Skip Navigation

Languages & Literatures

Course Descriptions

FREN 1001 Français élémentaire (4 credits)
Basic grammar, syntax and vocabulary with emphasis on oral skills; introduction to French and Francophone cultures. First quarter in a three quarter sequence.
FREN 1002 Français élémentaire (4 credits)
Basic grammar, syntax and vocabulary with emphasis on oral skills; introduction to French and Francophone cultures. Second quarter in a three quarter sequence. Prerequisite: FREN 1001 or equivalent.
FREN 1003 Français élémentaire (4 credits)
Basic grammar, syntax and vocabulary with emphasis on oral skills; introduction to French and Francophone cultures. Third quarter in a three quarter sequence. Prerequisite: FREN 1002 or equivalent.
FREN 2001 Français du deuxième degré (3 or 4 credits)
Grammatical structures, conversation and reading of cultural and literary materials. First quarter of a two quarter sequence. Prerequisite: FREN 1003 or equivalent.
FREN 2002 Français du deuxième degré (4 credits)
Grammatical structures, conversation and reading of cultural and literary materials. Second quarter of a two quarter sequence. Prerequisite: FREN 2001 or equivalent.
FREN 2003 Français du deuxième degré (4 credits)
Grammatical structures, conversation and reading of cultural and literary materials. Three-quarter sequence. Prerequisite: FREN 2002 or equivalent.
FREN 2007 Keeping up with French (1 credits)
Conversation course centered on intermediate-level readings; intensive study of vocabulary; practical grammar lessons derived from readings. Prerequisite: minimum of one year of college French.
FREN 2009 Intensive Grammar Review (1 credits)
For students who have completed FREN 2002 but need or want an additional intensive review of French grammar. Recommended as a concurrent course with FREN 2100.
FREN 2010 Culture contemporaine (4 credits)
What political, economic, social and cultural/ethnic forces shape contemporary French society? The course is based on class discussion of assigned textbook readings. Current issues are also explored with the help of the internet. Prerequisite: FREN 2003 and one course above that level.
FREN 2100 Ecrire, lire et parler (4 credits)
Writing, discussion and reading based on a topic or topics in French and Francophone culture. Close attention paid to paper-writing skills. Prerequisite: FREN 2003 or equivalent
FREN 2200 Le Monde du travail (4 credits)
Study of professional and commercial culture in France and within the European Union, along with socio-cultural issues and concerns relative to 21st Century work environment. Development of proficiency in work-related vocabulary, communication skills, as well as sensitivity to work-life balance; class, gender, and ethnicity issues in the workplace. Prerquisite: FREN 2003 and one course above that level.
FREN 2300 Phonetique francaise (4 credits)
Intensive study of French intonation, accent and distinctive phonetic structures. Prerequisite: FREN 2100 or equivalent.
FREN 2400 Conversation et composition (4 credits)
Intensive practice in spoken and written French. All aspects of the course, including vocabulary acquisition, phonetics, structural review, compositions, readings, oral presentations and comprehension exercises are presented through a topical approach to everyday French and Francophone life, literature, and contemporary issues. Prerequisite: FREN 2003 or equivalent.
FREN 2500 Intro littérature française (4 credits)
Introduction to critical analysis and appreciation of literary texts in French. Prerequisite: FREN 2100.
FREN 2701 Sujets spéciaux (4 credits)
Selected topics in French or francophone literature and/or culture. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: FREN 2300 and one course above that level.
FREN 2901 Techniques de la lecture (4 credits)
By reading a novel of significant length, or other selection of prose works from a French or Francophone context, students refine and increase reading skills. Along the way, other skills are aided: reasoning, interpreting, and speaking skills. The course is designed to help with the transition from skills-building classes (first- and second - year French) to substance-based courses such as the seminars at the 3000-level on literary topics. Topics might vary according to the instructor's choice: social class, gender, perceptions of the past, etc.
FREN 2997 Internship Abroad (2 credits)
Prerequisite: FREN 2003.
FREN 3010 Civilisation française (4 credits)
Study of cultural achievements and mores of France and French-speaking world from origins to present. Prerequisite: FREN 2100 or equivalent.
FREN 3020 Civilisation - Sujets spéciaux (4 credits)
Selected topics in French or Francophone culture. Prerequisite: FREN 2100 or equivalent.
FREN 3100 Stylistique avancée (4 credits)
Small group discussion and writing of original compositions; advanced grammar review. Emphasis placed on the interaction of French language and cultures. Prerequisite: FREN 2100 or equivalent.
FREN 3110 La Grammaire à l'oeuvre (4 credits)
Our most advanced language course, students perfect thier knowledge of French grammar in all of its intricacies. Written and oral practice. PREREQ: FREN 2003 and two additional course above this.
FREN 3150 L’Art de la traduction (4 credits)
This course is an introduction to the art of translating/transposing a given text from one language into another without betraying the author's original intent. We read, analyze and discuss in class contemporary literary and journalistic texts originally written in French, and we translate them into English. We, as well, do the same with texts originally written in English. We also read together, analyze, and discuss in class theoretical texts on the art and techniques of translating. Prerequisite: FREN 2003 and 2 courses above that level.
FREN 3200 Littérature du moyen âge (4 credits)
Lyric, narrative and dramatic masterpieces of medieval period. Prerequisite: FREN 2500 or equivalent.
FREN 3300 La Renaissance (4 credits)
Humanists and poets of 16th century including Rabelais, Scève, Ronsard, Montaigne. Prerequisite: FREN 2500 or equivalent.
FREN 3400 Siècle de Louis XIV (4 credits)
Classical tragedy and comedy, poets and moralists. Prerequisite: FREN 2500 or equivalent.
FREN 3500 Voltaire et Rousseau (4 credits)
French Enlightenment including Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau. Prerequisite: FREN 2500 or equivalent.
FREN 3610 Romantiques et réalistes I (4 credits)
Major novelists, dramatists, poets, issues of early and later 19th century. Prerequisite: FREN 2500 or equivalent.
FREN 3620 Romantiques et réalistes II (4 credits)
Romanticism and symbolism in poetry and development of realism in the novel and theatre. Prerequisite: FREN 2500.
FREN 3701 Séminaire (4 credits)
Selected authors, literary movements and genres in French- speaking world. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: FREN 2500.
FREN 3730 Arts et littérature (4 credits)
Literature and the ways it relates to visual arts, music or other artistic forms. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: FREN 2500.
FREN 3800 L'Amour et la mort (4 credits)
Study of the theme of love and death in selected prose from the Middle Ages to the present. Love and gender relationships; cultural grounding of the expression of love; changing gender roles. Prerequisite: FREN 2500 or permission of instructor.
FREN 3810 Littérature francophone I (4 credits)
Literatures of French expression from Africa, the Caribbean, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland. Prerequisite: FREN 2500.
FREN 3851 Auteures françaises (4 credits)
Leading women writers and development of feminism in France from Middle Ages to present. Prerequisite: FREN 2500.
FREN 3890 Théâtre contemporain (4 credits)
Development of modern theatre in the 20th century French- speaking world. Prerequisite: FREN 2500.
FREN 3892 Surréalisme (4 credits)
Study of topics or representative writers and visual artists in this revolutionary artistic movement of the early- and mid-twentieth century.