French Language and Literature Major
Majors in French language and literature will take a minimum of ten courses numbered FREN 1502 Intermediate French II and higher, and at least six upper-level courses numbered 3000 and above. (Courses numbered lower than 1502 will not count toward the major or minor.)
Students majoring in French language and literature should prepare their schedules in consultation with the assigned departmental major adviser.
These ten courses, to be completed all in French, normally include:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| One course in Advanced Language, Communication, and Cultural Studies | 4 | |
| France: Literature, History, and Civilization 1 | ||
| One course in Medieval and Renaissance Periods (Middle Ages through 16th Century) | 4 | |
| One course in 17th and 18th Centuries (Classicism or the Enlightenment) | 4 | |
| One course in 19th and 20th/21st Centuries (Modern Literature) | 4 | |
| One course in Francophonie 2 | 4 | |
| Five additional courses 3 | 18 to 20 | |
- 1
A prerequisite for all 3000-level courses.
- 2
Upon approval of the French major adviser, a course in Francophonie may double count to fulfill a course in the other requirement areas.
- 3
Any FREN course numbered 1502 or higher may count toward this requirement. Transfer courses may count with the permission of the adviser.
Students who place out of FREN 1502 or FREN 2001 must replace that course with an upper-level elective course.
Courses applying toward each requirement area are listed below. Additional courses that are not listed below may count toward the major with the approval of the major adviser.
AP and IB Credit
All courses counting towards the core language requirement and the major or the minor in a modern foreign language, literature and culture must be taken for credit and a letter grade. When AP or IB credits are awarded as equivalent to the 1502 level in a language, these credits will be applied toward the core language requirement and, as elective credits, toward graduation, but they will not be applied toward the major or the minor in that language.
Medieval and Renaissance Periods (Middle Ages through 16th Century) courses
Courses in this group have the FRME attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COLI 3102 | Notre Dame de Paris: The Cathedral in Art, Literature, Culture, & History | 4 |
| FREN 3100 | Medieval French Literature | 4 |
| FREN 3101 | Word and Image in Medieval France | 4 |
| FREN 3102 | Notre Dame de Paris: The Cathedral in Art, Literature, Culture, & History | 4 |
| FREN 3125 | Mapping the Nation | 4 |
| FREN 3175 | French Renaissances | 4 |
| FREN 3225 | Hollywood's Holy Grail: Medieval French Literature on the Screen | 4 |
| FREN 3250 | Du scandale au chef d’oeuvre: Art that Shocks, Offends, and Endures | 4 |
| FREN 3290 | Early Authors Modern Theory | 4 |
| FREN 3340 | Amazones, Salonnières, and Révolutionnaires: Women writers in Ancien Régime France | 4 |
| FREN 3350 | Thinkers and Moralists | 4 |
17th and 18th Centuries (Classicism or the Enlightenment) courses
Courses in this group have the FRMI attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COLI 3463 | Diderot | 4 |
| FREN 3030 | What Is Writing? The Inscription of Culture From Page to Screen | 4 |
| FREN 3250 | Du scandale au chef d’oeuvre: Art that Shocks, Offends, and Endures | 4 |
| FREN 3300 | The Enlightenment | 4 |
| FREN 3301 | France and Global Enlightenment | 4 |
| FREN 3333 | Tableaux: Art and Theater: 1700s | 4 |
| FREN 3340 | Amazones, Salonnières, and Révolutionnaires: Women writers in Ancien Régime France | 4 |
| FREN 3350 | Thinkers and Moralists | 4 |
| FREN 3360 | French Autobiography | 4 |
| FREN 3555 | Man: Beast or Machine | 4 |
19th and 20th/21st Centuries (Modern Literature) courses
Courses in this group have the FRMO attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COLI 3480 | Francophone Caribbean Literature | 4 |
| FREN 3103 | Medieval Other, Modern Ethics: Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Medieval France | 4 |
| FREN 3125 | Mapping the Nation | 4 |
| FREN 3140 | Changing Climate, Changing Culture | 4 |
| FREN 3275 | Documentary and Storytelling in the Francophone World | 4 |
| FREN 3280 | French Documentary in Action | 4 |
| FREN 3290 | Early Authors Modern Theory | 4 |
| FREN 3360 | French Autobiography | 4 |
| FREN 3453 | The Flaneur in Paris | 4 |
| FREN 3460 | Postcolonial Representations | 4 |
| FREN 3464 | French Films d'Auteur | 4 |
| FREN 3465 | Women on the Margins | 4 |
| FREN 3466 | Discovering French Cinema | 4 |
| FREN 3471 | Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa | 4 |
| FREN 3476 | Conflict and Violence in Francophone African Cinemas | 4 |
| FREN 3478 | The Essay Film | 4 |
| FREN 3479 | The New Wave Arrives | 4 |
| FREN 3480 | Francophone Caribbean Literature | 4 |
| FREN 3492 | Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the Francophone World | 4 |
| FREN 3500 | French Literary Theory | 4 |
| FREN 3565 | French Contemporary Novel | 4 |
| FREN 3612 | Cinemas of Quebec | 4 |
| FREN 3637 | Francophone Middle East | 4 |
| FREN 3675 | America! French and Francophone Perspectives | 4 |
Francophonie courses
Courses in this group have the FRAN attribute.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COLI 3480 | Francophone Caribbean Literature | 4 |
| FREN 3280 | French Documentary in Action | 4 |
| FREN 3460 | Postcolonial Representations | 4 |
| FREN 3471 | Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa | 4 |
| FREN 3476 | Conflict and Violence in Francophone African Cinemas | 4 |
| FREN 3480 | Francophone Caribbean Literature | 4 |
| FREN 3490 | Africa: Society and Culture Through Film | 4 |
| FREN 3492 | Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the Francophone World | 4 |
| FREN 3494 | Africa: Education, Youth, and Society | 4 |
| FREN 3496 | Francophone Communities in New York City | 4 |
| FREN 3612 | Cinemas of Quebec | 4 |
| FREN 3630 | Francophone Voices From North Africa | 4 |
| FREN 3631 | North African France | 4 |
| FREN 3637 | Francophone Middle East | 4 |
| FREN 3675 | America! French and Francophone Perspectives | 4 |
Study Abroad
The department encourages students to study abroad for one or two semesters. Students who opt to apply study abroad credits toward their major must have these courses approved by the French language and literature major adviser prior to their going abroad. Students studying abroad for one year may apply up to five study abroad courses toward their major. Students studying abroad for one semester may apply up to four study abroad courses toward their major. Additional study abroad credits accepted by Fordham University may be applied as elective credits toward graduation, but not toward the French language and literature major.
Honors
Students who exhibit exceptional potential and intellectual curiosity and have a minimum GPA of 3.67 in the major may choose to write a senior thesis for Honors in French language and literature. Students should consult their French major adviser for advice and guidelines on this option early in their junior year.
Availability
The major in French language and literature is available at Fordham College at Rose Hill and Fordham College at Lincoln Center. Students in Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies may major in French language and literature only if they receive the approval of their advising dean and/or department, and their schedules are sufficiently flexible to permit them to take day courses at the Rose Hill or Lincoln Center campuses.
Fordham College at Rose Hill students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.
Fordham College at Lincoln Center students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the Core Curriculum.
Professional and Continuing Studies students: The requirements above are in addition to those of the PCS Core Curriculum.