The French program at Gettysburg College offers students an in-depth exploration of the French language and the rich tapestry of Francophone cultures across the globe. From foundational grammar to advanced seminars in literature, film, and cultural studies, the curriculum is designed to build language proficiency and critical thinking skills through engaging, interdisciplinary coursework. Students are encouraged to broaden their understanding of the Francophone world through courses that examine global perspectives and historical contexts, such as Francophone Literature and Culture, French Film Studies, and Contemporary France. The program also emphasizes experiential learning, with study abroad opportunities in locations like Paris and Senegal, allowing students to immerse themselves fully in French-speaking environments.
Whether majoring or minoring, students will benefit from a curriculum that integrates linguistic development with cultural analysis, preparing them for diverse careers in international relations, business, education, the arts, and beyond. Below are the core course requirements for both the major and minor in French.
The curriculum features exciting courses that connect language learning with rich cultural exploration. In Francophone African Cinema, students analyze how films from French-speaking Africa reflect historical narratives and identity. Exploring Paris: The City as Text takes students on a journey through the art, architecture, and literature of Paris, highlighting its enduring influence as a cultural capital. For those drawn to literary exploration, Love and Power in French Literature investigates themes of passion and authority in works ranging from the classics to contemporary stories.
With these courses and the opportunity to study abroad in iconic locations like Paris or Senegal, Gettysburg’s French program offers students an education that is both transformative and consequential, equipping them with language skills and a global perspective that prepares them for a lifetime of meaningful impact.
French Major
The French major at Gettysburg College offers students an immersive and intellectually rich experience in the language, literature, and cultures of the French-speaking world. Designed to develop advanced proficiency in French, the major also emphasizes critical thinking, analytical writing, and cultural literacy through a diverse and engaging curriculum. Students begin with foundational courses that strengthen their language skills before progressing to advanced seminars that explore topics such as contemporary France, Francophone literature and cinema, and the historical and cultural dynamics of the Francophone world. Courses like Francophone African Cinema, Exploring Paris: The City as Text, and Love and Power in French Literature encourage students to engage with global perspectives and examine the intersections of language, power, identity, and art.
A hallmark of the French major is the opportunity to study abroad in vibrant French-speaking locations such as Paris or Senegal, where students can further develop their linguistic fluency and cultural understanding. The major culminates in a capstone experience, allowing students to synthesize their learning through advanced research or seminar work. Whether paired with international relations, political science, history, or the arts, the French major equips students with essential skills for careers in education, diplomacy, global business, law, and beyond. Rooted in a deep appreciation for the complexity of the Francophone world, the French major prepares students to become culturally aware, globally engaged citizens.
Course Type
Description
French 300
Advanced Composition and Conversation – foundation for upper-level coursework
French 305 or 310
Introduction to Literary Analysis or Studies in Culture
Four additional 300-level French courses
Choose from a variety of advanced topics in language, literature, culture, or film
Capstone Experience
French 400 or 465 – Seminar or Independent Research project demonstrating mastery of major themes
Two elective French courses (above French 202)
Flexible selections to support interests and goals, may include study abroad credit
French Minor
The French minor at Gettysburg College offers students the opportunity to develop strong language skills and cultural competency while complementing their major field of study. Through a focused yet flexible curriculum, students gain intermediate to advanced proficiency in French and explore the diverse literatures, histories, and artistic expressions of the Francophone world. The minor includes core courses in advanced language and cultural studies, with the option to tailor the experience through electives in areas such as literature, film, and phonetics. Courses like Francophone African Cinema and Exploring Paris: The City as Text allow students to deepen their understanding of global issues through a French-language lens.
Many students in the French minor also take advantage of study abroad opportunities, further enhancing their linguistic fluency and cultural insight through firsthand experience in French-speaking regions. Whether paired with international affairs, business, public health, or the sciences, the French minor strengthens students’ communication skills and global awareness—assets that are highly valued in today’s interconnected world.
Course Type
Description
French 300
Advanced Composition and Conversation – core course for minors
One of French 305, 310, or 320
Choose a course in literature, culture, or phonetics
Three additional French courses (at or above French 202)
Build breadth and depth in language and cultural topics
Elective course
May include study abroad coursework or another 300-level French course
Fundamentals of French grammar, composition, and pronunciation. Emphasis on oral comprehension, verbal communication, reading, and writing in the broader context of French and Francophone culture. Classroom interaction stresses the oral-aural method of language learning. Enrollment limited to those with no previous study of French or placement based on the Departmental Placement Examination
Continuation of French 101. Focus on grammar, composition, and pronunciation, with ongoing emphasis on oral comprehension, communication, reading, and writing within French and Francophone contexts. Classroom interaction continues to stress the oral-aural method of language learning. Prerequisite: successful completion of French 101 or placement into 102 based on the Departmental Placement Examination
Grammar review and practice in oral French, with stress on reading and written expression in the spring. Contact with French culture is maintained throughout. Enrollment limited to those who have previously studied French and who have completed 101-102, or who are enrolled according to achievement on the Departmental Placement Examination. Successful completion of 201 is a prerequisite for entry into 202, unless student is placed there according to the placement examination.
Grammar review and practice in oral French in the fall semester, with stress on reading and written expression in the spring. Contact with French culture is maintained throughout. Enrollment limited to those who have previously studied French and who have completed 101-102, or who are enrolled according to achievement on the Departmental Placement Examination. Successful completion of 201 is a prerequisite for entry into 202, unless student is placed there according to the placement examination.
Examination of literary, historical, or sociocultural aspects of France or the Francophone world through texts and materials from a variety of sources. The medium of instruction and assessment will be in French. Specific topics will vary.
Oral, aural, and written practices of French structures. Collaborative writing, group discussions, individual compositions, and presentations. Recent French films serve as text. Course is a prerequisite for all 300-level courses. Offered every semester.
Reading and analysis of representative selections of texts from the global francophone world (literature, essays, film, art). Course introduces students to interpretive strategies and argumentative writing. Students will also acquire knowledge of the context in which specific texts were created (social, geographical, historical, literary, artistic). Prerequisite: French 202. Required of all majors. Course is a prerequisite for all literature and film courses at the 300-level.
Overview of the various literal and figurative revolutions in France following the Revolution of 1789. Course examines the many political changes from the rise of the French Republic to the political, social, demographic, economic, intellectual and artistic developments in the multicultural France of the 21st century, including its place and role in the expanding European Union. Prerequisite: French 300. Required of all majors. Offered in the spring.
This course offers an in-depth study of French political life, covering its historical evolution, current structures, and future challenges. Students will examine key events, influential figures, and the socio-political dynamics that have shaped the nation since the Revolution of 1789. Special attention will be devoted to how France’s political system interacts with and influences social class, race, ethnicity, and gender, reflecting, reinforcing, or challenging these distinctions. The learning experience, facilitated through lectures, discussions, readings, and research projects, aims not only to provide participants with a nuanced understanding of the French political landscape but also, more broadly, the complexities involved in the exercise of power in any setting. Prerequisite: FREN 300 and FREN 305
Study of the relationship between food and national identity in the French context. Through close readings of historical, sociological, and anthropological texts, as well as analysis of debates surrounding recent food controversies (rising obesity rates, genetically modified foods, regionally certified “authentic” foods), this course aims to develop students’ understanding of important anthropological theory in the study of food (taste, consumption, gifts), while building their awareness of the role food plays in the construction and expression of individual and group identity. Prerequisite: FREN 310. FREN 315 and ANTH 217 are cross-listed.
Study of critically-acclaimed contemporary French and Francophone films. The selections for “Contemporary French and Francophone Cinema,” explore how political and social issues centered around various forms of discrimination (unemployment, immigration, illness, gender and sexual identity) are conceptualized and addressed today in France. Major emphasis is placed on cinematography as students learn the vocabulary and visual grammar of film. Literature from the fields of cinema, sociology, history, and literature, as well as excerpts of foundational films, complement film screenings. Prerequisite: FREN 305 or 310.
Examination of literary, historical, or sociocultural aspects of France or the Francophone world through texts and materials from a variety of sources. The medium of instruction and assessment will be in French. Specific topics will vary.
Study of literary texts from the Francophone world (French-speaking countries in North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, Quebec, and Vietnam). In addition to their intrinsic literary worth, the selections bring to light the changing identities of formerly colonized people in a post-colonial world. Major emphasis placed on the study of the literary texts, but the historical and cultural context is also covered. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.
Study of an emerging body of literature in France written by Beur authors as well as first generation of French African authors. The focus is on the experience of the protagonists who, when trying to mix their cultural heritage to the French culture, encounter a myriad of reactions. Major emphasis is placed on the study of literary texts, but the historical and cultural context is also covered as well as themes such as racism, post/colonialism, women, and religion. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.
Study of how social and cultural differences are understood, used, and managed in contemporary France. Through close readings of historical, anthropological, and sociological works, as well as analysis of literary, philosophical, and political texts, this course aims to shed light on recent polemics concerning headscarves, the banlieue, gay marriage, affirmative action, and the new Paris museums of immigration and “primitive” art. In the process, it invites reflection on the relativity of such notions as race, ethnicity, gender, and national identity. Prerequisite: French 310. Cross-listed with ANTH 233.
Study of a genre often considered minor though a variety of documents: novels, bande dessinée, cinema and TV series both in France and the francophone world. The focus is on the variety of styles and authors throughout time, as well as the analysis of various narrative and aesthetics theories and choices. Major emphasis is also placed on the socio-historical and political context, such as the history of the police, famous serial killers, and the daily life of the criminal police. Prerequisite: FREN 305
Reading and discussion of masterworks of French poetry, prose, and theater in their historical, artistic and social contexts. Works by such authors as Villon, Montaigne, Moliere, Mme de Lafayette, Voltaire, Balzac, Flaubert, Colette and Beckett are read in their entirety. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.
This course explores the ideological and aesthetic stakes of tourism and voyage in the French and Francophone world. From Imperial France to the postcolonial world, it interrogates what travel writings tell us about fantasies and anxieties haunting our imagination. Have travel writings, tourism, and voyage served to perpetuate or undermine racial stereotypes? What impact (ideological, economic, environmental) has tourism had on local populations? Prerequisite: FREN 305.
Study of 19th-century Paris as a site of major cultural and social upheavals that have contributed to shaping modernity. Through an examination of figures populating the 19th-century changing Parisian urban space (the flâneur, the prostitute, the department store clerk, etc.), this seminar investigates the evolution of cultural, economic, and political institutions toward modernity. Topics covered include avant-garde literary and artistic movements; photography; urban planning; retail; finance; politics; and shifting paradigms of gender and economic class. Prerequisite: FREN 305 or equivalent
This course considers the French language in its cultural, historical, political, social, and pragmatic dimensions. How has French evolved from the Gallo-Romance languages? How did French emerge as the national language of France? Does it make sense to talk about the French language? What role have institutions, such as the Académie française and the Office Québécois de la langue française, played in shaping French? How, where, and by whom is French used today? This course combines theory and practice in exploring different forms of communication, such as pastiches, slang, memes, blogs, or SMS.
Study of Quebecois identity through careful reading of major literary works by women authors from French Canada. Course focuses not only on the literal periods of unrest as well as on the losses suffered by the Quebecois people but also on the metaphorical turmoil and loss experienced by the characters in the chosen novels. Various aspects of the cultural background are presented (language, religion, music, and art) in an effort to understand the evolution of Quebec's literary tradition and its impact in today's society. A small and accessible body of theory supplements the works of fiction. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.
Intensive practice in the refinement of writing skills directed toward a sophisticated and idiomatic use of the language. Coursework includes composition, translation, comparative stylistics, French for use in commercial and other correspondence, and work in the spoken language.
Study and practice in translating from French to English and from English to French. Course develops the ability to render idiomatic French into idiomatic English, and vice-versa.
Study of specialized vocabulary and culturally relevant concepts in such fields as business, international relations, journalism, law, and healthcare. Students will develop advanced written and oral communication skills and gain practical and theoretical knowledge in preparation for working in a variety of international contexts. Prerequisite: FREN 300.
Intensive study of a particular aspect of French literature, civilization, or culture to be determined by the instructor. Past offerings include The Art of Emile Zola, The Image of Women in French Literature: A Feminist Perspective, The Gaze and Self-Image in French Film, 1959-89 and Postcolonial Immigrations in France. Course is for seniors (in the final semester) to complete undergraduate work in French. Prerequisites: Limited to seniors, except with permission of instructor and approval of department chairperson. Offered every spring.
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized tutorial not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Individualized research not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor graded S/U
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F
Internship not counting in the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U
Summer Internship graded A-F, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office.
Summer Internship graded S/U, counting in the minimum requirements for a major or minor only with written permission filed in the Registrar's Office