Course Schedule

FREN 101 – Elementary French I

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

FREN 102 – Elementary French II

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

FREN 196 – Introductory Career Readiness Seminar for French Students

Students will develop a plan that will help them maximize their educational experience at the UA and delineate the next steps in their trajectory as French majors/minors. Students will prepare for and integrate in their studies leadership/internship/study abroad opportunities (depending on their personal and career goals), learn how to show and tell their professional story and use it for specific purposes (such as scholarship/internship applications, club funding, etc.). They will learn about the transferable skills they will hone in pursuing a French major/minor for the jobs of the future, develop a plan for skill-building experiences, and explore career opportunities.

FREN 201 – Intermediate French I

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

FREN 202 – Intermediate French II

Continued skill development; reinforcement of basic language skills.

FREN 231 – Fashion and Culture in France and Italy

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Individuals and Societies · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Building Connections

The study of fashion is an important conduit for the expression of social identity, political ideas, and aesthetic taste. This course considers the history of style, fashion and dress in France and Italy from a cultural and fashion studies perspective. After a general introduction to models of interpretation and conceptual terms, FREN/ITAL 231 surveys topics in French and Italian fashion design and history from the 1300s to the present day

FREN 249 – Images of Africa

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Building Connections

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.

FREN 285 – Secrets of the Past: Myths, Theater, and Popular Culture (France, USA and the Black Atlantic)

Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Exploring Perspectives, Artist

How do theatre and cinema inform the quest for social justice? Can artistic practices, actors, and products become catalysts for social change? Secrets of the Past: Myths, Theater, and Popular Culture (France, USA, and the Black Atlantic) explores how filmmakers and playwrights in France, the United States, and the Black Atlantic have used myths and/or mythological figures (Oedipus, Don Juan, the Noble Savage, etc.) to convey human experiences, question notions of power, privilege, and social (in)justice(s), and impact the world we live in. This course will introduce students to canonical works of French theatre, American cinema, and Black Atlantic theatre and cinema. Students will learn elements of storytelling, identify filmmakers' and playwrights' strategies and approaches, and consider the role of theatre and cinema in finding solutions to local and global challenges. Taught in English.

FREN 301 – Pronunciation and Conversation

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

FREN 302 – Grammar, Usage and Composition

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

FREN 310 – Spoken French in Cultural Context

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.

FREN 314 – Caribbean Literature and Culture (West Indies)

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities

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

FREN 320 – Written French in Cultural Context

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

FREN 374 – Dynamics of Protest in Africa and the Diaspora

Gen Ed: Diversity Emphasis · Gen Ed: Tier 2 Humanities · Gen Ed Attribute: Writing · Gen Ed Attribute: World Cultures and Societies · Gen Ed: Building Connections

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.

FREN 393 – Internship

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

FREN 410 – Film and Fiction

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

FREN 420 – Cultural History

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

FREN 432 – French Translation

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.

FREN 444 – Topics in French Culture

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.

FREN 498 – Senior Capstone

The senior capstone is designed to offer majors the opportunity to synthesize learning accumulated in the major and to demonstrate that they have met the Major program's stated learning outcomes in Communications, Cultures, Comparisons, Connections, and Communities. Students will learn how to show and tell their story for professional advancement. In addition, students will participate in workshops that are intended to create a bridge between your senior year and life post-college, such as CV/Resume work, graduate application review, gap year planning, panel of past majors, networking, etc).

FREN 500 – French for Reading

A one-semester course that permits rapid acquisition of reading skills. Even with no prior study of French, students by the end of a semester are able to read and understand materials written in French in the standard literature and professional journals of their field of interest.

FREN 532 – French Translation

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. Graduate-level requirements include two-page translations. The grading criteria will be stricter for the graduate students in that no more than three minor errors in all the categories combined (i.e., agreement, tense/aspect, vocabulary, register/style) will be allowed for an A, no more than four for a B, no more than five for a C and so on. Undergraduate students will be allowed up to five minor errors for an A, etc.

FREN 544 – Topics in French Culture

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. Graduate-level requirements include more emphasis on research, theory, and criticism, and more substantial assignments in terms of length and quality.

FREN 553 – Literature in Context: Focus on a Historical Period

This is a French literature course focusing on a specific historical period. It provides a strong foundation in the literary, cultural, and historical knowledge required for French Studies. The topic of the course varies according to the instructor's area of expertise.

FREN 587 – Assessment in Second/Foreign Language Learning

The primary objective of this course is the development of language teachers' assessment literacy, which includes knowledge of key assessment principles and skill in creating or adopting assessment tools and procedures for the language classroom. Participants in this course will develop their knowledge and skills related to assessing all skill areas in the language classroom, including productive skills (writing, speaking), receptive skills (reading, listening), and assessing grammar and vocabulary. Grading and student evaluation will also be important topics of consideration and exploration in this course. Designed specifically for in-service (and pre-service) language teachers, the course combines theory with practice by covering essential principles of effective classroom assessment and the development of effective assessment tools for classroom use. Participants completing this course will become more assessment literate and better able to evaluate student performance in their classrooms fairly and effectively.

FREN 593 – Internship

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