Pursuing French as an academic field means mastering the language in addition to studying the literature and the social and political culture of France and French-speaking countries. French is spoken all around the globe--in Europe, Africa, Asia, Canada, and the Caribbean--where it has produced rich national literatures and diverse cultures over the span of many centuries. As a recent Association of the Teachers of French publication has stated, "French is the other international language." Command of the language is the first prerequisite to entrance into the discipline which depends upon linguistic, literary, and analytical skills. On a more practical level, French is the language of government, law, management, and business in many regions of the international community, and the study of French as used in these areas is an applied field within the discipline.
Students who graduate with a major in French pursue diverse careers and employment. Many become teachers or take positions in international commerce, marketing, banking, or travel (e.g., airlines, travel agencies, Club Med). Others work in fields of government, publishing, journalism, or international relations. As a liberal arts major, French is also the choice of some who go on to professional schools in law, management and business, library science, computer technology, or medicine.
Placement in Language Courses for Incoming Students
The prerequisites for courses indicate approximate placement levels. One year of high school foreign language is generally considered the equivalent of one college semester. Students are advised to consult the FRN Program Coordinator if they believe the recommended course is inappropriate. A score of 85 or higher on the New York State Regents examination, if taken prior to Fall 2011, is sufficient for the Stony Brook University foreign language competence requirement. While students who have met the Skill 3 requirement do not need to take French at Stony Brook to satisfy the Skill 3 foreign language requirement, they are highly encouraged to continue their study of the language.
Requirements for the Major
The major in French Language and Literature leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students must complete Concentration A or Concentration B. These concentrations are designed to allow maximum flexibility in the students' programs and to fulfill their varying needs and interests. Both require as a basis a solid preparation in French. Concentration A provides preparation for graduate study in literature; concentrations A and B both provide appropriate background for students preparing for work in law, government, international relations, business, banking, hotel management, or translation and interpretation. Students interested in teaching French in secondary schools may choose either Concentration A or B. However, they must have 36 credits in FRN before the State of New York will certify them. Please see the staff of the Foreign Language Secondary Teacher Education Program for further advising in this area. Foreign language education students are also highly encouraged to study more than one foreign language.
All courses offered for the major must be passed with a letter grade of C or higher. Transfer students must take at least 18 credits of French in residence at Stony Brook. Please note that FRN 475/FRN 476 (Undergraduate Teaching Practicum) may not count for the major or minor.
Completion of the major requires 36-42 credits for Concentration A (all in FRN or HUF) or 42-48 credits for Concentration B (30 credits of FRN and HUF, and 12 credits of a non-FRN discipline), depending on language placement. See http://www.stonybrook.edu/llrc/placement_challenge_exams/placement_exam.html for placement exam information. All students should consult with the Director of the French Program.
A. Concentration in Language and Literature
1. Required courses:
a. Language courses:
b. Literature courses:
2. Elective courses:
3. Upper-division writing requirement: See C below
B. Concentration in French and a Second Discipline
1. Required courses:
2. Elective courses:
C. Upper-Division Writing Requirement
To demonstrate proficiency in writing English, students majoring in French must register for the 0-credit FRN 459 and present a dossier of a minimum of two papers of at least three to five pages each. The dossier must be submitted before the second semester of the junior year to the FRN Program Coordinator. Since this requirement is a University requirement and not a French requirement, the Program Coordinator will accept research papers written in English for any course students have taken at Stony Brook University. Graded papers are much preferred. For students who do not have research papers written in English, they must translate two papers written for their FRN courses from French to English.
Students should consult with the department advisor to ensure that their plan for completing the Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent with university graduation requirements for General Education. Students completing the Stony Brook Curriculum (SBC) must complete a course that satisfies the "Write Effectively within One's Discipline" (WRTD) learning objective to graduate. The Upper Division Writing Requirement is consistent in most cases with the SBC learning outcomes for WRTD.
Notes:
1. Students whose language proficiency is such that they can be exempted from FRN 211, 212, 311, FRN 312 may, and are strongly urged to, apply to have courses in art, music, history, or another language count for major credit.
2. Students who wish to offer their native language as the main area of concentration are asked to replace FRN 211, FRN 212, FRN 311, FRN 312, FRN 410, and FRN 411 by English courses appropriate to their level of proficiency in that language.
Foreign Language Secondary Teacher Education Program
See the Education and Teacher Certification entry in the alphabetical listings of Approved Majors, Minors, and Programs.
Honors Program in French
To be eligible to participate in the honors program, majors must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 and an average of 3.50 in French through the junior year. An eligible student wishing to write a senior thesis must find a faculty member of the Department to act as thesis advisor. The student, with the approval of this advisor, must submit a proposal of a project in writing to the Department. Deadline for submission of the proposal for fall semester is April 30 and for spring semester is November 30. Final selection of candidates and topics is determined by an honors committee of the Department. Students selected for the program must enroll in FRN 495 for the semester in which the thesis is written. The thesis is evaluated by the thesis advisor, another member of the Department, and a third reader from outside the Department. For further information consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
Requirements for the Minor
All courses offered for the minor must be taken for a letter grade, excluding those graded S/U. All upper-division courses offered for the minor must be passed with a grade of C or higher. Students must complete A. Emphasis on Language; B. Emphasis on Literature; or C. Emphasis on Francophone Studies. Transfer students must take at least six credits of French beyond the 100-level in residence at Stony Brook.
Completion of the minor requires 21-27 credits, depending on language placement. See http://www.stonybrook.edu/llrc/placement_challenge_exams/placement_exam.html for placement exam information.
Choose one of the three following areas of emphasis:
1. Emphasis on Language
Required courses:
Note: A French literature course or FRN 441 or HUL 324 may be substituted for FRN 410
2. Emphasis on Literature
Required courses:
3. Emphasis on Francophone Studies (Studies of the French-speaking World)
Requirements:
| FRESHMAN |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 101 | 1 |
| WRT 101 | 3 |
| FRN 211 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
|
SBC
|
3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| First Year Seminar 102 | 1 |
| WRT 102 | 3 |
| FRN 212 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| SOPHOMORE |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRN 311 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRN 312 | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Upper-division elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| JUNIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRN 395 | 3 |
| FRN 411 | 3 |
| One 300-level literature course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRN 396 | 3 |
| FRN 412 | 3 |
| FRN 441 or one 300-level literature course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Upper-division SBC | 3 |
| Total | 18 |
| SENIOR |
|---|
| FALL | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRN 413 (or FRN 410) | 3 |
| One or two 300-level literature courses | 3-6 |
| Upper-division SBC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15-18 |
| SPRING | Credits |
|---|---|
| FRN 441 | 3 |
| One 300-level literature course | 3 |
| SBC | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
Major and Minor in French Language and Literature
Department of Languages and Cultural Studies; College of Arts and Sciences
Chair: Sarah Jourdain
Director of Undergraduate Studies: Franck Dalmas
Coordinator of the Program: Madeline Turan
Assistant to the Chair: Elizabeth Tolson
Office: Humanities 2128
Phone: (631) 632-7440
Website: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/languages-cultural-studies