Minor in French & Francophone Studies

As per SAS policy, all courses counting toward minors must be taken for a letter grade, not Pass/Fail.

French and Francophone Studies Minor: 6 c.u.     

Required courses: 2 c.u. 

FREN 0400: Intermediate French II, “Griots modernes: L’art de la parole”

  • Students who place out of the language requirement can count any course above FREN 1000 in lieu of FREN 0400.

FREN 1000: Advanced French

  • Prerequisite for all courses above FREN 1000
  • Students can receive credit for sufficient performance on standardized tests (AP, IB HIgher Level, Bac).
  • Native or legacy speakers of French without standardized test scores can place out of FREN 1000 by departmental evaluation and count any course above it instead.

Electives: 4 c.u.

At least 1 c.u. of electives must come from among any of the three following categories:

  • Advanced language
    • Can be taken at an approved study abroad program.
  • French and Francophone history and culture survey courses
  • French and Francophone literature and film survey courses
    • Students can receive credit for FREN 1231 with a 14/20 or higher on the written French portion of the French Baccalauréat (Bac).

At least 1 c.u. of electives must come from a seminar taught in French in the department at the 3000-level or higher.

The remaining 2 c.u. of electives can come from any combination of: 

  • Additional courses taught in French at the 1000-level or higher.
  • Courses taught in French at approved study abroad programs.
  • FREN 3999: Independent Study.
  • Major-related courses taught in English, either in FIGS or in other departments.
  • Coursework in another foreign language relevant to the student’s interests.
  • First-Year Seminars counted retroactively. 

DECLARING THE MINOR 

To officially declare the minor in French & Francophone Studies, please fill out the Declare/Update Field of Study form which is located on the PATH Forms page. The Undergraduate Chair will review your request and the Office of the Registrar will process it within two weeks. 

Please contact Dr. Scott Francis, Undergraduate Chair, with any questions or concerns about the minor.  

Requirements for French and Francophone Studies Minor declared prior to Fall 2024

The minor consists of six courses at or above the 1000-level.

All courses must be taught in French.

Three of the six courses must be taken at Penn. (An AP course credit for 1000 can be counted as one of the courses not taken at Penn).

Required Courses

Must be taken at Penn.

Advanced Language (choose one)

  • French 1212: Advanced Grammar and Composition
  • French 1214: Advanced Composition and Conversation

History & Culture/Literature & Arts (choose one)

  • French 1226: French History & Culture Until 1789
  • French 1227: French History & Culture 1789-1945
  • French 1230: Masterpieces of French Cinema
  • French 1231: French Literature (Focus on "Love and Passion")
  • French 1232: French Literature (Focus on the "Individual and Society")
  • French 1233: Francophone Literature and Film
  • French 2280: Contemporary France
  • French 3290: French in the World

Elective Courses

Four (4) courses may be taken at the 1000-, 2000-, or 3000-level.

At least one must be taken at Penn.

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