FREN - Francophone Studies Major

Francophone Studies Requirements

There are three different majors in the Francophone Studies program. The Single-Language Focus major focuses solely on the French language, whereas the Dual-Language Focus major allows students to combine that with the study of another language. All languages in the departments of Language and Culture Studies and Classical Studies can count towards the Dual-Language Focus major. All Dual-Language Focus majors should verify the requirements for their other language in the appropriate program’s section of the Bulletin.

1) Single-Language Focus majors in Francophone Studies: 11 credits beyond FREN 102
2) Dual-Language Focus major (primary concentration: Francophone Studies):  7 credits beyond FREN 102, plus the credits required for the secondary language concentration
3) Dual-Language Focus major (secondary concentration: Francophone Studies): 5 credits beyond FREN 102, plus the credits required for the primary language concentration

1) Single-Language Focus majors in Francophone Studies: 11 credits beyond FREN 102

• Five required core courses: 

  • FREN 241: Advanced Composition and Style

  • Any two of the following four courses (one may be by transfer credit with approval):

    • FREN 247: Race and Empire

    • FREN 248: Revolts and Revolutions

    • FREN 251: Language and Identity

    • FREN 252: Creative Writing in French

  • At least one 300-level Francophone Studies course (must be taken at Trinity in Hartford)

  • FREN 401: Senior Seminar (must be taken second semester senior year)

• Six electives: 

  • Can include any Francophone Studies courses not counted towards the required core courses.

  • Three electives may be taken in English in another discipline (beyond the 100- level), focusing on topics related to the francophone world. These courses may be found, for example, in such departments or programs as English, History, Fine Arts, International Studies, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, the other sections of the Language and Culture Studies department, the program in Women, Gender and Sexuality, or the equivalents of such offerings in any approved study-away program.

  • With advisor approval, LACS 299: Language, Culture, and Meaning may count for one elective

• A maximum of 4 credits may be transferred from an approved study-away program.

2) Dual-Language Focus (primary concentration: Francophone Studies): 7 credits beyond FREN 102, plus the credits required for the secondary language concentration

• Five required core courses:

  • FREN 241: Advanced Composition and Style

  • Any two of the following four courses (one may be by transfer credit with approval):

    • FREN 247: Race and Empire

    • FREN 248: Revolts and Revolutions

    • FREN 251: Language and Identity

    • FREN 252: Creative Writing in French

• At least one 300-level course conducted in French (must be taken at Trinity in Hartford)

• FREN 401: Senior Seminar (must be taken second semester senior year)

• Two electives: 

  • Can include any Francophone Studies courses not counted towards the required core courses

  • One elective may be taken in English in another discipline (beyond the 100-level), focusing on topics related to the francophone world (see elective requirements for the Single-Language Focus above). 

  • With advisor approval, LACS 299: Language, Culture, and Meaning may count as one elective

3) Dual-Language Focus (secondary concentration: Francophone Studies): 5 credits beyond FREN 102, plus the credits required for the primary language concentration

• Three required core courses

  • FREN 241: Advanced Composition and Style

  • Any two of the following four courses (one may be by transfer credit with approval):

    • FREN 247: Race and Empire

    • FREN 248: Revolts and Revolutions

    • FREN 251: Language and Identity

    • FREN 252: Creative Writing in French

• Two electives:

  • Can include any Francophone Studies courses not counted towards the required core courses

  • One elective may be taken in English in another discipline (beyond the 100-level), focusing on topics related to the francophone world (see elective requirements for the Single-Language Focus above).

  • With advisor approval, LACS 299: Language, Culture, and Meaning may count as one elective

• A maximum of 2 credits may be transferred from an approved study-away program.

Capstone/senior project: For Single-Language majors and Dual-Language majors with a primary concentration in Francophone studies, the Writing Intensive Part II requirement is fulfilled by FREN 401: Senior Seminar. This course culminates in a 20–25 page research paper written in French. Students double-majoring in Francophone Studies and another discipline are encouraged to combine research interests; however, no part of their senior project can be translated material from coursework in another department.

Additional Opportunities

Study away: All Francophone Studies majors are encouraged to study away in an approved program in some part of the francophone world. Students must communicate with their advisor in advance to ensure that courses taken during study away will receive transfer credit, if applicable.

Honors: To qualify for honors, students majoring in Francophone Studies must attain a cumulative average of A- or above in all courses counting toward the major, including FREN 401.