The Bachelor of Arts in French Studies provides students with a thorough basis in the study of French Language, History, Literature and Culture within a global context. Students completing the B.A. in French Studies will acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of French history, culture, and society that will prepare them for a broad range of career options both at home and abroad. These include international law and business, teaching, government and foreign service. In addition, the solid background in French and Francophone history and literature provides a strong foundation for further study at the graduate level in a variety of M.A. and Ph.D. programs.
The French Studies Program situates California State University, Long Beach at the vanguard of scholastic innovation in the burgeoning field of cultural studies. The French Studies major provides a unique opportunity for students to address the cultural, economical, social, and political dimensions of Francophonie. This major reinforces California State University, Long Beach's established and recognized record as a leader in offering students a global pedagogical experience that can be transferred to the working world of the present and the future.
To meet new demands for professionals, French Studies combines courses from literature and history. French Studies will enable students to draw from a multifaceted disciplinary basis to interpret cultural phenomena and trends in a variety of global contexts. Students will receive training in historical, linguistic, and literary methods in the complementary areas of French and Francophone history and literature in this major. As the only public institution of higher education in California to approach French Studies at the undergraduate level from both global and cross-disciplinary perspectives, California State University, Long Beach recognizes the cooperative and symbiotic relationship connecting the disciplines of history and literature with respect to a comprehensive understanding of the Francophone World.
French Studies Majors are required to develop a program of study in consultation with the program advisor. In addition to assisting students in the development of the program planner and providing advice on post-graduate options, the program advisor and director maintain close contact with each student in the major. Courses for the program have been selected to foster synergistic growth in French language, literature, culture and history. Students begin the major at the third-year level, after they have completed two years of college French (or have acquired the equivalent competency) and after they have completed course work in world history. At the third year they will take advanced language and composition, survey courses in French literature, historical methods, and 300-level French History courses. During the senior year, students will take French Civilization, specialized courses in the literature and history of France and the Francophone world, and the French Capstone course. Furthermore, students majoring in French Studies will be encouraged to avail themselves of the opportunity to participate in a study abroad or internship program.
Upper Division: A minimum of forty-eight (48) units of upper division course work. Fifteen (15) units must come from the following History courses: HIST 334, 336, 337, 339 and 301. Twenty-one (21) units must come from the following French courses: FREN 312A, 312B, 335, 336, 337, 411 and 440. However, with the Program Director's consent, the requirement of FREN 312A and 312B may be waived. The remaining twelve (12) units can be selected from the following courses (subject to prior approval of the Program Director and based on course content): HIST 435, 498, FREN 456, 470, 471, 472, 474, 477, 479, 480, 490.
1. A bachelor of arts degree in French, or:
2. A bachelor's degree in another discipline with a minimum of 18 units of upper-division coursework in French, equivalent to the basic core of the B.A. in French at this university, and with demonstrated written and oral competence in the language. Any deficiencies to be made up before admission to the program will be determined by the graduate advisor.
1. Approval of the graduate program by the graduate advisor, the faculty advisor and/or departmental committee, and the College of Liberal Arts Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.
2. The candidate should file for advancement upon completion of 6 units and preferably no more than 9 units on the program. A 3.0 GPA is required.
3. Fulfillment of the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).
1. Completion of a minimum of 30 units of approved graduate-credit courses with at least 24 units in French distributed as follows:
a. 15 units of 600 series courses.
b. 9 units of 500 or 600 series courses in French.
c. 6 units of other acceptable graduate-credit courses.
(NOTE: Courses taken outside the Department as subject to departmental approval.)
2. Two years of college-level study, or equivalent, of another language (e.g., German, Italian, Latin, Russian, or Spanish) with a minimum average grade of "B" or better. This requirement may also be met by passing the Graduate Studies Foreign Language Test (G.S.F.L.T.) In another language with a score of 500 or better. This requirement must be completed before taking the comprehensive examination.
3. A comprehensive examination.
4. Teaching Associates must take FREN 424, Language Acquisition, during the first year of the assistantship.
