Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree with a Major in French Studies

BA Degree with a Major in French Studies

Upon completing the BA degree with a major in French Studies, students will be able to: 

1. Communicate fluently in spoken and written French at an advanced level, as indicated by the ability to: understand spoken French, converse in French, critically read and translate French texts, and write in multiple genres in French.
2. Achieve the cultural literacy necessary for studying abroad or practicing internationally-based professions by demonstrating an understanding of the major social, cultural, and political stakes of the French and Francophone world, past and present.
3. Demonstrate an interdisciplinary understanding of French studies through critical investigations of French literature, art, film, and other cultural forms.
4. Understand French language and culture not as isolated geographic phenomena, but in the wider context of multicultural exchange and globalization.
5. Learn and apply various research skills, including critical thinking and reading skills, theory, and criticism, to French texts (broadly construed) in order to produce new critical insights verbally or in writing.

BA Degree with a Major in French Studies

For general university requirements, see Graduation Requirements. Students pursuing BA degree with a major in French Studies must complete:

• A minimum of 50 courses (30 credit hours) to satisfy major requirements.
• A minimum of 520 credit hours to satisfy degree requirements.
• A minimum of 8 courses (24 credit hours) taken at 300-level or above.
• A maximum of 4 courses (52 credit hours) from study abroad or transfer credit. For additional departmental guidelines regarding transfer credit, see Policies tab.

courses listed below satisfy this major. In certain instances, courses not on this official list may be substituted upon approval of major’s academic advisor, or where applicable, department's Director of Undergraduate Studies. (Course substitutions must be formally applied and entered into Degree Works by major's Official Certifier.) Students and their academic advisors should identify and clearly document courses to be taken.

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate English proficiency in one of two ways:

1. Completing at least two years of full-time study in an English language curriculum prior to submitting an application.

2. Submitting one of the following official test scores.

• The Coalition Application or the Common Application and Rice writing supplement
• $75 nonrefundable application fee (must be paid online)
• Official high school transcript in English (or a certified English translation)
• Recommendation Letters
  • School Counselor
  • Teacher 5
  • Teacher 2
• Demonstration of English proficiency
• International Student Financial Statement
• Architecture portfolio (Architecture applicants only)