The Humanities Department offers a range of options for the study of French language, and of the history, literature, and cultures of the French-speaking world.
Courses offered on the Eastman campus include:
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- Elementary French (French 101-102/101G-102G), a two-semester sequence of offered yearly. French language may be taken to fulfill a degree requirement, or as a Humanities elective. French language courses are open to all students.
- French Lyric Diction, a two-semester sequence offered yearly.
- Intermediate French (French 201-202/201G-202G), a two-semester sequence offered when there is sufficient enrollment.
- Electives (taught in English) on French history, literature, film, and culture. Recent topics include:
- French Theater of the Repertoire
- Jean-Luc Godard and the French New Wave
- French Cinema / Le cinéma français (offered both in English as a Humanities elective, and in French as an advanced French language class)
- Romanticism and Revolution
- Debussy’s France
- Stravinsky’s Paris
- Additional courses are offered each year in the Modern Language and Cultures (MLC) program on the River Campus. For more information on Eastman courses, see below.
Student with little or no prior experience should enroll in French 101.
Students who have previously studied French should take the online placement test. On your Blackboard home page click on the “Services” tab, then click on “Academics.” You will find a link to the online exam under “Language Placement.” Upon completion, contact Professor Scheie (tscheie@pdc-f5-www-esm.rochester.edu-vs.its.rochester.edu) for a consultation. Students with prior study or sustained exposure to the language should consult with their instructor for advice on proper placement.
Eastman students may pursue advanced French study on the River Campus. The Modern Language and Cultures (MLC) Department offers a comprehensive course of study, including a French Major and Minor. A 200-level French course at Eastman may qualify towards a Minor or Major in French in the MLC (interested students should contact the MLC program directly).
The MLC French program also runs a 6-week summer program in Rennes and Paris. Scholarship funds for the Rennes program may be available for interested students. https://www.sas.rochester.edu/mlc/abroad/france.html
Eastman students of French have won Fulbright grants for study in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. Eastman administers its own “in-house” Fulbright program. Informational sessions are held on campus every fall (September) and spring (April-May). All applicants must work with the campus Fulbright advisor (Professor Scheie). For more information, contact Professor Scheie (tscheie@pdc-f5-www-esm.rochester.edu-vs.its.rochester.edu).
Fulbright applicants are encouraged to study French language to expand the range of possible Fulbright experiences, and to improve their chances of winning a grant. For information on eligibility, kinds of grants, competitions for each country, etc. visit the US Fulbright Program’s website: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/
