Courses

    For students with no previous knowledge of French. Presents basic grammar and most commonly used French vocabulary. Introduces students to Francophone culture. Credit not granted for this course and FREN 1050.

    Continuation of FREN 1010. Completes the presentation of most basic structures and French vocabulary. Prereq., successful completion of one semester of college-level French or two years of high school French. Credit not granted for this course and FREN 1050.

    Covers the material of FREN 1010 and 1020 in one accelerated semester. Intended for students who know some French (i.e., four to five semesters in high school) but do not have skills adequate for 2000-level courses. Credit not granted for this course and FREN 1010 or FREN 1020.

    Covers the most important works of medieval literature, in English translation. Among the texts studied are the Nibelungenlied, the Song of Roland, and Arthurian romances, including the stories of Lancelot and Guinevere and Tristan and Isolde. Offers a general introduction for nonmajors to medieval literature and society. Taught in English. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: literature and the arts.

    Introduces major literature through close readings of women's writings in their historical context. Offers a general introduction to women's status and roles in Italy and France. Taught in English. Same as ITAL 1400. Approved for GT-AH2. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity.

    Introduces political dimensions of 18th century French literature. Surveys political and social preoccupations that manifest themselves across genres (novels, scientific treatises, dialogues, erotic literature, etc.). Examines contributions made by 18th century French writers to the sociological and political imagination of Western tradition. Taught in English.

    Explores medieval and early modern French culture in the widest sense, encompassing masterpieces of French literature, architecture, and visual art as a key to the habits, customs, and practices of everyday life. Major themes are "living and dying," "heroes, villains, and kings," "courtliness, civility, and the art of love," and "crafty little guys." Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: literature and the arts.

    Introduces students to French culture in its widest sense and in particular to reflect on major social and cultural contradictions inherited from the French Revolution, which still define "Frenchness" today. Taught in English. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: literature and the arts.

    Studies the literary expression of French-speaking peoples of Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada. Gives special attention to oral tradition, identity, question, and cultural conflict. Taught in English. Approved for GT-AH2.

    Offers a general introduction to French and Francophone literature and visual arts (painting, photography, film) from the nineteenth century to the present depicting cultures and societies of the Middle East and North Africa. In English with English translations of French texts. Approved for GT-AH2. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity.

    Reviews the major philosophical, political, and aesthetic issues in the 20th century French novel and drama. Beginning with existentialist literature, discussion focuses subsequently on the Theatre of the Absurd, the new novel, World War II and the Holocaust, and recent women writers. Taught in English.

    Discusses the emergence of the zombie figure in the Caribbean and its evolution from colonial Haiti to present-day popular culture having passed through Hollywood. Through movies and literary, historical, and scientific documents, students will study critically how this mass-media icon came to represent deep-rooted anxieties about the modern world.

    Introduces the rise of modern Paris from the French Revolution (1789) to today. Studies the physical and sociological changes of the city in terms of architecture and industrialization through French literature, movies, paintings and photographs. Addresses problems due to the magnitude of the city, the growing fear of urban vices, and the dilemma of controlling massive urban populations. Taught in English. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: literature and the arts.

    Introduces students to the central problematics that have defined French feminist studies. This course focuses on the various literary and historical contexts in which core concepts such as female subjectivity and agency, feminist writing and political engagement have arisen and developed in Early Modern and Modern France by looking at multiple media (literary text, film, painting). Taught in English. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity.

    A film based curriculum will expand the knowledge of francophone culture and will continue the development of communication skills begun in the first year. This third semester course will review essential beginning grammar before introducing intermediate structures, vocabulary, and cultural/literary readings. Prereqs., FREN 1020 or 1050 (min grade C-) or equivalent. Approved for GT-AH4. Meets MAPS requirement for foreign language. Satisfies arts and sciences foreign language requirement.

    Completes the film-based study of intermediate grammar begun in FREN 2110. Continued reading in French literature and culture, with considerable practice in writing and speaking French. Prereq., FREN 2110 (min grade C-). Fulfills the Graduate School language requirement for the Ph.D.

    Puts into practice all that has been learned in the first four semesters of college French. Builds conversational skills and confidence through acquisition of new vocabulary and a review of grammar essential to discussing different aspects of French culture. All work is in French. Prereq., FREN 2120 or equivalent.

    Improves students' ability to pronounce French correctly. Coursework involves the International Phonetic Alphabet, understanding the differences between pairs of sounds, and recognizing the relationship between spelling and pronunciation. Required of all FREN majors. Prereq., FREN 2120 or equivalent.

    Advanced oral practice and interpretation of a French Musical. This course of applied and corrective phonetics concentrates on developing good pronunciation and fluency through song. The course culminates with a public presentation of the musical studied in class. Prereq., FREN 3010 or equivalent and instructor consent. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.

    French third-year level composition course. Students practice and write different forms of formal French writing. They also hone their grammar skills and analytical reading of short literature pieces. Must be taken before FREN 3060. Required for French majors. Prereq., FREN 2120 or equivalent.

    The second semester of a French third-year level composition course. Students build on their previous knowledge of formal writing in French and more emphasis is given to argumentative and analytical style of writing in FREN 3060. Prereq., FREN 3050 or equivalent. Required for French majors.

    Study of French literature through close readings of representative examples of major literary forms (poetry, fiction, drama, essay) and through the composition of critical writings in French. Required for French majors. Prereq., FREN 3060. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Surveys French literature from the Middle Ages through the 18th century. Students are expected to acquire a fairly detailed knowledge of principal writers and schools of the periods covered. Required for majors. Prereq., FREN 3100. May be taken with FREN 3120. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.
    Surveys 19th and 20th century French literature. Close reading of selected texts of the principal writers and schools. Required for majors. Prereq., FREN 3100. May be taken before, after, or with FREN 3110. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) only.

    Introduces important aspects of both classical and modern literary theory as an aid to reading and understanding literary texts. Covers theoretical works by figures ranging from Plato and Aristotle to modern French critics such as Barthes, Foucault, and Derrida in conjunction with selected literary works. Offers students more sophisticated means of understanding issues like gender, ethnicity, the roles of both author and reader in constructing meaning, the nature and functions of signs, and the relationship between literature and the larger society. Conducted in English, though French majors are required to read the texts in the original language. Required for students taking honors in French or Italian. Prereq., FREN 3100 or instructor consent. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: literature and the arts.

    Pages