French courses
Director of undergraduate studies: Edwige Tamalet-Talbayev, Rm. 421, 82–90 Wall St., 432-4902, edwige.tamalet@yale.edu; language program director: Françoise Schneider, Rm. 313, 82–90 Wall St., 432-8855, francoise.schneider@yale.edu
FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FRENCH
Professors R. Howard Bloch, Edwin M. Duval, Marie-Hélène Girard (Visiting), Alice Kaplan (Chair), Thomas Kavanagh, Christopher L. Miller, Maurice Samuels
Assistant Professors Thomas Connolly, Christopher Semk, Edwige Tamalet-Talbayev, Yue Zhuo
Senior Lecturer Maryam Sanjabi
Lecturers Jonathan Cayer, Diane Charney, Alyson Waters
Senior Lectors Ruth Koizim, Soumia Koundi, Matuku Ngame, Lauren Pinzka, Françoise Schneider, Constance Sherak
Lectors Kathleen Burton, Margaret Colvin, Audrey Hoffmann, Candace Skorupa, Vanessa Vysosias
The Department of French has two distinct but complementary missions: to provide instruction in the French language at all levels of competence, and to lead students to a broad appreciation and deep understanding of the literatures and cultures of France and other French-speaking countries.
The major in French is a liberal arts major, designed for those who wish to study one of the world's greatest and richest literatures in depth. The department offers courses devoted to authors, works, and literary and cultural movements that span ten centuries and four continents. The curriculum also includes interdisciplinary courses on relations between literature and other areas of study such as history, law, religion, politics, and the arts. Majors are encouraged to explore all periods and genres of literature in French, as well as a wide variety of critical approaches.
Excellent knowledge of a foreign language and a mature, informed appreciation of a foreign literature open doors to many professions. The French major provides ideal preparation for careers not only in academics but also in a wide range of fields from law and diplomacy to journalism and the arts. Recent graduates have gone on to selective law schools and graduate programs in French and comparative literature. Others work in primary and secondary education, business, government, and a variety of nongovernmental agencies and international organizations.
French can be taken either as a primary major or as one of two majors, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Appropriate majors to combine with French might include, but are not limited to, African American Studies, African Studies, English, Film Studies, Global Affairs, History, History of Art, Humanities, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Theater Studies, and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. (Regulations concerning the completion of two majors can be found under Special Arrangements in the Academic Regulations.)
Study abroad Students are encouraged to spend a term or a year abroad, for which appropriate course credit is granted. Summer study abroad may also, in some cases, receive course credit. Further information may be obtained from the Center for International and Professional Experience and from Ruth Koizim, the study abroad adviser for the Department of French. The Kenneth Cornell Charitable Foundation provides some financial support for majors and prospective majors who undertake research projects related to their work in the major in France or a francophone country. Contact the director of undergraduate studies for details.
Prerequisites Candidates for the major should take two courses in the FREN 150–159 range, or a reasonable equivalent, during the freshman or sophomore year. Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to take at least one literature course numbered 170 or above before the end of the sophomore year.
The standard major The standard major consists of ten term courses numbered 160 or above, including a one-term senior essay (see below). At least four of these must be Group B courses numbered 200 or above. Students may count no more than three courses in the FREN 160–199 range and no more than two courses conducted in English (Group C) toward the major. With prior approval of the director of undergraduate studies, a maximum of four term courses taught outside the Yale Department of French but bearing directly on the student's principal interest may be counted toward the major. Up to two of these may be taken in other departments at Yale, and up to four may be taken as part of a Year or Term Abroad or summer study abroad program. However, the combined number of courses from other departments and from study abroad may not exceed four. (The director of undergraduate studies may grant exceptions to this limit for students who spend two academic terms in an approved study abroad program.) Relevant freshman seminars may count toward the major, with permission of the director of undergraduate studies.
The intensive major The intensive major is designed for students who wish to undertake a more concentrated study of literature in French. It is recommended for students considering graduate study in French or in comparative literature. The intensive major consists of twelve term courses numbered 160 or above, including a one-term or two-term senior essay (see below). At least five courses must be from Group B and numbered 200 or above. Stipulations for courses in the 160–199 range, courses conducted in English, and courses taken outside the department are identical to those for the standard major.
Senior requirement All majors must write a senior essay showing evidence of careful reading and research and substantial independent thought. Essays may be written in either French or English and must be prepared under the direction of a ladder faculty member in the Department of French. Students planning to pursue advanced work in French after graduation are encouraged to write their senior essay in French.
Students writing a one-term essay enroll in FREN 491 in the senior year. A one-term essay may be written in either the fall or the spring term and should be approximately thirty pages in length. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be addressed and the name of the adviser must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 14 (fall-term essay) or November 9 (spring-term essay). A one-page prospectus and bibliography are due September 21 (fall term) or January 25 (spring term). A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by November 2 (fall term) or March 29 (spring term). Two copies of the final essay are due in the department by November 30 (fall term) or April 22 (spring term).
Students electing a two-term essay for the intensive major must select their subject and adviser by the end of the junior year and enroll in FREN 493 and 494 during the senior year. The essay should be approximately sixty pages in length. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be addressed and the name of the adviser must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 14. A one-page prospectus and bibliography are due September 21. Students must submit an initial rough draft to their adviser by January 25 and a complete draft by March 29. Two copies of the final essay are due in the department by April 22.
All majors It is strongly recommended that all majors complete at least one term course in the FREN 170–179 sequence early in their studies. They are also encouraged to take as many advanced courses as possible in all historical periods from the Middle Ages to the present. Candidates for the major should consult the director of undergraduate studies as early as the beginning of the sophomore year and no later than the fall term of the junior year. Schedules must be approved and signed by the director of undergraduate studies. Students planning to study abroad or to petition for completion of two majors should contact the director of undergraduate studies during the sophomore year. Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.
Special Divisional Major The department will support the application of qualified students who wish to pursue an interdisciplinary course in French studies. Under the provisions of the Special Divisional Major, students may combine courses offered by the French department with subjects elected from other departments. Close consultation with departmental advisers is required; candidates for a Special Divisional Major should consult the director of undergraduate studies in French by the fall term of the junior year. For further information, see under Special Divisional Majors.
Group A courses (FREN 110–159) This group consists of language courses that lead directly to courses counting toward the major. For further details, students should consult the Freshman Web site or see the director of undergraduate studies.
Group B courses (FREN 160–449, not including Group C courses) This group contains more advanced courses that are taught in French and count toward the major. Courses in the FREN 170–179 range are gateway courses that introduce students to the study of French and francophone literatures, societies, and cultures. Courses in the FREN 180–199 range are advanced language courses. Courses numbered 200–449 are advanced courses in literature and culture. The 200–299 range contains courses devoted to broad, general fields defined by century or genre; the 300–449 range contains courses devoted to specific topics within or across those general fields.
Group C courses This group comprises courses taught in English; readings may be in French or English. Two term courses from this group may be counted for credit toward the major.
Placement Proper placement is essential for productive language study. All students who have not yet taken French at Yale are expected to take the departmental placement test, with the following exceptions:
- Students who have no previous knowledge of French whatsoever should attend preregistration and sign up for FREN 110.
- True beginners of French who are prospective majors are encouraged to enroll in FREN 125, for which there is no preregistration.
- Students who received a score of 5 on the Advanced Placement examination in French, a score of 6 or 7 on the higher-level International Baccalaureate examination, or a grade of A or B on the GCE A-level examination should discuss their proper course placement with the director of undergraduate studies, who will be present during preregistration.
Please note that the departmental placement test is given only once a year, in the fall. Students who wish to begin taking French in the spring must take the test in the fall. Times and locations for the placement test will be posted on the departmental Web site. Results will be posted on the same Web site, outside 206 LC, and outside the French department offices, 82–90 Wall St., third floor. Preregistration will be held on Tuesday, August 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. For additional information about placement and preregistration, visit the departmental Web site.
REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR
Prerequisites 2 courses numbered FREN 150–159 or equivalent
Number of courses Standard major—10 term courses numbered 160 or above; Intensive major—12 term courses numbered 160 or above
Distribution of courses Standard major—at least 4 courses in Group B numbered 200 or above; no more than 3 courses numbered FREN 160–199; no more than 2 courses conducted in English; Intensive major—same, plus 1 addtl Group B course numbered 200 or above
Substitution permitted With prior approval of DUS, up to 4 term courses outside French dept, as specified
Senior requirement Standard major—one-term senior essay in French or English (FREN 491); Intensive major—one-term (FREN 491) or two-term (FREN 493, 494) senior essay in French or English
