French Studies Minor
Minor Description
The Minor in French Studies provides students with a command of the French language sufficient to live and work successfully in a French-speaking environment. Students gain a fundamental background in French-language literature and Francophone modes of thought, expression, cultures, history, and society.
In addition to gaining a solid grounding in language classes taught on campus in French, this flexible, interdisciplinary program gives students the opportunity to take classes offered by other departments that include the study of French culture, history, and politics. These courses may be taken in French or English and may be offered on-campus or abroad.
Students who minor in French develop transferrable language skills that enhance their career opportunities in the global job market.
Admission to the Minor
Students must have completed FREN215 or a higher level course with a grade of at least a B to be admitted to the minor.
Minor Requirements
The minor consists of a minimum of five courses beyond FREN215:
- Four FREN courses numbered 220-399.
- These courses must be taken on campus in French.
- Courses numbered 220-299 are introductory courses intended for students who have completed FREN215 , who have taken an equivalent course elsewhere, or who have placed out of FREN215 through the placement test. In general, these courses are designed for students who have not yet studied abroad in a French-speaking country.
- 300-level courses are upper-level courses intended for students who have already completed two courses in French beyond FREN215 or who have studied abroad in a French-speaking country for at least a semester.
- One other course whose content is devoted substantially to the study of French or Francophone literature, history, culture, or society. This course may be taken on campus or abroad, may be in French or English, and may be chosen from among the following courses:
- Courses from the French section’s normal offering of FREN courses numbered 220-399.
- Courses listed Romance Lang & Lit In Eng (RL&L).
- Courses taken through approved study abroad programs.
- Courses offered by other departments and programs on campus that include a study of French or Francophone culture, politics, or history. These courses must be approved by the student’s major advisor.
A minimum grade of B is required for courses taken on campus to count toward the FRST minor.
Students minoring in FRST who receive two grades of B- or lower in FREN courses will be dropped from the minor.
Additional Information
Students who receive a C- or lower in FREN course may repeat the course once.
Students who receive less than a B in FREN102, FREN112, or FREN215 will not normally be permitted to enroll in another FREN course or, in the case of students who receive less than a B in FREN215, to study abroad on the Vassar-Wesleyan Program in Paris.
Students who receive a B-, C+, or C in FREN102, FREN112, or FREN215 may petition the head of the French Section to be permitted to take the following course in the French sequence or study abroad on the Vassar-Wesleyan Program in Paris. In their petition, they must explain in detail what supplemental work they will undertake in order to prepare themselves for the following course in the sequence or for study abroad on the Paris program (for example: they will take a summer course). If their petition is approved, they must complete the proposed supplemental work, take the placement exam at the Fries Center for Global Studies, and place into the course they wish to take (or above FREN215 if they wish to study abroad on the Paris program) before they will be admitted to it.
Students interested in enrolling in French, Italian, or Spanish at the elementary or intermediate levels are urged to do so during their first-year and sophomore years. Department policy gives priority to first-year and sophomore students in our language classes (numbered 101–112) to allow students to study abroad and to meet the requirements of those programs requiring language study. Juniors and seniors who wish to take elementary and intermediate language courses should submit an online enrollment request and attend the first class. They may be accepted during the drop/add period if seats become available. Should a junior or senior enroll in the first course of an ampersand sequence (such as 101–102), he or she will have priority for the second course, just like first-year and sophomore students.