French Major
The major in French provides rigorous interdisciplinary training in the French language and the literary, cultural, and intellectual traditions of France and the French-speaking world.
Extensive coursework at all levels of language study prepares students to engage critically with a rich array of texts, images, and ideas from francophone cultures. Ranging in scope from the medieval period to the present, course content extends across regions and incorporates many genres, media, and historical documents, placing them in their social and political contexts. Majors acquire the tools for literary and cultural analysis, learn about the distinctive contributions of French critical thought, and complete an independent research paper. Students are thus prepared to be linguistically adept, global citizens who are attuned to the complexities of language and culture.
Students must also complete the Undergraduate Registration Requirement and the degree requirements of their home school.
NOTE: This Catalog describes Weinberg College BA requirements that pertain to students who matriculated at Northwestern after spring quarter 2023. Refer to the Archives if you are following BA requirements described in the 2018-2019 through 2022-2023 editions.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite | |
| FRENCH 201-0 | Culture and Society (or equivalent proficiency) |
| Major Requirements (14 units) | |
| At most 5 200-level courses taught in French, including: | |
| FRENCH 202-0 | Writing Workshop: Cultural Encounters in Contemporary France |
| FRENCH 210-0 | Reading Literatures in French |
| or FRENCH 211-0 | Reading Cultures in French |
At least 1 but at most 2 of: | |
| Introducing the Novel | |
| Introducing Theatre | |
| Introducing Poetry | |
| At least 9 courses must be at the 300 level, including: | |
At least 1 advanced language course chosen from: | |
| French Phonetics | |
| Advanced Language in Context: Society and Popular Culture | |
| Advanced Writing: Finding Your Voice in French | |
| Advanced Conversation: Debating Contemporary France | |
| French For Professions | |
| Theory and Practice of Translation | |
| Foreign Language Teaching: Theory and Practice | |
At least 4 literature and culture courses selected from FRENCH 310 through FRENCH 390. At least 2 must cover the period prior to 1800. | |
1 senior seminar: | |
| Advanced Studies in Culture and Thought | |
| At most 2 300-level courses taught in English may be counted toward the major. Of these, 1 may be a course with at least 50 percent French content offered outside the department; the course will count as an elective. | |
Courses with the requisite French content include: 1 | |
| 19th-Century Art 1: 1789–1848 and 19th-Century Art 2: 1848–1914 | |
| Paris: World City, 1700 to the Present | |
| The French Revolution and Napoleon and History of Modern France: 19th c. to present | |
| Studies in French Philosophy | |
| No more than 1 399 may count toward the major unless the student is completing an honors thesis. | |
| At least 2 300-level courses must be completed at Northwestern. | |
- 1
Other courses may be approved at the discretion of the director of undergraduate studies.
Exceptions and Waivers
- Majors who begin French studies in FRENCH 111-1 Elementary French, FRENCH 115-1 Intensive Elementary French, or FRENCH 121-1 Intermediate French may count FRENCH 201-0 Culture and Society as 1 elective course at the 200 level.
- Majors with an AP score of 5 or with departmental advanced placement, depending upon results of the French Language Placement Test, may either waive FRENCH 202-0 Writing Workshop: Cultural Encounters in Contemporary France or waive 1 elective course at the 200-level. In this case total course requirements for the major will be 13 courses, with a maximum of 4 200-level courses and at least 9 300-level courses.
Honors in French
Majors with strong academic records and an interest in pursuing honors should contact the director of undergraduate studies no later than spring quarter of junior year. The honors thesis is produced through 2 quarters of FRENCH 399-0 Independent Study; these FRENCH 399-0 enrollments will count toward the 14 required units for the major. The thesis may build on previous work done in a 300-level course.
Students whose theses and grades meet department criteria are recommended to the college for graduation with honors. For more information see the department website or consult with the director of undergraduate studies and see Honors in the Major.
Courses
Introductory and Intermediate Language Courses
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| FRENCH 111-1 & FRENCH 111-2 & FRENCH 111-3 | Elementary French and Elementary French and Elementary French |
| FRENCH 115-1 & FRENCH 115-2 | Intensive Elementary French and Intensive Elementary French |
| FRENCH 121-1 & FRENCH 121-2 & FRENCH 121-3 | Intermediate French and Intermediate French and Intermediate French |
| FRENCH 125-1 & FRENCH 125-2 & FRENCH 125-3 | Intensive Intermediate French and Intensive Intermediate French and Intensive Intermediate French |
| FRENCH 198-0 | Independent Study |
| FRENCH 199-SA & FRENCH 299-SA | Language and Culture and Language and Culture |
| FRENCH 201-0 | Culture and Society |
| FRENCH 202-0 | Writing Workshop: Cultural Encounters in Contemporary France |
| FRENCH 203-0 | Oral Workshop: Individual and Society in France Today |
Introductory Literature and Culture Courses
Introduction to texts in various genres such as essay, poetry, drama, novel, and autobiography, from at least two periods from the Middle Ages to the present. Prerequisite: FRENCH 202-0 Writing Workshop: Cultural Encounters in Contemporary France, AP score of 5, or consent of instructor.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| FRENCH 210-0 | Reading Literatures in French |
| FRENCH 211-0 | Reading Cultures in French |
| FRENCH 271-0 | Introducing the Novel |
| FRENCH 272-0 | Introducing Theatre |
| FRENCH 273-0 | Introducing Poetry |
Courses with Readings and Discussion in English
No prerequisite in French; readings, discussions, papers, and examinations in English.
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| FRENCH 277-0 | French Existentialism |
| FRENCH 279-0 | Theater in Translation |
| FRENCH 371-0 | Giants, Cannibals, and Critique |
| FRENCH 374-0 | Proust |
| FRENCH 375-0 | French Film |
| FRENCH 376-0 | Gender & Sexuality |
| FRENCH 378-0 | Contemporary Theory |
| FRENCH 379-0 | Topics in French Literature and Culture |
Courses with Prerequisites in French
| Course | Title |
|---|---|
| FRENCH 300-0 | French Phonetics |
| FRENCH 301-0 | Advanced Language in Context: Society and Popular Culture |
| FRENCH 302-0 | Advanced Writing: Finding Your Voice in French |
| FRENCH 303-0 | Advanced Conversation: Debating Contemporary France |
| FRENCH 309-0 | French For Professions |
| FRENCH 310-0 | The Middle Ages & Renaissance |
| FRENCH 322-0 | Medieval French Narratives |
| FRENCH 333-0 | Topics in Renaissance Literature |
| FRENCH 335-0 | 17th Century Literature |
| FRENCH 340-0 | Sexual Politics and the Ancien Regime |
| FRENCH 344-0 | Rousseau and the French Revolution |
| FRENCH 346-0 | Studies in the Enlightenment |
| FRENCH 355-0 | Topics in Modern and Contemporary French Literature and Culture |
| FRENCH 360-0 | From Modernism to Postmodernism |
| FRENCH 362-0 | African Literatures and Cultures |
| FRENCH 364-0 | Caribbean Literatures and Cultures |
| FRENCH 365-0 | The Maghreb and the Middle East |
| FRENCH 366-0 | France and East Asia |
| FRENCH 380-0 | Political & Social Thought in France |
| FRENCH 384-0 | Women Writing in French |
| FRENCH 386-0 | Gender & Writing |
| FRENCH 390-0 | Topics in Literature and Culture |
| FRENCH 391-0 | Theory and Practice of Translation |
| FRENCH 393-0 | Foreign Language Teaching: Theory and Practice |
| FRENCH 395-0 | Advanced Studies in Culture and Thought |
| FRENCH 399-0 | Independent Study |