University of Colorado Denver College of Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of Colorado Denver

French Major Apply Now

The French program offers courses in advanced language, linguistics, literature, civilization, culture and business, all taught exclusively in French. French majors may choose from two different tracks: Language/Literature/Culture, or Language and Culture for the Professions. A French major may also be part of the Secondary Foreign Language Teacher Licensure Program. Students enrolled in this program must complete the requirements for the language/literature/culture track in French as well as requirements in general education and Initial Professional Teacher Education courses (see separate sheet for information and consult both  French and undergraduate advisors). All French Majors are strongly encouraged to participate in a Study Abroad Program. Please see your French department advisor for information about opportunities to include study abroad as part of your major.

 

Admission and Grade Requirements

To be admitted to major status in French, students must have an overall GPA of C+ (2.3). The minimum grade acceptable in any French course applied to a French major is C (2.0). The average grade in all courses applied to a French major must be 2.5. No courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis may be credited toward a French major.

Upon declaring a major in French, each student will be assigned to a faculty advisor with whom the student should consult at least once per semester thereafter. It is especially important that students have their transcripts reviewed by their advisor before enrolling in their final 30 credit hours at UC Denver. Failure to do so may result in delay of graduation.

Students presenting four years of high school French (Level IV) for admission to UCD must see a French advisor before enrolling in courses for the major. Students with Advanced Placement credits from high school should see a French advisor about courses equivalencies. The Department of Modern Languages does not accept CLEP credits.

Outcomes Assessment

During their final semester in the language, French major students participate in an oral proficiency interview and take a written outcomes assessment exam to measure their level of proficiency and mastery of key concepts.

Honors in French

Qualified majors will automatically graduate with regular honors in French. Faculty occasionally nominate students for extra coursework leading to higher levels of honors in French. For information see:"Undergraduate Honors Programs in Modern Languages"

 

Requirements for the French Major

All students majoring in French must complete 30 semester hours of upper-division French courses (courses numbered 3000 and above). A minimum of 18 of those semester hours must be taken from the faculty in French at the Downtown Denver Campus. Courses taken at other institutions while a student is enrolled at UCD may be applied to the major only with departmental approval before enrollment in those courses.  Students studying French for the professions must also take courses in other areas. Requirements for both tracks are outlined below:

FRENCH MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

 

Track A (Language, Literature and Culture)                                                                                                             

Required Courses


     30 credits (10 courses) in French

  • French 3010 Phonetics/Pronunciation
  • French 3020  Oral Practice   
  • French 3050  Advanced Grammar & Composition                                               
  • French 3060  Advanced French Language Skills
  • 3 courses at the4000 level
  • 3 electives at 3000 or 4000 level

Note: students must take at least one literature course and at least one culture or civilization course.

 

 

Track B (French for the Professions)

Prerequisites

  • ECON 2112 Principles of Econ (macro)
  • ECON 2022  Principles of Econ (micro)
  • MATH 1110 (College Algebra) OR 1070 (Finite Math) OR  higher level math course

Required Courses

A. 33 credits (11 courses) in French: 

  • 1000 Intro to Cultures of  French-Speaking World
  • 3020 Oral Practice
  • 3050 Advanced Grammar/ Comp
  • 3060 Advanced Language Skills
  • 4050 Advanced French for Business
  • 4082 Translation
  • 3130 Current Issues/ Fr-Spking World  OR  

      3140 Contemp Francophone Cultures

  • 4210 France in the 20th/21st centuries
  • 3112 or 3122 survey  French lit I or II
  • One additional course chosen from:
    • 3120 Fr Cultural Identities – Myths/Realities 
    • 4200 Fr civ through the 19th century
    • 3130 Current Issues Fr Speaking World     
    • 3140 Contemporary Francophone cultures
    • Any 3000 or 4000 level lit course

 

B. 15 credits (5 courses) in Business        

        and Economics

  • MGMT 1000 Intro to Business
  • ACCT 2200 Financial Accounting /Statement Analysis
  • MKTG 3000 Principles of Marketing
  • MGMT 3000 Managing Individuals & teams
  • 3000 course in International Business

 

Recommended:

Official proficiency exam (Paris Chamber of Commerce)

updated February 2009    


 

BA in French and Secondary Foreign Language Teacher Licensure

Teacher certification in French

Students interested in teaching French at the elementary or secondary school level should discuss the French undergraduate licensure program with both their French and undergraduate advisors. For information see: Teacher Licensure.