Major/Minor Requirements

Please note: The information displayed here is current as of Sunday, October 6, 2013, but the official Course Catalog should be used for all official planning.

2013-2014 Course Catalog

Required for the French major

Students complete a French major by taking a minimum of 60 units beyond FREN 202, including 12 to 18 units at the 300 level, at least 12 units at the 400 level, and at least 12 units at the 500 level, plus the Senior Seminar. At least 18 of the 400- or 500-level units must be taken on the Lawrence campus.

French majors will be required to attend at least one Björklunden French language immersion weekend in either their junior or senior year. Participation in the immersion experience will allow department members to evaluate majors’ levels of proficiency in listening and speaking in a free and unstructured linguistic environment. Students who major in French are also required to attend at least six meetings of the French Table; for one of the Tables they will serve as discussion leader.

Finally, all French majors will be required to assemble a portfolio of a selection of their work in the French program. The portfolio is designed to keep a record of progress over the course of a French major’s career in terms of linguistic proficiency, mastery of specific literary and cultural content, and sophistication of ideas.

Portfolios must be submitted by the second week of Term III of the student’s senior or super-senior year. The French and Francophone Studies department will receive and approve only completed portfolios, and the portfolio submissions must be in PDF format.

The French portfolio must include:

A list of all courses taken for the major
A list of works included in the portfolio
1. A two to three page essay in French that captures the concept of “la francophonie” through discussion of one aspect of cultural production (cinema, literature, media, music, etc.) that distinguishes and yet relates French and Francophone identity
Samples of students' work will be drawn from each of the following categories:
1. One sample essay from each of the following levels: French 300, French 400, and French 500. At least one of the essays should discuss a Francophone topic.
2. The student's senior capstone project. A student may request permission to submit a tape or video recording of an oral presentation in place of one essay.

A student may request permission to submit a tape or video recording of an oral presentation in place of one essay.

Required for the French minor

Students complete a French minor by taking a minimum of 36 units beyond FREN 202, which will include 12 units at the 300 level and at least 6 units at the 400 level and 6 units at the 500 level. A C or above average in the minor also is required.

French minors will be required to attend at least one Björklunden immersion weekend in either their junior or senior year. Participation in the immersion experience will allow department members to evaluate minor’s minors’ levels of proficiency in listening and speaking in a free and unstructured linguistic environment. Students who minor in French are also required to attend at least six meetings of the French Table and complete a short project based on work pre-approved by the department. There will be an oral presentation of the project before at least two members of the department.

Finally, students must declare their intent to minor in French in writing to the department chair in their junior year.

Concerning study abroad

The department urges students to take advantage of the international study programs in France, Senegal, or Québec.

Placement Examination

The placement examination for students taking French at Lawrence for the first time is available online at the department’s home page. To take the exam, go to www.lawrence. edu/dept/french/academics.htm and follow the instructions. The exam may be taken on or off campus. Students wishing to place out of the language requirement by proficiency examination should sign up through the department chair for an oral proficiency interview and writing exam in addition to the placement test.

At the beginning and intermediate levels, courses are numbered to indicate relative difficulty, the lowest numbers identifying those that require the least proficiency in French. At the level of FREN 400 and above, however, students should consult a French instructor.

At whatever level students place, they should plan to begin their study of French in the freshman or sophomore year.

Senior Experience in French and Francophone Studies

French and Francophone Studies requires a Senior Experience that consists of a one-term senior seminar (winter) in which possible research topics are defined and outlined, culminating in a written thesis and an oral, in-class presentation of the student's work. Other types of research projects and interdisciplinary capstones in French may meet the requirement; the possibility of an alternative project must be discussed with the department chair and the student's advisor.

Students pursuing double majors, double degrees, and education certification, are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisors and relevant department chairs to plan and negotiate their overall Senior Experience as early as possible. It is imperative that students interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary capstone that integrates their interests in both majors consult with the department chair by fall of the senior or super-senior year.