, to help students adapt themselves to a changing world. Our B.A. program emphasizes training in the four language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing as the basic groundwork for more advanced study of the language, literature, and culture. The aim is to broaden students' cultural perspectives by introducing them to various aspects of French and Francophone cultures as they are manifested throughout the world. Students who complete a French major should have both the linguistic and cultural preparation to be able to function at a fairly advanced level in a French-speaking society or with French speakers, and have developed a tolerance for forms of expression and ways of life different from their own. It is hoped that this will prepare them both to pursue careers and to participate fully in today's and tomorrow's global cultures.If you are an undergraduate student and wonder which class to take, you can take a placement test and see an adviser. Please contact an adviser for further details.
We also have a full-fledged Master of Arts programs with graduate seminars in literature, culture, and linguistics, which allows students to teach at the community college level or to continue graduate study for a doctorate. While many of our B.A. and M.A. graduates pursue teaching careers or further study, a good number go on to careers in other fields such as international law or business.
B.A. and M.A. students are also given a number of opportunities to study in France. Through the California State University’s international programs, selected students may study at Aix-en-Provence and in Paris. Such opportunities give students practical experience in everyday French life and culture, helping to build and reinforce these skills.
FR 101 First Semester French (Units: 4)
Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing the French language; basic elements of French and Francophone culture. Acquisition of communicative skills in situational/cultural contexts.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
FR 102 Second Semester French (Units: 4)
Prerequisite: FR 101 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
FR 215 Intermediate French I (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: FR 102 or equivalent, or appropriate placement test score.
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
FR 216 Intermediate French II (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Intermediate High Level in French (FR 215 or equivalent).
Course Attributes:
- C2: Humanities
- Global Perspectives
- Social Justice
FR 301 French Phonetics (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: FR 215 and FR 216 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
FR 304 Advanced Grammar (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Upper division standing; FR 215 and FR 216 or equivalent.
FR 305 French Composition (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: FR 215 and FR 216 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
FR 306 Advanced Conversation (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: FR 215 and FR 216 or equivalent; may be taken concurrently with FR 305.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
FR 350 French for the Business World (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: FR 215 and FR 216, or the demonstrated competence equivalent to the course perquisites.
FR 400GW French Culture - GWAR (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: ENG 214 with a grade of C- or better, FR 305, or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Graduation Writing Assessment
- Global Perspectives
FR 410 Contemporary French Civilization (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: FR 305 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
FR 421 Social Movements in the Francophone World (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: FR 305 or equivalent.
(This course is offered as FR 421 and PLSI 421. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)
FR 450 Translating Themes: English/French (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: FR 305 or equivalent.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
FR 500 Introduction to Literary Texts (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: FR 301, FR 305, and FR 306, or equivalents, FR 400GW, or equivalent, or concurrent enrollment highly recommended.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
FR 501 Contes et Poemes (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: FR 305 or equivalent; FR 301 and FR 306 recommended.
Course Attributes:
- Global Perspectives
FR 525 17th and 18th Century French Theater (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: FR 500 or equivalent.
(FR 825/FR 525 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
FR 555 Art et Poesie: 1860-1940 (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for FR 855: Admission to French M.A. program or consent of instructor.
Prerequisite for FR 555: FR 500 or equivalent or consent of instructor.
(FR 855/FR 555 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
FR 565 Paris: Capitale du 19e siècle (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for FR 865: Admission to French M.A. program or consent of instructor.
Prerequisite for FR 565: FR 500 or FR 501 or equivalent.
(FR 865/FR 565 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
FR 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisites Consent of department chair and instructor.
FR 800 Seminar in French and Francophone Language and Culture (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Admission to French M.A. program or consent of instructor.
FR 810 Seminar in French Literary Movements, Periods, or Genres (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Admission to French M.A. program or consent of instructor.
FR 812 Le Merveilleux (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: B.A. in French or consent of instructor.
FR 814 Theatre et Spectacles du Moyen Age au 17e (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing in French or consent of instructor.
FR 825 17th and 18th Century French Theater (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: FR 500 or equivalent.
(FR 825/FR 525 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
FR 835 Les Philosophes (Units: 3)
Prerequisite: BA in French or consent of instructor.
FR 855 Art et Poesie: 1860-1940 (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for FR 855: Admission to French M.A. program or consent of instructor.
Prerequisite for FR 555: FR 500 or equivalent or consent of instructor.
(FR 855/FR 555 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
FR 865 Paris: Capitale du 19e siècle (Units: 3)
Prerequisite for FR 865: Admission to French M.A. program or consent of instructor.
Prerequisite for FR 565: FR 500 or FR 501 or equivalent.
(FR 865/FR 565 is a paired course offering. Students who complete the course at one level may not repeat the course at the other level.)
FR 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.
FR 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)
Prerequisites: Consent of instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) for the Master of Arts in French and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies.
FR 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)
Prerequisite: Consent of graduate major adviser and supervising faculty member. Enrollment by petition.