MAJOR AND MINOR IN FRENCH

Advising | Major in French | Minor in French | French Course Descriptions 

ADVISING

Below please find a detailed description of the requirements for the French Major and  Minor. All incoming and continuing majors and minors must schedule an advising session with the French  Academic Advisor, Luz Acosta. Ms. Acosta will open and maintain your student file, check your DARS report and make sure you are complying with LAS and department requirements, advise you regarding available courses, and revise study abroad equivalencies.

LUZ ACOSTA, FRENCH ACADEMIC ADVISOR

TEL: 996-0491

OFFICE: 1714 UNIVERSITY HALL

EMAIL ADDRESS: lacost4@uic.edu

For further information regarding the French major or minor, the specific content of courses, and advise regarding study abroad programs please contact the Director of French Undergraduate Studies, Prof. Ellen McClure.

PROF. ELLEN MCCLURE

EMAIL ADDRESS: ellenmc@uic.edu

MAJOR IN FRENCH

Degree Requirements—Major in French

To earn a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences degree from UIC, students must complete University, college, and department degree requirements. The Department of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese degree requirements are outlined below. Students should consult the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section for additional degree requirements and college academic policies.

Major Requirements

a This course is approved for the Exploring World Cultures General Education category.
b This course is approved for the Understanding the Creative Arts General Education category.
c This course is approved for the Understanding the Past General Education category.
d Fluent French speakers substitute other 200- or 300-level courses for FR 231 and 232.
e FR 390 fulfills the Writing-in-the-Discipline requirement.

Recommended Plan of Study

To view a recommended plan of study for the major in French, please visit the LAS Web site http://www.uic.edu/las/college/info/fygp.

MINOR IN FRENCH

Students from other disciplines who want to minor in French must complete 18 semester hours as outlined below:

^a Fluent French speakers substitute other 200- or 300-level courses for FR 231 and 232.

FRENCH COURSE DESCRIPTIONS—200, 300, AND 400 LEVEL

191 African and Caribbean Francophone Literature in Translation
3 hours. An introduction to the Francophone literature of Africa and the Caribbean and to its historical and cultural contexts. Same as AAST 191. Creative Arts, and World Cultures course. 

196 Totalitarianism, Writing and Cinema
3 hours. An introduction to French, Spanish, and Italian writing and films dealing with the issue of totalitarianism. Various authors are examined within a broad context of European thinking on totalitarianism. Same as ITAL 196, and SPAN 196. Taught in English. Two additional hours for viewing films (every two weeks). Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor. 

198 French Literature in Translation
3 hours. Students will study one aspect of French literature (a period or genre) in translation, focusing on critical thinking and literary analysis. Does not count toward the French major or minor. Taught in English. Creative Arts, and World Cultures course. 

200 Introduction to the Study of French Literature and Culture
3 hours. Techniques and methods of literary and cultural analysis in French, with emphasis on close reading and writing of critical papers. Prerequisite(s): Proficiency in French or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Sufficient command of French to read texts and follow lectures. Creative Arts, and World Cultures course. 

201 Introduction to French Literature I
3 hours. Introductory survey to French literature of the 19th and 20th Centuries. Major works are read either in complete form or excerpts; placed in their historical/cultural contexts. Emphasis is on close readings of texts, and writing critical papers. Prerequisite(s): FR 200 or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Sufficient command of French to read texts and to follow the class lectures. Creative Arts, and World Cultures course. 

202 Introduction to French Literature II
3 hours. Introductory survey to French literature from the Middle Ages to the 18th Century. Major works are read in complete form or excerpts; placed in historical/cultural contexts. Emphasis on close readings of texts, and writing critical papers. Prerequisite(s): FR 200 or consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Sufficient command of French to read texts and to follow the class lectures. Creative Arts, and Past course. 

231 Conversation and Composition I
3 hours. Development of skills in spoken and written French; conversational practice based on practical situations; advanced grammar review; free composition. Prerequisite(s): FR 104 or 4 years of high school French. Not open to native speakers except with approval of the department. 

232 Conversation and Composition II
3 hours. Continuation of FR 231. Prerequisite(s): FR 231. Not open to native speakers except with approval of the department. 

296 Independent Study
1 TO 3 hours. For majors and minors in French who wish to supplement regular courses or undertake individual study projects. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite(s): Approval of the department. 

301 Topics in French and Francophone Literature
3 hours. Intensive study of a period, genre, or author within French or Francophone literature, with emphasis on literary analysis and critical writing. Prerequisite(s): FR 201 and FR 202 or consent of the instructor. 

302 Topics in French and Francophone Culture
3 hours. Intensive study of French or Francophone culture within a particular period; focus on literary and/or historical texts in the context of social and intellectual movements. Prerequisite(s): FR 201 and FR 202 or consent of the instructor. 

307 Performing French Theater
3 hours. Analysis, dramatic reading, and performance of scenes, acts, or an entire play in French. Focus on pronunciation, diction, fluency and performance. Taught in French. Prerequisite(s): FR 201 and FR 202; and consent of the instructor. 

333 Oral and Written French I
3 hours. Advanced oral and written work in grammar, vocabulary, oral and aural comprehension; discussions, corrective exercises in composition and pronunciation. Prerequisite(s): FR 232 or consent of the instructor. 

334 Oral and Written French II
3 hours. Continuation of FR 333. Prerequisite(s): FR 333 or consent of the instructor. 

370 Writing and Research in the Major
1 hours. Perfecting writing and expository skills in English. Required for majors in the department. Same as ITAL 370, and SPAN 370. Prerequisite(s): Junior or senior standing and approval of the department. 

375 French Abroad
0 TO 17 hours. Lectures, seminars, and practical work in French language, literature, and civilization in France. May be repeated to a maximum of 34 hours. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing, approval of the department, FR 201 and any two from FR 202, FR 231, FR 232. 

390 Senior Seminar: Topics in Research and Writing
3 hours. Research and critical writing in French studies. Completion of independent research project on seminar topic. Satisfies Writing-in-the-Discipline Requirement. Prerequisite(s): 24 hours completed in French at the 200-level or above or consent of the instructor. 

401 Reading French for Graduate Students
4 hours. Grammar, vocabulary, general and specialized reading practice; for graduate students wishing to fulfill French reading requirements for the Ph.D. Credit may not be applied toward a graduate degree. Taught in English. Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing and consent of the instructor. Recommended background: Some prior experience with elementary French. 

413 French Feminist and Gender Theory
3 OR 4 hours. An introduction to French theories of gender, including feminisms influenced by Lacanian psychoanalysis, political philosophy, and multicultural stuides. Same as GWS 413. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be used for credit in the French major only with consent of the director of undergraduate studies. Taught in English. Students who intend to use French 413 toward the major in French must complete assignments in French. Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or FR 302; or consent of the instructor. 

415 French Literature of the Middle Ages
3 OR 4 hours. Introduction to major medieval genres (epic, romance, lyric, theater, allegory), works and authors, such as le Chanson de Roland, Tristan, Chretien de Troyes, Marie de France, Villon. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or consent of the instructor. 

416 Topics in Sixteenth-Century French Literature
3 OR 4 hours. Intensive analysis of Renaissance literature (Rabelais, Montaigne, Marguerite de Navarra, poetry of the Pleiade, etc.) in the cultural context of Humanism and the Reformation. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or consent of the instructor. 

417 Topics in Seventeenth-Century French Literature
3 OR 4 hours. Intensive study of Baroque and Classicism, with focus on major genres: theater (Corneille, Moliere, Racine); poetry (La Fontaine); prose (Pascal, de Sevigne); novel (de Lafayette). 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or consent of the instructor. 

418 Topics in Eighteenth-Century French Literature
3 OR 4 hours. Introduction to the literature and philosophy of the Enlightenment through representative authors (Rousseau, Diderot, etc.) and major genres (novel, essay, conte, theatre, etc.). 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or consent of the instructor. 

419 Topics in Nineteenth-Century French Literature
3 OR 4 hours. Major genres and works from Romanticism to realism, naturalism, and symbolism will be studied within the context of the social, cultural and political movements of the century. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or consent of the instructor. 

420 Topics in Twentieth-Century French Literature
3 OR 4 hours. Study of major literary movements (surrealism, existentialism, nouveau roman, theater of the absurd) and intensive analysis of works by major authors from Proust to Beckett. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or consent of the instructor. 

422 Francophone Novel
3 OR 4 hours. Intensive analysis of a topic in Francophone literature. Scope includes Quebec, Africa, the Antilles, and French novelists outside of France. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or consent of the instructor. 

433 Advanced Oral and Written French
3 OR 4 hours. Exercises in French pronunciation; oral interpretation of different texts (familiar style and formal discourse); discussion of newspapers, magazine articles; practice in critical writing. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): FR 334 or consent of the instructor. 

440 Topics in French and Francophone Cinema
3 OR 4 hours. This course will examine a selection of French and Francophone films chosen around a period or theme or genre. Topics will vary. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hour. May be used for credit in the French major only with consent of the director of undergraduate studies. Taught in English. Students who intend to use French 440 toward the major in French must complete assignment in French. Prerequisite(s): FR 301 or FR 302; or consent of the instructor. 

448 Foundations of Second Language Teaching
3 OR 4 hours. Provides an introduction to second language acquisition research and its implications for communicative language teaching. Emphasis is on creating activities to develop high school students' communicative abilities in speaking and listening. Same as GER 448, and SPAN 448. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Taught in English. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; and consent of the instructor and three courses at the 200 and 300 levels. 

449 Teaching Second Language Literacy and Cultural Awareness
3 OR 4 hours. Examines the nature of literacy as a reciprocal relationship between readers, writers, texts and culture. Students learn the practical and theoretical foundations of classroom teaching of second language reading and writing skills. Same as GER 449, and SPAN 449. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Taught in English. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; and consent of the instructor. 

461 French Civilization I: Medieval and Renaissance
3 OR 4 hours. Interdisciplinary approach to French civilization of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance including history, literature, the beaux-arts, and philosophy. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Lectures and discussion in French. Prerequisite(s): FR 302 or consent of the instructor. 

462 French Civilization II: Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries
3 OR 4 hours. Interdisciplinary approach to French civilization of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries including history, literature, the beaux-arts, and philosophy. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Lectures and discussion in French. Prerequisite(s): FR 302 or consent of the instructor. 

463 French Civilization III: Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
3 OR 4 hours. An interdisciplinary approach to French civilization of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including history, literature, beaux-arts, and philosophy. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Lectures and discussion in French. Prerequisite(s): FR 302 or consent of the instructor. 

464 Topics in French Civilization
3 OR 4 hours. An interdisciplinary approach to French civilization, including history, literature, beaux-arts, and philosophy. Each topic focuses on a specific period between the Middle Ages and the present. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 time(s). Prerequisite(s): FR 302 or consent of the instructor. 

470 Educational Practice with Seminar I
6 hours. The first half of a two-segment sequence of practice teaching, including seminar, to meet certification requirements for teaching in grades six through twelve. Graduate credit only with approval of the department. Prerequisite(s): Good academic standing in a teacher education program, completion of 100 clock hours of pre-student-teaching field experiences, and approval of the department. 

471 Educational Practice with Seminar II
6 hours. The second half of a two-segment sequence of practice teaching, including seminar, to meet certification requirements for teaching in grades six through twelve. Graduate credit only with approval of the department. Prerequisite(s): Good academic standing in a teacher education program, completion of 100 clock hours of pre-student-teaching field experiences, credit or concurrent registration in FR 470, and approval of the department. 

494 Special Topics
3 OR 4 hours. Topics will vary from term to term and may cover such areas as literary theory or culture. Same as SPAN 494 and ITAL 494. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Taught in English. Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or above; and approval of the department. 

496 Independent Study
1 TO 4 hours. Supervised study in an area not covered by regularly scheduled courses under the direction of a faculty member designated by the chairperson of the department. Prerequisite(s): French major with senior or graduate standing and consent of the department.