Director of undergraduate studies: Thomas C. Connolly, 320 York St.; Language program director: Candace Skorupa, 320 York St., Rm. 339; 432-2765; french.yale.edu
The Department of French has two distinct but complementary missions: to provide instruction in the French language at all levels of competence, and to lead students to a broad appreciation and deep understanding of the literatures and cultures of France and other French-speaking countries.
The major in French is a liberal arts major, designed for those who wish to study French-language literatures, arts, and cultures in depth. The department offers courses devoted to authors, works, and literary and cultural movements that span ten centuries and four continents. The curriculum also includes interdisciplinary courses on relations between literature and other areas of study such as history, law, medicine, religion, politics, business, translation, and the arts. Majors are encouraged to explore all periods and genres of literature in French, as well as a wide variety of critical approaches.
Excellent knowledge of a foreign language and a mature, informed appreciation of a foreign literature and culture can open doors to various professions. The French major provides ideal preparation for careers in a wide range of fields from law and diplomacy to journalism, teaching, academia, publishing, and the arts. Recent graduates have gone on to selective law schools, medical schools, and graduate programs in French and Comparative Literature. Others work in business, government, primary and secondary education, and a variety of nongovernmental agencies and international organizations.
French can be taken either as a primary major or as one of two majors, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies (DUS). Regulations concerning the completion of two majors can be found in the Academic Regulations, section L, Special Academic Arrangements.
Course Numbering
Group A courses(FREN 110-159) This group consists of language courses that lead to courses counting toward the major. Preregistration is required for all Group A courses except FREN 125 and 145. FREN 121 (the stand-alone L2) is offered only during the fall term. For this reason, students placed into L1 or L2 who were not enrolled in a fall-term course will have to wait until the next fall to enroll. For further details, students should consult Candace Skorupa, the language program director (LPD).
Group B courses(FREN 160-449, not including Group C courses) This group contains more advanced courses that are taught in French and count toward the major. FREN 160 and 170 are gateway courses that prepare students for courses numbered FREN 200 and above. Courses in the FREN 180-199 range are advanced language courses. Courses numbered 200-449 are advanced courses in literature and culture. The 200-299 range contains courses devoted to broad, general fields defined by century or genre; the 300-449 range contains courses devoted to specific topics within or across those general fields.
Group C coursesThis group comprises courses taught in English; readings may be in French or English. Two term courses from this group may be counted for credit toward the major.
Language Placement Procedures
The departmental placement exam in French is accessible online. Dates and information for the exam will be available on the French department website, in the Calendar for the Opening Days of College, and on the Center for Language Study website. Placement exam results remain valid for one year.
All students who have not yet studied French at Yale (except those who have had no previous exposure to French whatsoever) are expected to take the departmental placement exam. Students who studied abroad over the summer with non-Yale programs must take the placement exam to be eligible to receive credit for their work.
Students who earned superior scores on standardized tests may be able to enroll in a course designated L5. The department strongly recommends, however, that advanced students of French take the departmental placement exam in order to be directed to the most appropriate courses. Students who earned a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement exam, a score of 6 or 7 on the advanced-level International Baccalaureate (IB) exam, a rating of C1 on the CEFR European test, or an A or B on the GCE A-level exam are normally placed into a course at the 150 level and above.
Prerequisite
The prerequisite may be fulfilled by taking FREN 150, which should be taken during the first or second year. In consultation with the DUS, students may instead choose to select a course numbered 200-449 to fulfill the prerequisite. Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to take at least one literature course numbered 170 or above before the end of the second year.
Requirements of the Major
The standard majorThe standard major consists of ten term courses numbered 160 or above, including a one-term senior essay (see below). One of these ten courses must be FREN 170 which should be completed early in a candidate's studies or, in consultation with the DUS, an equivalent course from the 200-449 range; at least four must be Group B courses numbered 200 or above. Students may count no more than two courses in the FREN 180-199 range (unless they opt for the translation track, see below). No more than two courses conducted in English (Group C) may count toward the major. With prior approval of the DUS, a maximum of four term courses taught outside the Yale Department of French but bearing directly on the student's principal interest may be counted toward the major. Up to two of these may be taken in other departments at Yale, and up to four may be taken as part of a Year or Term Abroad or summer study abroad program. However, the combined number of courses from other departments and from study abroad may not exceed four. The DUS may grant exceptions to this limit for students who spend two academic terms in an approved study abroad program. Relevant first-year seminars may count toward the major, with permission of the DUS.
The intensive majorThe intensive major is designed for students who wish to undertake a more concentrated study of literature and culture in French. It is recommended for students considering graduate study in French or in a related field. The intensive major consists of twelve term courses numbered 160 or above, including a one-term or two-term senior essay (see below). At least five courses must be from Group B and numbered 200 or above. The requirement of FREN 170 (or an equivalent 200-449 course), and the stipulations for courses in the 180-199 range, courses conducted in English, and courses taken outside the department are identical to those for the standard major.
Period requirement for students in the class of 2025 and beyondA minimum of one of the ten courses toward the major, or one of the twelve courses toward the intensive major, must deal predominantly with materials from the period preceding 1800. The pre-1800 course may be either a Group B (taught in French) or a Group C course (taught in English). This requirement applies to all French majors, including those who opt for the standard or intensive translation track.
Translation trackStudents may elect to pursue the translation track within the French major. Translation track majors are expected to take a minimum of two courses in French translation as two of the ten credits required for the standard major, or twelve credits required for the intensive major. Within the department, this requirement can be fulfilled by taking FREN 191 and 192. Students who opt for the translation track may in this case take up to four courses numbered 180-199, rather than the standard two courses. For their senior requirement, translation track students undertake a literary translation project of similar length to the senior essay (see below).
Credit/D/Fail One required course taken Credit/D/Fail may be counted toward the major (excluding the senior essay requirement).
Senior Requirement
All majors must write a senior essay showing evidence of careful reading, appropriate research, and substantial independent thought. Essays may be written in either French or English and must be prepared under the direction of a ladder faculty member in the Department of French. Students planning to pursue advanced work in French after graduation are encouraged to write their senior essay in French.
Students writing a one-term essay enroll in FREN 491 in the senior year. A one-term essay may be written in either the fall or the spring term and should be approximately thirty pages in length. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be addressed and the name of the adviser must be submitted to the DUS by April 18, 2022 (fall-term essay), or November 4, 2022 (spring-term essay). A one-page prospectus and bibliography are due September 16, 2022 (fall term), or January 27, 2023 (spring term). A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by October 31, 2022 (fall term), or March 27, 2023 (spring term). Two copies of the final essay are due in the department by December 2, 2022 (fall term), or April 21, 2023 (spring term).
Students electing a two-term essay must select their subject and adviser by the end of the junior year and enroll in FREN 493 and FREN 494 during the senior year. The essay should be around sixty pages in length. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be addressed and the name of the adviser must be submitted to the DUS by April 18, 2022. A one-page prospectus and bibliography are due September 16, 2022. Students must submit an initial rough draft to their adviser by January 27, 2023, and a complete draft by March 27, 2023. Two copies of the final essay are due in the department by April 21, 2023.
Translation track majors undertake a literary translation project of similar length to the senior essay, working with a member of the French department ladder faculty. The senior translation project should include a critical introduction, of a length to be determined by the student in consultation with the directing faculty member. The same submission dates as the one-term essay and the two-term essay apply to the senior translation project. Translation track students should sign up for FREN 492 for the single-term essay or for FREN 495 and 496 for the two-term essay, in the fall and spring terms respectively. Materials submitted for the translation essay cannot be the same as the materials submitted for any translation courses that count toward the major.
Advising
All students in the major are encouraged to take as many advanced courses as possible from all historical periods, covering as many genres and critical approaches as possible. As stipulated above, all majors in the Class of 2025 and beyond are also required to take at least one pre-1800 course. Candidates for the major should make contact with the DUS as early as the beginning of the sophomore year and no later than the fall term of the junior year. Students planning to study abroad or to petition for completion of two majors should contact the DUS during the sophomore year.
Special Divisional MajorThe department will support the application of qualified students who wish to pursue an interdisciplinary course in French studies. Under the provisions of the Special Divisional Major, students may combine courses offered by the French department with courses from other departments. Close consultation with the relevant departmental advisers is required. Candidates for the Special Divisional Major should consult the DUS in French by the fall term of the junior year.
Study abroadStudents are encouraged to spend a term or a year abroad, for which appropriate course credit is granted. With prior approval of the DUS, summer study abroad may also receive course credit. Further information may be obtained from the Center for International and Professional Experience, from Yale Study Abroad, and from French Department's Study Abroad Coordinator, Constance Sherak.
Requirements of the Major
PrerequisiteFREN 150 or equivalent as approved by the DUS
Number of CoursesStandard major and translation track—10 term courses numbered 160 or above (including senior essay); Intensive major—12 term courses numbered 160 or above (including senior essay)
Specific Course RequiredFREN 170 or equivalent
Distribution of coursesStandard major—at least 4 courses in Group B numbered 200 or above; no more than 2 courses numbered FREN 180-199; no more than 2 courses conducted in English; one pre-1800 course; ​Intensive major—same as standard, plus 1 addtl Group B course numbered 200 or above; Translation track (both standard and intensive)— same as standard, except min of 2 translation courses and no more than 4 courses numbered FREN 180-199
Substitution permittedWith prior approval of DUS, up to 4 term courses outside French dept, as specified
Senior requirementStandard major—one-term senior essay in French or English (FREN 491); Translation track—one-term literary translation essay (FREN 492); Intensive major—one-term (FREN 491) or two-term senior essay in French or English (FREN 493, 494); Translation track, Intensive major—one-term senior essay (FREN 492) or two-term literary translation essay (FREN 495, 496)