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. You’ll also have the opportunity to earn credits while studying abroad in France and the Francophone world: yearlong and semester-long programs offered to students in the French major include Paris, Grenoble, Lyon, Pau, Bordeaux, Dakar (Senegal), and summer programs include Lille and Angers.
The French and Francophone studies curriculum easily accommodates the addition of a second major or minor. Students in the French and Francophone Studies major have the option to work with Xavier's School of Education to plan an individualized curriculum that meets the requirements for language teacher licensure.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report, The Princeton Review and Forbes. 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
Xavier is known for providing an education that's both challenging and personal. Here are some courses that are part of the French major at Xavier:
Introduction to French Business (FREN 203) - An intermediate course introducing students to the contemporary Francophone business world.
French Culture and Civilization (FREN 350) - An upper-division course offering a survey of the history and cultures of France and the Francophone World.
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).
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
The following clubs are popular choices for students in the French and Francophone studies major.
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.
Take the Next Step
Study Abroad Opportunities for French Majors
What better way to study a language than to travel to the places where it’s the native tongue? Students in the French major gain an international perspective on the French language through multiple study abroad opportunities.
Cincinnati: A City of Opportunity
Cincinnati, Ohio, is ranked the #1 Best City for College Graduates (smartasset.com) and the #15 Best Place to Start a Career (WalletHub). Students in the French major take advantage of for-credit internships and employment opportunities at multiple Fortune 500 companies, private companies, nonprofit organizations and other businesses.
What is Jesuit Education?
A Xavier education is more than your typical college experience. Drawing on a Jesuit Catholic educational model 400 years in the making, students in the French major get the personal attention and support they need to succeed. The result is an education that’s as encouraging as it is challenging, and as enriching as it is demanding.
Xavier student recalls study abroad experience in France
Xavier senior Madi Crickmer recalls her experience studying and living in Lyon, France.
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."