2023-2024 Catalogue
French (FRN) Course Descriptions
FRN 101, 102: Elementary French I, II.
Goal: To teach students to speak, understand, read, and write French.
Content: Subjects used for learning the four basic skills include French culture and everyday situations.
Prerequisite: A student must earn a grade of C or better in the 101-level course in order to continue into the next course. A grade of D or higher in the 102-level course will satisfy proficiency credit.
Credit: 3, 3 hours
FRN 211: Intermediate French I.
Goal: To continue the development of speaking, reading, listening and writing in French.
Content: Emphasis on comprehension and analysis of a variety of texts in order to understand the impact of historical events on current Francophone countries, and to explore potential solutions to challenges facing them.
Gen. Ed. Category: Exploring; Historical Events & Phenomena; (HUM).
Prerequisite: FRN102 or equivalent placement.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 212: Intermediate French II.
Goal: To solidify and add more precision to skills in speaking, reading, listening and writing in French to prepare students for 300 level courses.
Content: Emphasis on grammar usage, writing, and conversation while continuing to explore the French-speaking world.
Prerequisite: 211 or placement by the department.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 300: Seminar in Francophone Studies.
Goal: Students analyze texts in order to identify issues in the Francophone world arising from increasingly complex global connections based in the culture and history of a French colonial past. They will strengthen communication skills in an intercultural context.
Content: In this course students will explore the complexities of the French-speaking world by focusing on issues such as language, French identity, immigration, politics, race, class, gender and colonialism. Students will read a variety of texts (literature, scholarly articles) as well as view films and artwork. Topics and regional focus will vary.
Prerequisites: WISe 101 or ENG 101, and a General Education Writing Competency course.
Gen. Ed. Category: Synthesizing Perspectives; Diverse & Interdependent World; (HUM).
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 303: Advanced French Conversation.
Goal: To improve French speaking and listening skills.
Content:The goal of this course is to offer students as much time speaking French as possible. This goal may be met through activities such as debates, discussions of films, news articles, and culture, student presentations, role play, drama.
Prerequisites: FRN 211 and FRN 212 or equivalents.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 305: French Civilization to the Revolution.
Goal: To introduce students to French civilization through the beginnings of the Revolution in 1789.
Content: From the tumultuous rivalries of warring principalities to the fall of the monarchy, this course explores French history, culture, art, politics, and influence.
Prerequisites: FRN 211 and FRN 212 or equivalents, and permission of the instructor.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 306: French and Francophone Civilization after 1800.
Goal: To introduce students to modern French history and culture.
Content: FRN 211 and 212 or equivalents, and permission of the instructor.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 318: Advanced Composition.
Goal: To refine writing skills and to enrich vocabulary, emphasizing grammar.
Content: Topics relating to French culture and literature. Weekly writing assignments, translation, and advanced reading.
Prerequisite: FRN 212 or equivalent.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 327: Business French.
Goal: To provide students with the vocabulary needed to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to transact daily business operations in French. To help students become better prepared for the ever-increasing demands of the growing international market.
Content: The course combines practical language with the study of French business terminology. Emphasis is on conversation and business transactions such as preparing commercial correspondence, reading and writing and translating contracts and other related documents in French.
Prerequisite: FRN 318 or equivalent and permission of instructor.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 350: French Phonetics.
Goal: To improve French pronunciation by studying the International Phonetic Alphabet, learning pronunciation rules, and practicing in and out of class.
Content: Learn the International Phonetic Alphabet in order to transcribe French and read transcription of French in order to practice and improve pronunciation. Additionally, students will practice phrasing, intonation, liaison, and accentuation.
Prerequisite: FRN 211 and FRN 212 or equivalents, and one 300-level French course or permission of the instructor.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 367: Survey of French Literature: Middle Ages to 18th Century.
Goal: To acquaint students with French literature from the Middle Ages to the 18th century, with special attention to historical conditions and to the development of literary thought and genres.
Content: Poetry, drama, and prose. Selections from major authors such as Marie de France, Rabelais, Marguerite de Navarre, Moliere, Isabelle de Charriere, and Voltaire.
Prerequisites: FRN 318 or equivalent.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 368: Survey of French Literature: 19th and 20th Centuries.
Goal: To acquaint students with the literature of the 19th and 20th centuries from both France and Francophone regions such as Quebec, West Africa, and the French Caribbean.
Content: Poetry, drama, and prose. Selections from major authors such as Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Eugene Ionesco, Gustave Flaubert, Anne Hebert, Andre Breton, Simone de Beauvoir, and Maryse Conde.
Prerequisites: FRN 318 or equivalent.
Credit: 3 hours.
FRN 396: Special Topics in French.
Goal: To allow students to concentrate on a particular area of language or literature.
Content: Varied.
Prerequisite: At least one 300-level course and permission of instructor.
Credit: 3 hours. A student may take a maximum of six to eight semester hours (two courses) of special topics in any one field.
FRN 451: Directed Independent Study.
Goal: To provide additional advanced work in French language or literature.
Content: Varied, according to course taught.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and the program director. Open to advanced students.
Credit: 1-6 hours.
FRN 452/199: Field Study.
Goal: To provide practical experience in the field.
Content: A wide range of cultural, and social events; intensive French at the appropriate level in accordance with student ability and background.
Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and program director.
Credit: 1-12 hours.
FRN 475: Portfolio Presentation.
Goal: To provide a capstone experience for French majors in which students construct and present a senior ePortfolio to document their integrative experience.
Content: Students will use the completed portfolio and subsequent oral presentation to reflect upon the interdisciplinary nature of their course of study. The final step in the process will be to submit the completed ePortfolio to the Modern Foreign Language faculty for evaluation and assessment of the student's integrative experience.
Credit: 1 hour.
FRN 499: Honors Thesis. (Fee required).
