Course Descriptions

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing; an introduction to the basic structures and vocabulary of French. Does not count toward French major or minor.

Listening, speaking, reading, and writing; an introduction to the basic structures and vocabulary of French, continuation.

FREN 112 is the equivalent of FREN 101 and FREN 102.

The Mediterranean Sea has been a dynamic crossroad for people, goods, and ideas for thousands of years. Beginning with the medieval commercial revolution to modern rebellions, we will examine the historical patterns of political development, trade and economic growth, migration and cultural change, war and conflict that shaped French and Italian maritime cities, colonies and global networks from Venice to Livorno, Marseille to Algiers. Taught in English.

This course will consider the development of the French-speaking world from the colonial period to current times. The first part of the course will present a historical perspective on the evolution and exportation of French language and culture from 1500 to 1900, during France's colonial expansion. The second part will emphasize the cultural and artistic expressions of some of the contemporary French-speaking countries and speakers from around the world.

Are you interested in finding out about French and Italian language, culture, literature? This course is taught by the leading experts in French and Italian at the U of A. About every two weeks a new instructor will discuss with you a new aspect of French or Italian. According to his or her expertise, you may be learning about French or Italian language or culture; you may be exposed to French or Italian literature of many periods, many authors or many types such as short stories, novels, plays, poetry or film.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

Continued skill development; further development of the four language skills.

Continued skill development; reinforcement of basic language skills.

FREN 212 is the equivalent of FREN 201 and FREN 202.

This gateway course introduces students to French thought and culture through multiple perspectives and disciplines including history, philosophy, law, literary traditions and cultures, gender and sexuality, film, art and cultural studies among others. By the end of the course, students will have acquired a broad historical understanding of French culture and a deeper sense of the interdisciplinary perspectives that contribute meaning to individual and collective French identities. Taught in English.

Introduction to African literature coming from the African continent and the diaspora, which explores the representation of Black experience in a variety of geographical and cultural settings. Select themes (such as liberation, oppression, identity) will invite students to reflect on current debates in historical perspective. Taught in English.

This course investigates how audiovisual media including feature films, documentaries, music videos, visual albums represent Africa. The emergence of digital technologies with widespread access transformed Africa's media landscape. Through this exploration of African audiovisual media, the course builds connections across the arts, social sciences, and humanities. Upon completing "Images of Africa," students will have an enhanced understanding of contemporary Africa from a variety of social positions as well as the skills to interpret audiovisual media and evaluate their significance in cultural and historical contexts by drawing on a critical repertoire across disciplines.

Introductory course to key concepts in French language, linguistics and culture through a variety of media (textbook, comics, films, Web). This course is taught in English and requires no knowledge of French. Does not count toward fulfillment of language requirement, of the major or minor in French.

French literature in translation. Does not count toward fulfillment of language requirement, or the major or minor in French. Taught in English.

French literature in translation. Does not count toward fulfillment of language requirement, or the major or minor in French. Taught in English.

Representative masterpieces of French theater from its origins in the Middle Ages to the contemporary. Includes medieval religious and profane pieces, classical theater of 16th and 17th centuries, etc. Taught in English. Does not count toward fulfillment of language requirement or the major or minor in French.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

This course focuses on oral communication and is designed to enhance listening comprehension and fluency in French.

This course stresses written communication. In addition, conversation and reading are targeted as means to inform writing.

This course is focused almost exclusively on oral communication. The course fosters open-mindedness through informed discussion of commonalities and differences between American and French/Francophone cultures. It enables students to sharpen their oral communication skills.

The course examines how the literature captures the multifaceted social, cultural, and political life of the region.

This course stimulates intellectual openness and interest in other cultures. It enables students to gain familiarity, experience and confidence in reading and writing French.

Political, socio-economic, and cultural history of modern France from 1815 to the present day, with emphasis placed on French politics and self-identity.

Examination of the historical, ethical, social, and political impacts and perspectives of hip-hop artistic practices and works on communities and societies in the United States and in the French-speaking world. Taught in English.

This course investigates how the dynamics of resistance and repression have shaped protest in Africa and the diaspora since the slave revolt in Saint-Domingue that produced modern-day Haiti (1791-1804). In the years since, uprisings have occurred that actively renegotiated freedoms, rights, and ideas of citizenship for peoples of African descent with a grounding in the French-speaking world. This course looks at a range of materials from historical documents, poetry, song, films, and fiction to deepen our understanding of how historical progress has been shaped by the dynamic interplay between resistance and repression.

The course's main purpose is to examine Franco-American relations, and more specifically the mutual perspectives on their respective nations offered by French and American citizens throughout the years. This interdisciplinary course addresses Franco-American relations in a global way through assigned interdisciplinary readings and films. The course's ultimate goal is to come up with reasons why such close and at times tumultuous relations exist between the United States and its oldest ally, France. Taught in English.

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work, and patient study.

Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of training and practice in actual service in a technical, business, or governmental establishment.

The development and exchange of scholarly information, usually in a small group setting. The scope of work shall consist of research by course registrants, with the exchange of the results of such research through discussion, reports, and/or papers.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

Enhances skills to process information that promotes the understanding and interpretation of the target culture.

A content-based course designed to help students gain advanced knowledge about French and Francophone cultures.

The cultural history of France surveyed through selected works of literature, art, and architecture. Readings and discussions, in conjunction with faculty-guided visits to historical sites in Paris. Offered in Paris program only.

Advanced course in translation and stylistics designed to expand students' range and appreciation of written styles in a variety of texts and registers with grammar reviews and vocabulary work. Written translations to and from French.

The basic workings of the French economy and the essential vocabulary and style specific to French business.

The basic workings of the French economy and the essential vocabulary and style specific to French business.

A content-based course designed to help students gain advanced/graduate knowledge about French literature. The topic of each course varies according to the faculty's expertise.

Examines representative examples of French achievements in literature and/or cinema so as to provide an appreciation and understanding of the aesthetics of literary and/or visual language through the study of narrative structures and forms.

Designed to help students gain a better sense of the Francophone world's diverse histories, cultures, and societies. Graduate-level requirements include more emphasis on research, theory, and criticism, and more substantial assignments in terms of length and quality.

This content-based course is designed to help students gain a better sense of French history, culture, and society through the focused examination of a particular issue or topic. The specific focus of each course varies according to the faculty's expertise.

A survey course that introduces students to major movements and issues relative to the Francophone world. Students will gain a general understanding of key concepts and debates from an overview of dominant historical trends and current preoccupations.

A content-based course designed to help students gain a better sense of the Francophone world through the focused examination of a particular issue or topic. The topic of each course varies according to the faculty's expertise.

Study of selected film classics, from the origins of the cinema (les freres Lumiere) in 1895 to the 20th century. Draws on the resources of the various Paris cinematheques. Offered in Paris program only.

Talk-it-OUT! Theater for Social Justice explores the ways in which theatre performance/performance activism can be used to bring awareness of and promote social change around questions of social justice (race, gender, age, sexuality, religion, nationality, education, (dis)ability and bodymind, etc.). Through classroom and community performances utilizing techniques of forum theatre (Boal) and interactive theatre (Grosjean), we will build upon student leadership skills and reflect on the various ways performative activism can positively impact the society in which we live as well as contribute to building bridges between schools and the broader community. We will discuss selected readings that address questions of power, privilege, social identity and structures of oppression, as well as readings on the practice and theory of interactive theatre. In class, we will explore different tools for creative action designed to reflect upon social justice and promote social change and community building. Students will develop skills in creative writing and expression through theatre activities. Students will also gain hands-on teaching experience by co-leading theatre workshops and/or discussions with local high schools and other community members. Assignments include readings, writing, journaling, and group work (workshops, community meetings, creative writing, performances).

This course will introduce the study of French from a linguistic point of view. The area to be covered will be chosen from: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, dialect and social variation, pragmatics, discourse analysis.

Linguistic methods in the analysis of literature and implications of literary language for linguistic theory; detailed consideration of prosody, metaphor, narrative technique and irony.

This is an introductory course to simultaneous interpretation (i.e., the translation of speech or discourse from one language to another while listening to the speaker) and consecutive interpretation (i.e., the translation of speech or discourse after the speaker has finished saying it) in various communication situations.

Examines in detail current topics in the linguistic analysis of French. May be repeated when topics vary. Taught in French, with readings in both French and English; non-French majors may write their assignments in English.

The course is designed to foster cross-cultural understanding through the study of contemporary French cinema. It is taught in English.

A culminating experience for majors involving a substantive project that demonstrates a synthesis of learning accumulated in the major, including broadly comprehensive knowledge of the discipline and its methodologies. Senior standing required.

An honors thesis is required of all the students graduating with honors. Students ordinarily sign up for this course as a two-semester sequence. The first semester the student performs research under the supervision of a faculty member; the second semester the student writes an honors thesis.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.

Qualified students working on an individual basis with professors who have agreed to supervise such work.