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French

French

French at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø

French at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø is offered as a Bachelor of Arts major and a minor. You’ll build practical language skills while exploring the literature, history, art and politics of France and the wider Francophone world—from Belgium and Switzerland to Africa, the Caribbean and Québec.

Our foreign language programs are informed by “the five C’s�: communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities. The French major is no exception. As a French student, not only will you acquire fluency in one of the world’s most beautiful languages, you’ll also develop a deep understanding of Francophone politics, history, and art. You’ll explore the complex and interesting cultures that make up the French-speaking world.

What will you study as a French major?

The curriculum develops speaking, listening, reading, writing and cultural fluency. Depending on course availability and your academic plan, topics may include:

  • French conversation and composition
  • French lyric and literary prose
  • French language, literature and culture
  • Franco-American relations in trade and culture
  • French film, performance and the arts
  • The 19th-century French realist novel
  • French and Spanish cultural crossroads in the Caribbean and Africa

Another unique aspect of ºÚÁϳԹÏ꿉۪s curriculum: a course that explores the French and Spanish crossroads in the Caribbean and Africa, delving into the relationships between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Martinique and Cuba, Equatorial Guinea and Senegal, and other pairings. The course brings together literary, cultural, and social exploration with service learning – students conduct interviews with people from these nations, while broadening their understanding of the literature. The course is taught in English, making it more accessible to the OU community as a whole.

French majors spend at least one semester studying in a French-speaking country. At ºÚÁϳԹÏ꿉۪s partner institution, the Catholic University of Lille in France, students can take courses taught in French alongside native French speakers.

You can also put your language and cultural knowledge to work in Atlanta. French students have supported immigrant and refugee communities through service learning, event planning and tutoring.Ìý

  • Are you the kind of learner who loves to just dive in? You’ll be happy to hear that every French major spends at least one semester studying in a French-speaking country. At the Catholic University of Lille, our partner institution in France, your classes will be taught in French, right alongside students who speak French as a first language.
  • Roll up your sleeves for service learning, as you work with Francophone communities right here in Atlanta. OU French students collaborate with immigrant and refugee support organizations, assisting in planning and staffing community events and providing tutoring.
  • OU French students have interned at the Atlanta International School; the International Rescue Committee; the Georgia Department of Industry; Trade and Tourism; the French American Chamber of Commerce; and the Summer Program of the Catholic University of Lille.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø French students have interned with the Atlanta International School, the International Rescue Committee, the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the French American Chamber of Commerce and the Catholic University of Lille’s summer program. These experiences help students connect French language skills with education, international service, business, government and cultural exchange.

Pairing French with another field can broaden your options even further. Many students choose a second major or minor in areas such as business, international studies, literature or art history.

  • As a French graduate, you can draw on your diverse knowledge, your interdisciplinary background, and your skills in communication and critical thinking to find work in a wide variety of fields. Think museums, libraries, nonprofit organizations, the corporate world, and more. Many French graduates also go on to teach French, or become educators in another field.
  • Build on your degree in French by pursuing a graduate degree in French language, literature, or cultural studies, international studies, business, or law, to further expand your career opportunities and level up your resume.
  • Previous OU French grads are furthering their educations, studying for a Ph.D. in Religious Studies at Emory University; or earning a Master in Literary Translation Studies at the University of Rochester. Others are rocking their multilingual abilities, teaching English in French lycées through a program offered by the French government. One graduate is working at a theme park in France. Still others are working in finance, health care and the arts.
  • Many French students also choose to complete a double major during their time at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, further expanding their career options with a complimentary focus on business, literature, art history and more.

Learn about yourself and the world

Plan your perfect trip with help from the advisors in Global Education. They’ll coach you through theÌýeasy steps to study abroad and answer your questions about the unique travel experiencesÌýoffered through our global study partner, LeadAbroad. Some trips even offer course credit, so you can enjoy global adventures and still graduate on time!

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND PERSONAL CONNECTION

Q&A

Yes. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø offers French as a Bachelor of Arts major and as a minor. The program combines language development with the study of Francophone literature, history, art, politics and culture.Ìý

Yes. Every French major spends at least one semester studying in a French-speaking country. One option is ºÚÁϳԹÏ꿉۪s partner institution, the Catholic University of Lille in France, where students take classes taught in French alongside native speakers.Ìý

A French degree can support careers in education, translation and interpretation, international business, government, nonprofit work, communications, museums, libraries, tourism, healthcare, finance and the arts. Students can expand their options by pairing French with another field or pursuing graduate study.Ìý

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø combines small classes with global immersion and Atlanta-based experience. Students build language and cultural fluency through study abroad, service learning, community events, internships and interdisciplinary coursework.

Yes. The French minor allows students to develop language proficiency and knowledge of Francophone cultures while completing another major.Ìý

Yes. French can complement programs such as business, international studies, literature, art history, politics or communication studies. Students should work with an academic advisor to plan their course sequence.Ìý

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