French and Francophone Studies Section

Majors and Minors

The purpose of the major is to introduce students (1) to important periods and principal figures of literatures written in French and (2) to the diversity of French-speaking cultures. It is intended to develop an appreciation of literary and cultural values, to provide training in critical analysis, and to foster an understanding of the socio-historical forces underlying these various literatures and cultures.

Current Course and Honors Program

French may be offered as a major or minor in the course program or as a major or minor in the Honors Program: a minor in French consists of two external examinations. (See later for Honors Program.) Prerequisites for both course and honors students are as follows: 004, 012, the equivalent, or evidence of special competence.

All majors, including students preparing a secondary school certificate, are required to spend at least one semester abroad in the Grenoble Program. Programs of study in other French-speaking countries may be substituted on request and with the approval of the French section.

Majors in the course and Honors programs, as well as minors in the Honors Program, are expected to be sufficiently proficient in spoken and written French to do all of their work in French (i.e., discussions and papers in courses and seminars, and all oral and written examinations, including oral defense of the senior paper and Honors examinations).

Course majors are required to:
(1) take eight advanced courses numbered 003B or above for a minimum of eight credits;
(2) study abroad at least one semester with the Grenoble Program;
(3) take at least one advanced course in literature before 1800;
(4) take one advanced course with a Francophone component;
(5) take one advanced course in civilization or culture;
(6) take Senior Colloquim (FREN 091) in the fall of senior year;
(7) write a senior research paper, at least 20 to 30 pages long, on an area of concentration chosen in in a discussion with the Senior Colloquium professor and advisor or one other professor in the section. The defense of the paer with the entire French faculty takes place at the end of the fall semester.

Courses and seminars in literature before 1800 are marked with a *. Those with a Francophone component are marked with a #.

The department also offers courses in French literature in translation, but no more than one such course may count to satisfy the requirements in the major. The French section is also offering an interdisciplinary minor in Francophone studies in cooperation with other departments. See the Francophone Studies section for descriptions of programs and requirements.

French Minor in Course

Course minors are required to:

1. Complete five (5) credits in courses or seminars numbered 004 or above. Four of these credits must be completed on the Swarthmore campus. Note that Advanced Placement credits won't count toward the minor.
2. Complete at least a six-week program of study in a French-speaking country. It is strongly recommended that minors spend at least one semester abroad in the Grenoble program. In any case, only one credit from this study abroad may count toward the minor. (Under certain circumstances, students may petition
3. Complete FREN 091: Special Topics in the fall semester of the senior year.

French Honors Program

Requirements

Majors and minors in the Honors Program are expected to be sufficiently proficient in spoken and written French to complete all their work in French (i.e., discussions and papers, and all oral and written assignments). All majors in honors must complete at least one semester of study abroad in a French-speaking country. Minors in Honors must complete at least a six-week program of study in a French-speaking country. It is strongly recommended that they spend at least one semester abroad in Grenoble.

Candidates are expected to have a "B" average in course work both in the department and at the College and to have demonstrated interest in and aptitude for the study of literature or culture in the original language.

Prerequisites

To demonstrate the linguistic and analytical abilities necessary for seminar work, students must take the following before taking a seminar:

1. Major. At least one advanced course in literature or culture (above FREN 012).
2. Minor. At least two advanced courses in literature or culture (above FREN 012).

Preparations

Majors in the Honors Program must do three preparations (consisting of six (6) units of credit). Two of the preparations must be done through seminars. The third preparation may be a seminar, a two-credit thesis, or two paired courses chosen from a list available from the department. Minors must do a single two-credit seminar.

Senior Honors Study (SHS)

(FREN 199: SHS is optional.)

1. Seminar preparation. At the end of the fall term, students will be given a list of questions related to the seminar. They will choose one question for each seminar and prepare a 2,500- to 4,000-word paper in French in response to that question. The preparation of this essay will not be supervised by members of the faculty. Conversation among students preparing these essays is encouraged, but each student must produce an independent, original essay of his or her own. The essays must be submitted to the department the first day of the written examinaton period, to be forwarded to the examiner.
   
   The paper will form part of the student's portfolio.
   
2. Paired course preparation. A one-page prospectus on a topic that addresses and integrates the two courses in a meaningful way must be approved by the instructor of each of the courses by the end of the fall semester. Once the prospectus has been approved, the essay will not be supervised by members of the faculty. Conversation among students preparing these essays is encouraged, but each student must produce an independent, original essay of his or her own. The essays must be submitted to the department the first day of the written exam period, to be forwarded to the examiner. The paper will form part of the student's portfolio.

Portfolio

1. The syllabus of the seminar or paired courses.
2. The SHS paper if the student chooses to complete SHS.