French and Francophone Studies
Program Details
With an estimated 321 million speakers across five continents, French is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. As a student in the French and Francophone Studies major, you’ll become fluent in the French language while taking courses in French culture, politics, history, international business, geography, literature, the arts and more.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. 99 percent of our students, including those in the French major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022).
Scholarships
Degree Awarded
Bachelor of Arts in French and Francophone Studies
Curriculum
The sample course sequence below illustrates class offerings for the French and Francophone Studies major. Consult the official Xavier University course catalog for detailed registration and advising information.
Fall
- French 201............ 3cr.
- Philosophy 100: Ethics as Intro to Philosophy............ 3cr.
- Creative Perspective............ 3cr.
- English 101: English Composition............ 3cr.
- First Year Seminar............ 3cr.
- CORE 101: GOA Co-Curriculum Program I............ 0cr.
Spring
- French 202............ 3cr.
- Theology 111: Theological Foundations............ 3cr.
- Mathematical Perspective............ 3cr.
- Historical Perspective............ 3cr.
- Scientific Perspective............ 3cr.
- CORE 102: GOA Co-Curriculum Program II............ 0cr.
Fall
- French 300............ 3cr.
- Philosophical Perspective............ 3cr.
- Humanities Elective............ 3cr.
- Natural Science Elective............ 3cr.
- Writing Intensive Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- Theological Perspective............ 3cr.
- English 205: Literature and Moral Imagration............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Oral Communications Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- Quantitative Reasoning Elective............ 3cr.
- Social Science Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- E/RS Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- Diversity Elective............ 3cr.
Fall
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Spring
- French Elective............ 3cr.
- Senior Project............ 1cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
- General Elective............ 3cr.
Sample Courses
Sample courses within the French major curriculum:
- Introduction to French Business (FREN 203) - An intermediate course introducing students to the contemporary Francophone business world.
- French Conversation (FREN 302) - This course is designed for the development of speaking and listening skills through active participation by students. Discussions and activities are based on contemporary issues.
- Methods, Curriculum Assessment for Languages (FREN 330) - This course provides an introduction to curriculum content, teaching methodologies and assessment techniques as they pertain to candidates preparing for initial licensure in the teaching of second languages. Field experiences will also be incorporated into the course curriculum.
- French Culture and Civilization (FREN 350) - An upper-division course offering a survey of the history and cultures of France and the Francophone World.
- French Theatre (FREN 439) - This course builds on the four skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening as developed in French language courses through the 300 level. At the same time, students will study representative works of the French theatre from its origins through the twentieth century.
Career Outcomes
99% of Xavier students, including those in the French and Francophone studies major, are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022). Explore Xavier's Career Outcomes Dashboard to view career outcomes by major.
Students in the French and Francophone program who wish to be licensed as teachers of the French language can work with Xavier's School of Education regarding specific requirements for language teacher licensure.
More: Xavier's Career Development Office assists students in their search for employment by offering individual career counseling sessions, conducting workshop series on interviewing and resume writing techniques and maintaining an educational, vocational and employer information resource center. More than 100 nationally known companies visit the campus annually to interview graduating seniors for positions in business and industry.
Student Clubs
- Citizens of the World- Diversity is the cornerstone of the Citizens of the World Club. Members meet and organize events that showcase the many different cultures represented at Xavier. It's also a great way for international students and American students to get to know each other and experience new cultures, languages and customs.
- XU French Club- XU French Club is for anyone who loves French and Francophone culture, as well as anyone who is looking for opportunities to practice the language. French Club has monthly meetings as well as a monthly open event called "Franglais and Fun," where members of the Xavier community can eat food, play games, and practice speaking French at any level.
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Request InformationGain International Perspectives While Studying Abroad
What better way to study a language than to travel to the places where it’s the native tongue? As a student in the French major, you'll gain an international perspective on the French language through multiple study abroad opportunities in Paris, Grenoble, Lyon, Pau, Bordeaux, Dakar (Senegal), Lille and Angers.
Get Certified to Teach High School French
At Xavier, you can major in French while working toward specific requirements for secondary (high school) teacher certification. Our department collaborates closely with the School of Education to provide a program tailored to prepare you for a teaching career.
Experience a Transformative Education
Jesuit universities emphasize personal growth, ethics and global perspectives. With a focus on social justice, you'll participate in service-learning and build a supportive community, enhancing your understanding of French language and culture in an ethical environment.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
French and Francophone Studies Major at Xavier University
The French and Francophone Studies program at Xavier offers a variety of courses in French and Francophone literatures, cultures, history, cinema, French for business, current events in the French and Francophone world, and more. To major in French and Francophone studies, 28 upper division semester hours of French above FREN201 must be completed. A significant portion of these semester hours can be completed while abroad (14 credits). The sequence of courses may be adjusted when a student studies abroad. Additionally, majors complete a senior thesis under the guidance of a faculty advisor. A senior research project for one credit hour is required in order to complete the major. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in French and Francophone studies. Students are encouraged to pursue a second major or a minor.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."