The purpose of the major is to acquaint students (1) with important periods and principal figures of literatures written in French and (2) with 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 sociohistorical 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, any course in the 012 sequence, the equivalent, or evidence of special competence.

Recommended supporting subjects: See the introductory departmental statement.

All majors including students preparing a secondary school certificate are expected 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 senior paper and honors examinations).

Course majors are required to (1) take eight advanced courses numbered 003B or above; (2) study abroad; (3) take at least one advanced course in literature before 1800; (4) take one advanced Francophone course with a Francophone component; (5) take one advanced course in civilization or culture; (6) take Special Topics in the fall of senior year; (7) write a senior research paper, at least 30 to 40 pages long, on an area of concentration chosen in conjunction with the section (this area can be defined broadly in terms of a genre or theme as well as narrowly in terms of one author or text). This paper will form the basis of an oral examination given in the spring. The senior paper deadlines are as follows: Initial proposal and bibliography are due immediately after the fall break. The first draft is due to the director immediately after Thanksgiving break. The last draft is due to all French faculty by the end of spring break. The completed paper is due mid-April. The defense will take place in May. Students will be granted 1 credit for this work.

Courses and seminars in literature before 1800 are marked with a *, those with a Francophone component are marked with a #, and those in culture/civilization 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 a concentration in Francophone studies in cooperation with other departments and programs abroad. See the “Francophone Studies” section for description of program and requirements.

Minor in Course

Requirements

1. Complete 5 credits in courses or seminars numbered 004 or above. Four of these credits must be completed on the Swarthmore campus. Note that AP 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 1 credit from this study abroad may count toward the minor.
3. Complete “Special Topics” (FREN 091) in the fall semester of the senior year.

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 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 012C or FREN 012L).
2. Minor. At least two advanced courses in literature or culture (above FREN 012C or FREN 012L).

Preparations

Majors in the Honors Program must do three preparations (consisting of 6 units of credit). Two of the preparations must be done through seminars. The third preparation may be a seminar, a 2-credit thesis, or two paired courses chosen from a list available from the department. Minors must do a single, 2-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 chose 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 exam 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.

Mode of Examination
A three-hour written examination and a one-half-hour oral examination, both in French, will be required for each preparation.

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