Major & Minor Requirements

Note: This page is designed to assist students, faculty, and advisors by providing degree requirements and recommendations in an easy-to-use format. The course catalogue remains the official source of degree requirements -- please report any discrepancies with this page to the department chair.  

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Major Requirements for French

A minimum of eight course credits in French at or above the 300 level, including:

• Composition and Conversation (301)
• Cultures of France and the Francophone World (303)

• Introduction to Literature (311)
• Seminar (411)

Notes:

• A maximum of two elective upper-level courses in other areas, approved beforehand by the Department as relevant to the major, may be substituted for two of the elective French courses.
• French majors are strongly encouraged to study abroad, and up to four course credits taken on approved programs may be substituted for required major courses.
• Lectures and discussions in all 300- and 400-level courses are in French.

Recommended Course Sequence

Course schedules vary widely depending on whether students enter Cornell with language credits or not. The following are guidelines:

• We recommend that all students, whether intending to major in French or not, complete their language course requirement by the end of their second year.
• Majors should take Composition and Conversation (FRE 301) by the fall of their third year, though many will take this course sooner.
• Seminar (FRE 411) occurs in alternate years and is generally taken in the third or fourth year

Teaching Major Requirements

A minimum of nine course credits, including:

• Composition and Conversation (301)

• Introduction to Literature (311)
• Cultures of France and the Francophone World (303)
• At least four additional 300-level courses in French
• two additional courses at the 300 level, one of which may be in another field if approved by the Department as relevant to the major
• Language Teaching Methodology (LAL 308)

Notes:

• In addition to the foregoing requirements, prospective teachers must also apply for admission to the Teacher Education Program (preferably at the start of their sophomore year) and complete a second major in Secondary Education.  Please visit the Education Office for questions or more information.

Minor Requirements

A minimum of five course credits in French at or above the 300 level, including:

• Composition and Conversation (301)
• Introduction to Literature (311)
• Cultures of France and the Francophone World (303)