• The CSUF French Program
• Goals
• Career Opportunities
• French Faculty
• Advisement
• Advisors
• Admission Requirements
• Placement
• Declaring a Minor or Major in French
• French Courses
• Planned French Course Rotation
• Bachelor of Arts in French
• Additional Electives Recommended for French Majors
• Minor in French
• Concentration in French for the Bachelor of Art in International Business
• Credential in French
• French Language and Culture Certificate
• French Club
• International Program

The CSUF French Program

Welcome to the French program in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures!  At CSUF, discover the rich culture of France and the Francophone world.  Explore French literature, cinema, art, media, history, philosophy, politics, society, business, institutions and everyday life. Learn to communicate effectively in all four language skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) and to appreciate fascinating linguistic aspects of the French language.  Develop cultural proficiency in various French-language environments, from daily interactions to business and academic settings.  Acquire the critical tools necessary to define your own cultural responsibilities in a rapidly changing world.  Used as an official language in 55 countries, French is spoken by 500 million persons around the world, including 63 million in France.  Knowing French is a highly valued skill today, whether you wish to travel to Francophone countries, study the culture and literature of France, become a French teacher or seek other career opportunities that require a thorough knowledge of French language and culture, such as international business, travel and tourism, journalism and media, publishing, translation, interpretation and diplomacy within governmental and non-governmental organizations. The CSUF Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a great array of interdisciplinary French courses, from elementary language classes to advanced seminars, and delivers the following academic degrees and programs:

• Bachelor of Arts in French;
• Single Subject Matter Preparation for the Teaching Credential in French (re-accredited in 2011 by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing);
• Minor in French;
• Concentration in French for the Bachelor of Arts in International Business;

Other offerings include Intermediate French Language and Culture Certificates, General Education courses, an active French Club, a weekly French Table and CSU-approved International Programs in Paris, Aix-en-Provence and Québec.

Download flyer

[Go to top]

Goals:

1. Language: students communicate effectively and culturally-appropriately in oral and written form in a variety of social and professional circumstances.  

2. Culture: students acquire a comprehensive understanding of French history as well as modern culture and society in its various aspects, from daily life to general socio-economic and institutional structures.

3. Linguistics: students gain knowledge in the structure of the French language as well as current issues in French linguistics, and develop comparative analyses of the French and English languages.   

4. Literature: students gain knowledge of the major French literary movements while situating them in their socio-historical contexts. They develop a greater appreciation of French literature as well as the analytical tools to produce informed and critical readings of French literary texts.  

[Go to top]

Career Opportunities

With the recent strengthening of foreign language requirements in California for graduation from high school and entry into public universities, there will be an increasing demand for teachers of French in the public schools. The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures in cooperation with the Department of Secondary Education has a state-approved Single Subject Matter Preparation Program for students who wish to teach French at the secondary level. Openings for college-level French faculty are expected to increase in the future as well.

The growing internationalization of business in the U.S., and especially in Southern California, means that there will be a greater need in business and commerce for persons proficient in French. The College of Business and Economics, in cooperation with the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, offers a B.A. in International Business with a concentration in French. Similar opportunities for individuals proficient in French exist in travel and tourism, the media, publishing, the fields of translation and interpreting, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.

[Go to top]

French Faculty

Fanny Daubigny, Assistant Professor of French (Ph.D. French Literature, Miami University; Master Public Law and Arts Management, U. of Paris).
Hélène Domon, Professor of French, French Program Coordinator (Ph.D. French Literature, Rice University; DEA Comparative Literature and Philosophy, U. of Strasbourg).
Garance Blanchot-Aboubi, Adjunct Faculty (MA French Literature, CSUF).
Daniel Brondi, Adjunct Faculty (ABD French Literature, U. of Washington).
Mircea Bumbesti, Adjunct Faculty (ABD French Literature and Film, UCI; MA Film Studies, American U.).
Anna Cavness, Adjunct Faculty (PhD Comparative Literature, UCI).
Michèle Druon, Adjunct Faculty (Professor Emerita, PhD FrenchLiterature, UCLA).
Marie-Hélène Luebbers, Adjunct Faculty (Ph.D. French Literature, UCI).

[Go to top]

Advisement

Department faculty members provide academic and career advisement. Advisement takes place during the instructor's office hours or by appointment. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisers at least once a semester.

[Go to top]

Advisors

Dr. Hélène Domon, French Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Advisor, French Club Advisor.
                Contact:hdomon@fullerton.edu
Dr. Fanny Daubigny, International Business Advisor.
                Contact:fdaubigny@fullerton.edu

[Go to top]

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to begin work in the department's undergraduate program must first apply for admission within the appropriate filing period to CSU Fullerton and declare their objective as Bachelor of Arts in French. Application may be obtained from the Office of Amissions & Records at any California State University campus. An electronic version of the CSU application is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/.

[Go to top]

Placement

Students should enroll at that point in the sequence of courses for which their previous study and/or experience prepares them. Students with no language background should enroll in Fundamental 101-level courses. Normally, two years of high school language study are considered to be equivalent to one year of college language. Students just completing two years of high school language should begin at 200-level Intermediate courses. A minimum of four years of high school language, or its equivalent, is considered a prerequisite for 300-level courses.

Due to the sequential nature of language instruction, consultation with an adviser in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is essential before enrolling in a course.

[Go to top]

Declaring a Minor or Major in French

You may declare/add a Minor or Major in French at any time during your study of French, including in beginning classes.  Please fill out an "Undergraduate Change of Academic Objective" form available in UH-124 or at Admissions and Records (LH-114).  For more information, see http://www.fullerton.edu/aac/Current_Students/Undeclared_Students/declaremajors.asp

[Go to top]

French Courses

FREN 101    Fundamental French-A                                                          [Category: Language & Culture]
Introduces essentials of the French language: fundamental vocabulary and grammatical structures. Conversational and reading/writing skills are equally stressed, and relevant cultural aspects are considered.  Conducted in French.
Units: (5); GE Category C2.

FREN 102    Fundamental French-B                                                          [Category: Language & Culture]
Prerequisite: FREN 101 or equivalent. Continues introduction of fundamental vocabulary and grammatical structures. Maintains equal emphasis on speaking and reading/writing skills, along with considerations of French culture.  Conducted in French.
Units: (5); GE Category C2.

FREN 203    Intermediate French-A                                                          [Category: Language & Culture]
Prerequisite: FREN 102 or equivalent. Intensive practice in conversation and composition involving intermediate-level use of language and further exploration of French culture.  Conducted in French.
Units: (3); GE Category C2.

FREN 204    Intermediate French-B                                                          [Category: Language & Culture]
Prerequisite: FREN 203 or equivalent. Intensive review of grammatical structures; developing mastery of conversational and compositional skills at the intermediate level.  Conducted in French.
Units: (3); GE Category C2.

FREN 300    Advanced Oral Expression and Phonetics                   [Category: Linguistics]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Developing oral control of the language through discussions, oral presentations, dialogues/ debate and further study of phonetics. Conducted in French.
Units: (3).

FREN 307    Advanced Composition and Grammar A                         [Category: Language]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Helps achieve advanced levels of oral and written expression. Discussions, systematic study of complex modes of expression and thoughtful compositions.  Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 308    Advanced Composition and Grammar B                         [Category: Language]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Helps achieve advanced levels of oral and written expression. Discussions, systematic study of complex modes of expression and thoughtful compositions.  Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 310    French in the Professional World                                      [Category: Language]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Working knowledge of spoken and written professional language usage in the French-speaking world. Emphasizes cultural and sociological contexts of professional interaction. Use of appropriate current periodicals and electronic resources. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 311    French for International Business                                    [Category: Culture]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Designed to give students experience in reading comprehension and analysis of materials dealing with economic and political realities of international trade in the French-speaking world. Use of appropriate current periodicals and electronic resources. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 315    Origins of Modern France                                                     [Category: Culture]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Social, intellectual and artistic origins of French civilization.  Conducted in French.
Units: (3); GE Category C3.

FREN 325    Contemporary French Civilization                                     [Category: Culture]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Contemporary French culture organized along the lines of economics, geography, political life, social and artistic institutions. Conducted in French.
Units: (3); GE Category C3.

FREN 375    Explorations in Literature                                                    [Category: Literature]
Prerequisite: FREN 204 or equivalent. Promotes deeper understanding and appreciation of French literary texts. Each genre (narrative, dramatic, poetic) introduces great writers. In-depth study of selected works initiates students to critical modes of reading and tools for literary analysis. Conducted in French.
Units: (3); GE Category C3.

FREN 407    French Film                                                                                [Category: Culture]
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor). Developing art of the French film, with special emphasis on the many roles of language. Subjects include: montage, visual/verbal meaning, literary/cinematic narrative, non-realistic language, read language, non-narrative continuity. Conducted in English.
Units: (3)

FREN 408    Advanced Writing                                                                   [Category: Language]                    
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor).  Mastery of forms and structure of the French language. Analysis and guided composition of various styles of discourse. Detailed study of mood, sequence of tenses, voice, aspects and nuances of meaning. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 409    Techniques of French-English Translation                    [Category: Linguistics]
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor).  Overview of theories of translation; examination of several types and examples of translation (technical to literary). Major emphasis on actual translation from English to French and French to English.
Units: (3)

FREN 435T    Topics in French/Francophone Culture                        [Category: Culture]         
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor). Different “texts” (cinema, the media, internet, literature, art) centered around cultural topics (e.g., “City and Country,” “The Outsider”). Tools to understand French-speaking culture(s), from recent social issues to classic art and literature. Course may be taken up to three times with a different topic. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 466    Introduction to French Linguistics                                    [Category: Linguistics]
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor). Analytical procedures of general linguistics applied to French. Structural contrasts between French and English. Application of linguistic analysis to the teaching of modern foreign languages. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 470    French Literature and Power                                              [Category: Literature]
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor). Socio-political dimensions of French literature throughout its history. Expressions of alliance with, or resistance to, the established political order will be studied from the medieval epic through 20th century literary texts. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 471    French Literature and the Human Psyche                     [Category: Literature]
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor). Psychological explorations in French literature through texts that provide insights into the human psyche and shape our notion of the self at different moments of French cultural history. A variety of works will be studied, from the Renaissance through the 20th century. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 472    Philosophical Exploration in French Literature           [Category: Literature]
Prerequisite: 6 units from 300, 307, 308, 315, 325 or 375 (or consent of instructor).  Philosophical dimensions of French literature throughout its history. Interrogations about the human condition, and the role and place of human consciousness in the universe will be guiding theme in texts ranging from the Renaissance through the 20th century. Conducted in French.
Units: (3)

FREN 485    Senior Seminar in French Studies                                     [Category: All]
Prerequisite: 3 units from 407, 408, 409, 435T, 466, 470, 471 or 472 (or consent of instructor).  Students will develop an individualized research project to integrate and expand their knowledge and skills. They will analyze and synthesize, debate, and evaluate their own and other students’ projects on social, literary, linguistic, cultural, and/or philosophical issues related to the French-speaking world. May be repeated for credit with different topic.
Units: (3)

FREN 499    Independent Study                                                                 [Category: All]
Supervised projects in French language, linguistics, culture or literature. Consent of the instructor and department chair required. May be repeated for credit.
Units: (1-3)

[Go to top]

Planned French Course Rotation

This rotation is subject to change due to budget allocations.  All courses have the prefix "FREN."

[Go to top]

Bachelor of Arts in French

1) Study Plan for students admitted to CSUF or a community college prior to fall 2013 (with uninterrupted enrollment):

The BA in French consists of 30 units of upper-division French coursework, plus 3 units of English Composition (MLNG 301). Prior to undertaking upper-division work toward a French Major, a student must have achieved intermediate competency in French (FREN 204 or equivalent).

I. Upper-Division Writing Requirement (3 units)
MLNG 301 Writing in an Intercultural Context (3) (Required)

II. Language (3 units required, up to 9 units)
FREN 307 Advanced Composition and Grammar (3)
OR FREN 308 Advanced Composition and Grammar (3) (307 or 308 Required)
FREN 310 French in the Professional World (3)
FREN 408 Advanced Writing: Syntax and Morphology (3)

III. Linguistics (3 units required, up to 9 units)
FREN 300 Advanced Oral Expression and Phonetics (3)
FREN 409 Techniques of French-English Translation (3)
FREN 466 Introduction to French Linguistics (3)

IV. Civilization and Culture (6 units required, up to 12 units)
FREN 315 Origins of Modern France (3) (Required)
FREN 325 Contemporary French Civilization (3) (Required)
FREN 311 French for International Business (3)
FREN 407 French Film (3)
FREN 435T Topics in French/Francophone Culture (3)

V. Literature (6 units required, up to 12 units)
FREN 375 Explorations in Literature (3) (Required)
One of the following Interdisciplinary Approaches to Literature is required:
French 470 French Literature and Power (3)
French 471 Literature and the Human Psyche (3)
French 472 Philosophical Exploration in Literature (3)
French 475 Senior Seminar in 20th-Century French Literature (3)

VI. Capstone Seminar (3 units required)
French 485 Senior Seminar in French Studies (3) (Required)

VII. Electives (9 units required)
In consultation with your adviser, choose nine (9) additional units of electives of which a minimum of six must be at the 400-level, from at least two of the categories II. - V. listed above.

2) Study Plan for students admitted to CSUF or a community college starting fall 2013:
(All students may opt for this new study plan.  Please consult with the French adviser.)

The BA in French consists of 33 units of upper-division French coursework, plus 3 units of English Composition (MLNG 301). Prior to undertaking upper-division work toward a French Major, a student must have achieved intermediate competency in French (FREN 204 or equivalent).

Upper-Division Requirements (36 units):

I. French Language (6 units required)
FREN 307 Advanced Composition and Grammar A (3)
FREN 308 Advanced Composition and Grammar B (3)
FREN 310 French in the Professional World (3)
FREN 408 Advanced Creative Writing (3)

II. French Linguistics (6 units required)
FREN 300 Advanced Oral Expression and Phonetics (3)
FREN 409 Techniques of French-English Translation (3)
FREN 466 Introduction to French Linguistics (3)

III. French/Francophone Culture (6 units required)
FREN 315 Origins of Modern France (3) (Required)
FREN 325 Contemporary French Civilization (3) (Required)
FREN 311 French for International Business (3)
FREN 407 French Film (3)
FREN 435T Topics in French/Francophone Culture (3)

IV. French/Francophone Literature (6 units required)
FREN 375 Explorations in Literature (3) (Required)
FREN 470 French Literature & Power (3)
FREN 471 French Literature and the Human Psyche (3)
FREN 472 Philosophical Exploration in French Literature (3)

V. Capstone Seminar (3 units required)
FREN 485 Senior Seminar in French Studies (3) (Required)

VI. French Electives (6 units required)
In consultation with your adviser, choose six (6) additional units of electives at the 400-level from Categories I-V above.

VII. English Composition (3 units required)
MLNG 301* Writing in Intercultural Context
(*other upper-division English composition courses are considered equivalent.)

[Go to top]

Additional Electives Recommended for French Majors

To obtain a BA in French at CSUF, students must have accrued a total of 120 units that comprise 36 units for the Major (including 3 Units of English Composition), 51 units of General Education and 33 units of Free Electives.  In completing these Free Electives, French Majors are encouraged to select upper-division courses from the following list:

I. Minor in Another Language (12 units)
The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers Minors in Chinese, German, Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese.  Each Minor requires 12 units of upper-division coursework.

II. Free Electives  (6-12 units recommended)
The French program fosters interdisciplinary learning.  Students are encouraged to take 6-12 units from the following selection of upper-division courses taught in other departments.  These courses, related to the study of language, linguistics, humanities, European  culture, Francophone/African culture and other global issues will provide interdisciplinary perspectives and strengthen the student’s coursework in French.

AFRO 356  The African Experience
AFRO 430 African History Since 1935
AFRO 457 West Africa and the African Diaspora
ANTH 300 Language and Culture
ANTH 320 Cultures of Europe
ANTH 328 Peoples of Africa
ANTH 332 Women in Cross-Cultural Perspectives
ANTH 414 Economic Anthropology
ANTH/LING 416 Anthropological Linguistics
ART 302 Medieval Art
ART 311 Foundations of Modern Art
ART 320 History of Architecture Before the Modern Era
ART 413 History of Contemporary Art
CAS 315 Child Development
CPLT 315 Classical Mythology in World Literature
CPLT 325 World Literature from 1650
CPLT/AFRO/ENGL 381 African Literature
CPLT/ENGL 355T Images of Women in World Literature
CPLT/ENGL 451 Literature of the Renaissance
CPRL 335 Judaism, Christianity and Islam Compared
CRJU 345 Corrections
ECON 335 International Economy
EDSC/FLED 307 Personal Proficiency in Educational Technology for Second Language Teachers
EDSC/FLED 442 Teaching Foreign Languages in the Secondary School
ENGL 492 Modern Critical Theory
FIN 370 International Business Finance
GEOG 336 Europe
GEOG 360 Geography of the World's Economies
GEOG 475 Interpretation of Urban Landscapes
HCOM/LING 307  Speech and Language Development
HIST 311 World War II
HIST 320 Modern European History 1789-Present
HIST 355 History of African Civilization
HIST 409 Cities in European Civilization, 1000-1915
HIST 424T Gender and Sexuality in History
HIST 425A The Renaissance
HIST 427 Enlightenment and Revolution
HIST 428 The Rise and Decline of Liberal Europe in the 19th Century
HIST 429A Europe 1890-1945
HIST 429B Europe since 1945
HIST 457 West Africa and the African Diaspora
HIST 461 Modern Vietnam
LBST 303 Liberal Studies in the Humanities and Arts
LING 351 Introduction to Linguistics Phonetics and Phonology
LING 369 Language, Sex Roles, and the Brain
LING 406 Descriptive Linguistics
LING 408 Syntax
LING 412 Sociolinguistics
LING 430 Historical Linguistics
LING 442 Changing Words: History, Semantics and Translation
MKTG 445 International Marketing
MUS 303 World Music
MUS 351B History and Literature of Western Music
PHIL 300 History of Philosophy: Rationalism and Empiricism
PHIL 323 Existentialism
PHIL 325 Philosophy of Sex and Love
PHIL 345 Social and Political Philosophy
PHIL 375 Introduction to the Philosophy of Language
PHIL 377 Philosophical Approaches to Race, Class and Gender
PHIL 382 Marx and Marxism
PHIL 383 Postmodernism
PHIL 440 Philosophy of Mind
PHIL/WMST 343 Philosophy of Feminism
POSC 331 Third World Politics Through Literature
POSC 350 World Politics in the 21st Century
POSC 438 Western European Democracies
POSC 448 Media and Politics
PSYC 417 Psycholinguistics
RTVF 300 Language of Film
RTVF 349 Philosophy, Literature and Cinema
RTVF 370 World Cinema
SOCI 354 Sex, Role and Gender
SOCI 371 Sociology of City Life
SOCI 463 Political Sociology
TESL 468 Language Transfer and TESOL
THTR 475 World Theater
WMST 360 Politics of Sexuality
WMST 480 Feminist Theories

[Go to top]

Minor in French

MINOR IN FRENCH (12 UNITS)

The Minor in French consists of 12 units of upper-division French course work.  Prior to undertaking upper-division work toward a Minor in French, the student must have achieved intermediate competency in French (FREN 204 or equivalent).

Upper-Division Requirements (12 units):

I. French Language and Linguistics (3 units required)
French 300 Advanced Oral Expression and Phonetics (3)
French 307 Advanced Composition and Grammar A (3)
French 308 Advanced Composition and Grammar B (3)

II. French Culture (3 units required)
French 315 Origins of Modern France (3)
French 325 Contemporary French Civilization (3)

III. Electives (6 units required)
In consultation with an adviser, six (6) units from the following, if not taken above:
300, 307, 308, 310, 311, 315, 325, 375, 407, 408, 409, 435T, 466, 470, 471, 472, 485.

[Go to top]

Concentration in French for the Bachelor of Art in International Business

The Concentration in French for the Bachelor of Art in International Business consists of 15 units of upper-division French course work.  Prior to undertaking upper-division work toward a French concentration, a student must have achieved intermediate competency in French (FREN 204 or equivalent).

Upper-Division Requirements (15 units):
French 310 French in the Professional World (3)
French 311 French for International Business (3)
French 315 Origins of Modern France (3)
French 325 Contemporary French Civilization (3)
MLNG 495 (3) Internship in Foreign Languages

Note: International Business students wishing to complete a Minor or Double-Major in French will be able to double-count FREN 315 and FREN 325.

[Go to top]

Credential in French

The CSUF Bachelor of Arts in French meets the requirements of the Single Subject Matter Preparation for the Teaching Credential, re-accredited in 2011 by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.  Students who completed a B.A. in French at CSUF will be exempt from taking the CSET test.  Please contact the School of Education. 

[Go to top]

French Language and Culture Certificate

Students who have completed FREN 204 with a grade of C or better may obtain a French Language and Culture Certificate attesting that they have attained intermediate competency in French language (equivalent to "B2" in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) as well as intermediate competency in Francophone culture. This Certificate is stamped and delivered by the department of Modern Languages and Literatures.  Please inquire with your FREN 204 instructor or the French Undergraduate Advisor.

[Go to top]

French Club

The French Club organizes many fun activities and a weekly French Table on campus.  Please contact the French Club Advisor.

[Go to top]

International Programs

Several approved study programs are available in Paris, Aix-en-Provence or Québec through the CSU International Programs and the MICEFA exchange program.  Please contact the Office of International Education & Exchange (UH 244).

[Go to top]