French & Francophone Studies
Why pursue a French and francophone studies degree from North Central College?
French culturalists with intermediate French speaking skills are in high demand in international business, marketing, education, government, travel and art/fashion industries worldwide. Specializing in Francophone Studies builds in-depth cultural knowledge that is transferable to many career fields. Individuals that can understand French will find that the knowledge of the French culture is often a priority to a potential employer over other job skills for positions they may be applying for. This program is designed to provide the in-depth exposure to French culture necessary to succeed in a global work environment.
At North Central College you will acquire the skills necessary to live and work in an international community. You will also gain exposure to cultural perspectives that will provide an in depth understanding of the French culture and how to operate within it. Whatever you choose to do with what you learn, studying French and Francophone Studies is sure to provide a wide variety of rewarding employment opportunities.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
- Researching information related to foreign markets, law, labor relations, marketing and news to assist international companies with making informed business decisions
- Providing leadership in hospitality, the arts, media, travel, entertainment, government, and humanitarian service industries for organizations with locations and interests in France and other French-speaking regions
- Working or studying abroad using both English and French languages to educate others
then a degree in FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES may be for you.
Why study French and francophone studies at North Central College?
In the Classroom
Coursework topics:
- Francophonia
- French Composition and Communication
- French Enrichment
- French Language
- French Monuments
- French Studies Capstone Seminar
- French Women Writers
- History of France
- Internship
- Just Outside Paris: Art, Literature, and Life in the French Cities
- Modern Art
- Sociolinguistics: Language/Social Context
Beyond the Classroom
As a French and Francophone Studies major you can:
- Use short-term learning opportunities to conduct research through a Richter Grant or May Term travel to French-speaking areas.
- Expand your linguistic and cultural proficiencies by studying abroad for a term though our exchange program in Angers, France.• Earn an English language learner (ELL) minor to qualify to teach English abroad in a French-speaking country or teach ESL in Illinois schools.
- Travel to countries like Haiti to volunteer for ministry and service.
- Participate in the French Club and the annual Modern and Classical Languages Festival.
- Take advantage of on-campus tutoring options and the Roberta I. Myers Language Resource Center for individualized tutoring or audio and video support.
- Qualify for induction into Phi Delta Phi, the International French Honor Society, or Phi Sigma Iota for students studying more than one language.
French and Francophone Studies, B.A.
For additional programs and courses in this department, see Modern and Classical Languages.
A major in French and Francophone Studies (FRST) consists of at least 37 credit hours. This major will automatically satisfy the elementary competency in a foreign language requirement of the B.A. degree as noted in the
French Language
Four credit hours taught in French (FREN) at the 300-level. *
Note:
*FREN courses leading to the 300-level apply to the Additional Electives category below.
French Studies Courses
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FRST 480 - French Studies Capstone Seminar
FRST 480 - French Studies Capstone Seminar
2.00 credit hours
Advanced analysis of a problem related to French and Francophone studies. Includes a portfolio consisting of a collection of documents including revised work from prior courses, and reflections on the student's growth as a French Studies major. Additional assignments may be included, but the portfolio must represent any two of the four communicative skills and then three artifacts demonstrating three different avenues of study of Francophone cultures. Finally, the portfolio includes evidence of the student's extracurricular participation in the French program. Required for the French Studies major. Taught in English.
Seven credit hours from the following:
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FRST 240 - Francophonia
FRST 240 - Francophonia
4.00 credit hours
A linguistic, literary, cultural, and socio-political analysis of selected countries and regions across the world where the French language is extensively used. Taught in English.
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FRST 264 - French Monuments I
FRST 264 - French Monuments I
2.00 credit hours
Examination of historical and geographic factors that have contributed to the creation of French identities historically, and their implications for today. Supports
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FRST 265 - French Monuments II
FRST 265 - French Monuments II
1.00 credit hours
Travel/Study course to France to explore and experience the role place has played over the centuries in the construction of French identities. Offered during May term. Taught in English.
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FRST 360 - Just Outside of Paris: Art, Literature and Life in the French Cités
FRST 360 - Just Outside of Paris: Art, Literature and Life in the French Cités
4.00 credit hours
Study of the life in the banlieues surrounding major cities in France, and the artistic and literary production that has generated in and about them since the 1980s. Readings will include selections from novels and autobiographies. The art forms examined range from murals to film and photography. Theoretical perspectives include post-colonial theories, literary studies, and insights from anthropology and sociology. Taught in English.
Additional Electives
Remaining credit hours from the following:
- French Language (FREN) courses
- French and Francophone Studies (FRST) courses not taken for the requirement above
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ARTH 100 - World Art Histories I
ARTH 100 - World Art Histories I
4.00 credit hours
Art history survey of visual art and architecture until 1400 CE. Geographic regions considered include the Mediterranean, Near East, Europe, Asia and Africa, emphasizing interactions between cultures.
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ARTH 102 - World Art Histories II
ARTH 102 - World Art Histories II
4.00 credit hours
Art history survey of visual art and architecture from 1400 CE through today. Geographic regions considered include the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, emphasizing interactions between cultures.
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ARTH 302 - Modern Art
ARTH 302 - Modern Art
4.00 credit hours
Historical development of modernism in the visual arts and architecture 1870-1970. Emphasis on theory, research and writing.
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COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication
COMM 317 - Intercultural Communication
4.00 credit hours
A study of the basic components involved in intercultural communication. Topics considered include, but are not limited to: cultural biases, cultural determinants of experiences and backgrounds, social perception, verbal interaction, nonverbal interaction and opinion leadership.
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ENGL 370 - Sociolinguistics: Language/Social Context
ENGL 370 - Sociolinguistics: Language/Social Context
4.00 credit hours
The principles and methods used to study language as a social and cultural phenomenon, examined from the linguistic viewpoint—the search for social explanations for language use—and the social scientific viewpoint analyzing facts about language to illuminate social structure.
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HIST 258 - Early Modern Europe
HIST 258 - Early Modern Europe
4.00 credit hours
An examination of the cultural and social changes in the aftermath of the Reformation up to and including the advent of modernity with the French Revolution (ca. 1550-1792). Particular attention is paid to the tensions of a religiously divided West (which laid the ground for the witch craze) in the regions that experienced the greatest growth, expansion and influence during the period: the Netherlands, England and France.
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HIST 280 - Nineteenth-Century Europe: Sex and Mass Hysteria
HIST 280 - Nineteenth-Century Europe: Sex and Mass Hysteria
4.00 credit hours
An examination of Europe from the French Revolution to the First World War, with special attention to issues of gender and sexuality. Major topics include the relationship between French terror and patriarchy, psycho-social consequences of the industrial revolution, Victorian socio-cultural norms, British imperial ideologies and the impact of the First World War on gender roles.
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HIST 385 - World Wars of the 20th Century
HIST 385 - World Wars of the 20th Century
4.00 credit hours
This research seminar analyzes historiographical debates over the causes of both World War I and World War II, and the consequences of mass destruction since 1945. Major topics include how each war was experienced globally through European imperialism, genocide, Nazi-occupied Europe and the Cold War. Each student designs, researches and writes a historical essay related to major course themes.
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PHIL 235 - Existentialism
PHIL 235 - Existentialism
4.00 credit hours
An introduction to existentialism as a 19th and 20th century philosophical and literary movement. Authors discussed typically include Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Sartre, and Camus.
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POLS 221 - Comparative Politics
POLS 221 - Comparative Politics
4.00 credit hours
An introductory look at the concepts, ideologies, and methodology that define the field of Comparative Politics. The course will provide a comparative analysis of the various institutions of governance around the world and how those institutions structure state behavior. Comparative Politics seeks to understand different forms of government by comparing them to one another. We will also investigate key topics such as the state, political culture, ethnicity, nationalism, authoritarianism & totalitarianism, democracy, development, globalization and political violence.
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RELG 280 - Islam
RELG 280 - Islam
4.00 credit hours
This course provides an overview of basic Islamic beliefs and practices through an examination of Islamic theology as articulated in Islamic classical traditions and reinterpreted for today. The course analyzes the impact of Islamic beliefs and values on social and cultural practices, and on the formation of institutions, communities, and identities.
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RELG 350 - Gender and World Religions
RELG 350 - Gender and World Religions
4.00 credit hours
An analysis of feminist thought in various global religious traditions with a focus on the redefinition of traditional concepts, rituals and practices.
Note:
*With department approval, the following courses may also serve as electives:
- GLST courses focusing on French or Francophone areas
Note:
Students may not complete both the French major and the French and Francophone Studies major.
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
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