French, BA

Location(s): Main Campus

The French major provides students with a solid foundation of language skills and develops the student’s written and oral communication skills, analytical and critical-thinking skills, and intercultural competence. The Bachelor of Arts in French (BA) prepares students for advanced study in language and other fields or employment in teaching, translation and interpretation, international aid and development, foreign diplomatic service, editing and publishing, natural language processing, ESL, and more. The French major offers two tracks: French and Francophone Studies and French Language and Linguistics.

Students who choose the French and Francophone studies track develop a high level of fluency in both the written and spoken dimensions of the language. Through an interdisciplinary approach, majors gain knowledge of French literature, culture, history, and politics in those parts of the world where the French language is an important medium of expression.

Students in the French Language and Linguistics track also develop a high level of fluency in all aspects of the language. Through the study of language and linguistics, students gain knowledge of linguistic forms and structures, language use and variation, and the sociohistorical context of French-speaking communities worldwide.

Program Requirements

University General Education Requirements

All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the General Education page for more information.

Harpur College Requirements

All students in Harpur College must fulfill additional requirements designated by Harpur College to complement and extend the general education requirements. Please refer to the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences page for more information.

Major Requirements

Prerequisites

Students should consult language placement guidelines provided by the Romance Languages and Literatures Department. Depending on prior exposure to the language (FREN 111 and 115-Elementary French) may be required prerequisites for the major. Students should reach out to a department advisor during their first year to map out a schedule of classes in advance.

Students beginning their French courses at a level higher than (FREN 211) will be able to adjust to the suggested course sequence in consultation with their French major advisor.

A. French and Francophone Studies Track Course Requirements:

Students must complete the following 10 courses for the French and Francophone Studies major:

Five 200- level or above FREN courses
One 300- level or above FREN course
Four courses in French and Francophone studies, as follows:
- One 300-level topics course
- Two 400-level topics courses
- One 400-level course in French Language and Linguistics

Note: Courses at and above FREN 211 may be counted toward the French and Francophone studies major.

B. French Language and Linguistics Track Course Requirements:

Students must complete the following 10 courses for the French and Francophone Studies major:

Three 200- level or above FREN courses
One introductory level linguistics course: LING 118 or 114
Two 300- level or above linguistics courses*
Two courses in French and Francophone studies, as follows:
- One 300-level topics course
- One 400-level topics courses
Two 400-level courses in French Language and Linguistics

*including FREN courses cross-listed as LING

Note: Courses at and above FREN 215 may be counted toward the French language and linguistics major.

Additional Information About the Program

Courses taken under the Pass/Fail grading option do not count toward the major.
A minimum grade of C (satisfactory performance) is required for a course to be applied toward the French major.
Any 400-level transfer credits, including education abroad, must be approved by the department.

Residency Requirement: At least five courses, including one 300-level and two 400-level courses, must be taken on campus or in the study abroad programs sponsored by Binghamton University.

(FREN 491 -Teaching College French) is intended for students who are interested in enhancing their command of the language by assisting a professor in class as undergraduate teaching assistants. It can be taken for one to four credits toward graduation but does not count toward the major requirements. To be considered for this course, students need to fill out an application form.

NOTE: Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that this may impede their ability to study abroad. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives.

For more information on the French BA program, please refer to the Romance Languages and Literatures website. To apply to the French BA program, please visit the University Admissions website.