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French

​​As a student of French, you will learn the language, cultures, history, literature and arts of France and other French-speaking countries throughout the world. Through our courses, you will discover how cultures make sense of the world and draw people together, while conveying ideas, beliefs, and values. Starting in the 200 level, we use an integrated approach to language learning, which combines content and linguistic skills. You will discover and analyze great works of French thought and art throughout the ages, approaching them through multiple disciplines, including history, philosophy, sociology, the medical humanities, gender and literary studies.

Why Study French?

French is the language of culture.

Access great works of literature, film, painting, architecture, fashion, and the culinary arts by studying one of the richest cultures in the world. Discover passionate political history and thriving intellectual traditions. Learn about contemporary pop culture, comics, television, and new music being created now in French-speaking countries all over the world. Demand is growing all for French throughout the world.

French is your global passport for the future.

French is the sixth most spoken language in the world, the official language of 29 countries, and the most studied foreign language after English. Forbes reports that French will be the "most-spoken language in the world" by 2050. Speaking French can lead to a successful career.

French is a great career move

French is a major language for international business, finance, diplomacy, travel, humanitarian work, and many other fields. According to an ABC news report, French is the second most useful language in the world for business. It has the sixth-largest economy in the world. Learning a second-language can help you get a job. It’s also a major research language and an excellent addition to pre-medical studies, psychology, education, law, international relations, international business, and political science. 

French makes you smarter

Learning a second language has a profound effect on your brain. Bilingualism increases neural pathways and slows the ageing process while boosting cognitive skills and problem-solving abilities. Studying French at Miami means more than just learning the language. Through interpreting cultural artifacts, analyzing literature, and negotiating cultural differences, you develop creativity, interpersonal effectiveness, and an ability to handle open-ended problems, highly desirable skills for professional positions with high-level responsibilities. Read more about how bilingualism slows the aging process and how it makes you smarter.  

Develop your creativity by studying French abroad

Learning French abroad allows you to immerse yourself in programs that are different from anything designed for non-speakers. They offer an in-depth experience and unique challenges that set you apart to people abroad and at home. Psychologists have shown that living abroad makes you more creative.

French is meaningful

There is a French saying – you don’t live to work, you work to live.  In French culture, knowledge and pleasure are intimately related. Studying French connects you to the world around you, to other countries, other people, other viewpoints. It equips you to face the great challenges of our time with greater perspective. It also connects you to over a thousand years of human experience – the big picture and the larger community. See what France has to say about the importance of learning French.

Our Minor

What can I do with a minor in French?

A French minor provides students with advanced communication skills and a deeper knowledge of French and Francophone cultures and literature. The minor complements many other majors and provides a valuable credential in global perspectives that help students succeed in a competitive job marketplace. Through the integrated study of literature, cultures, and the arts of the French-speaking world, our students learn about diverse perspectives, and develop skills in advanced communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. 

What courses would I take?

To earn the minor, students complete 18 semester hours (6 courses) at the 200 level or above and maintain a 2.5 GPA. FRE 301 and one French course at the 400 level are required. One course in translation counts toward the minor; all courses must be taken for a grade, not credit/no-credit. French minors often choose to study abroad in short- or longer-term programs in France or French-speaking countries. We offer a faculty-led program in Paris, France during winter term where students may earn up to 3 credit hours toward the minor and can provide advising to students interesting in studying abroad in French-speaking countries. We actively support our students with career planning.
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Student Learning Outcomes

Student Learning Outcomes are specific, measurable statements describing what students will know, be able to do, or be able to demonstrate upon completion of a course or program. They articulate the intended learning of students and are designed to be observable and measurable. Student learning outcomes are crucial for assessing the effectiveness of instruction and informing curriculum development. 

Minor in French

Students who complete the requirements for the minor in French will should be able to demonstrate the following outcomes:

  • Write original arguments, supported by convincing evidence and textual analysis of a document (poem, novel, film, etc.) in French.
  • Acquire knowledge of French and Francophone cultural production (literature, thought, film, etc.).
  • Draw connections between works of literature and cultural, intellectual, or historical contexts.
  • Develop oral and written communication skills in French.

Advising and Placement

Students who wish to take French language classes should take the online placement exam to determine their level. For guidance about placement, please contact the French Program Director.

The French Program Director of the department can assist with academic planning related to the French minor degree requirements. However, the ultimate responsibility for fulfilling all requirements rests with the student. By the second semester of the junior year, the student should also see an advisor in the College of Arts and Science to review the completion of College and University requirements.

For questions relating to French courses or advising guidance, please contact:

Dr. Mark McKinney
Irvin Hall 204
513-529-7508 Department
513-529-5646 Office

Courses the Meet the Miami Plan

CAS-A Requirement (Foreign Language)

  • FRE 101 - Elementary French I (4 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 102 - Elementary French II (4 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 201 - Intermediate French I (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 202 - Intermediate French II (3 Credit Hours)

CAS-B Requirement (Humanities)

  • FRE 131 - Masterpieces of French Culture in Translation (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 301 - Culture & Interpretation (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 302 - Pre-Revolutionary Literature and Life (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 303 - Modern and Contemporary Literature and Life (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 350 - Topics in French Literature in Translation (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 366 - French Cinema in Translation (3 Credit Hours)

Perspective Areas (PA1C - Advanced Writing)

  • FRE 301 - Culture & Interpretation (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 303 - Modern and Contemporary Literature and Life (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 310 - Texts in Context (3 Credit Hours)

Perspective Areas (PA3B - Humanities)

  • FRE 131 - Masterpieces of French Culture in Translation (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 202 - Critical Analysis of French Culture (3 Credit Hours)

Perspective Areas (PA4B - Intercultural Consciousness)

  • FRE 301 - Culture & Interpretation (3 Credit Hours)

Perspective Areas (PA4C - Global Inquiry)

  • FRE 131 - Masterpieces of French Culture in Translation (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 202 - Critical Analysis of French Culture (3 Credit Hours)

Signature Inquiry (Creativity, Storytelling, and Design)

  • FRE/FST 269 - Global French Cinema (3 Credit Hours)
  • FRE 301 - Culture & Interpretation (3 Credit Hours) 

Department of French, Italian, and Classical Studies

400 E. Spring Street
105 Irvin Hall
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-1480
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