French Major, B.A.
The Department of Global Languages and Cultures offers a major in French that, in addition to providing understanding of the French language and culture, gives a new perspective on the English language and American culture. The major also prepares students for graduate studies or for careers in teaching, government, business, industry and international organizations.
French majors must spend a semester or a year in France or live for two years in the French House, a small residence on campus where only French is spoken. The residence is under the leadership of a young French student.
Internships are available for qualified French majors. In the United States, internship sites have included the French Embassy (Office of the Cultural Attaché), the Alliance Française in Washington, D.C., French TV Antenne 2, Linguamundi International, the CIEE Student Center in New York City and the U.S. Information Agency.
Placement Examinations
Online advanced placement in French, German or Spanish is available to incoming first-year students. Before registration, first-year students should arrange to take the department’s placement examination. Those who place in the 201 section of their intended language will receive 3 additional credits; those who place in 203, 204 or a civilization course of their intended language will receive 6 additional credits; and those who place in 207, 208, 240 or in a 300-level course will receive 9 additional credits. In all cases, students will receive the extra credits only if they enroll in one of these courses within the first semester at Hood and complete it with a grade of “C” or better. Students who have completed college-level language courses are ineligible to earn additional credits for these courses.
Recommended Schedule
It is recommended that students intending to major in a language take the following courses in their intended language no later than their sophomore year: 203, 204, 207 and 208. To prepare for graduate school and certain careers, a second foreign language is recommended, but students may not study two languages at the beginning level simultaneously.
Requirements for the Major
French majors are required to take 30 credits in French at the 200 level or above, 15 credits of which must be 300 level or above. (Students who transfer to Hood in their junior year intending to major in French must be qualified to enroll in courses at the 200 level or above.)
The following courses are required:
| FREN 203 | French Conversation & Composition | 3.0 |
| FREN 204 | French Culture and Civilization | 3.0 |
| FREN 207 | Cultural Perspectives on French Literature I | 3.0 |
| FREN 208 | Cultural Perspectives on French Literature II | 3.0 |
| FREN 230 | Phonetics and Diction | 3.0 |
| FREN 318 | Advanced Composition and Translation | 3.0 |
| | 12 additional credits in French at the 300 level or above to include 9 credits of French or Francophone literature | 12.0 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 30.0 |