French and Francophone Studies
Department of Languages, Cultures and Literatures
- MIRKO M. HALL, chair
- DOUG P. BUSH
- RAFAEL E. HERNÁNDEZ
- CATHERINE JONES
- STEFANIA LICATA
Mission
The mission of the Department of Languages, Cultures and Literatures is to enable Converse students to embrace diversity and complexity in the world through communication in other languages and knowledge of other cultures. The department will achieve this goal by preparing students in the following areas:
- competence in oral comprehension, speaking, reading, and writing of the target language;
- knowledge of the culture and literature of the major language;
- preparation to enter an advanced degree program, public service, business, or the professions.
The Department of Languages, Cultures and Literatures offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with the majors of German Studies and Hispanic Studies. Students majoring in German Studies or Hispanic Studies must complete 30 credit hours in courses numbered 202 and above.
The General Education Program is a requirement for all degrees. The requirements listed below are approved for the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Fine Arts.
ENG 101 | 3 hours |
Language and Culture | 9 hours |
MTH 108 or higher | 3 hours |
One course designated as Quantitative Reasoning | 3–4 hours |
Health and Well-Being Wellness | 2 hours |
Activity course | 1–2 hours |
Humanities | 6 hours |
Literature | 3 hours |
Fine Arts | 6 hours |
Natural Science | 7–8 hours |
Social Science | 6 hours |
Total | 49–52 hours |
Graduation requirements but not a separate course:
- First Year Seminar
- Writing Intensive course
- Non-European/non-Anglophone course
- Capstone experience
- For more information see the GEP requirements in this catalog.
Calculation of Major and Minor GPA in Languages, Cultures and Literature
To earn a major or minor in German Studies or Hispanic Studies, or a minor in French and Francophone Studies, students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 across all of their required and elective courses on the Degree Completion Form for that specific program.
Elective credits beyond the required number may not be considered in the calculation.
For the major in German Studies, this GPA includes the allowance of two elective courses from other departments with a substantial Germanic component. For the major in Hispanic Studies, this GPA includes the allowance of one elective course, either SPN 400 or HST 477. Transfer credits from other institutions do not figure into the calculation for major or minor GPAs.
Degrees and Certificates
Classes
FRN 125 : FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR
Credits
3FRN 199H : FRESHMAN HONORS SEMINAR
Credits
3FRN 201 : INTERMEDIATE FRENCH
Credits
3Prerequisites
French 101-102, or placement in FRN 201.
FRN 202 : INTERMEDIATE FRENCH
Credits
3Prerequisites
FRN 201 or placement in FRN 202.
FRN 210 : TOPICS IN READING, WRITING AND CONVERSATION
Credits
3Prerequisites
FRN 201.
FRN 265 : LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND LITERATURE STUDY SEMINAR
Students will study the target language and enroll in a foreign study program or participate in a Converse designed program, studying the language and discussing important topics on culture and contemporary life. Grades in the course will be determined either by the native language teacher or by a Converse professor, based on class participation, tests and graded assignments. Offered during Jan Term or Summer Terms, contingent upon sufficient enrollment. Non-European/non-Anglophone.
Credits
3FRN 299H : INTERDISCIPLINARY HONORS COURSE
FRN 303 : A SURVEY OF FRENCH LITERATURE I
FRN 303/304 are a study of selected themes in French literature from the beginning to the present time. FRN 303, the first term, treats French literature from the beginnings to the revolutionary period.
Writing Intensive.
Credits
3Prerequisites
Permission of instructor.
FRN 304 : A SURVEY OF FRENCH LITERATURE II
FRN 303/304 are a study of selected themes in French literature from the beginning to the present time. FRN 304, the second term, covers from the French Revolution to the present.
Writing Intensive.
Credits
3Prerequisites
Permission of instructor.
FRN 309 : FRANCOPHONE LITERATURE OF AFRICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Credits
3Prerequisites
Permission of instructor.
FRN 310 : COMMERCIAL FRENCH
Credits
3Prerequisites
FRN 202 or equivalent.
FRN 312 : CONTEMPORARY FRENCH CULTURE
Credits
3Prerequisites
FRN 202 or equivalent.
FRN 314 : SPECIAL TOPICS IN FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
This course will introduce students to various aspects of the social and cultural realities of the target cultures using historical readings and literary selections supported by films and travel. Topics of consideration may include history, women, the media, immigrants and racism, and colonialism. Non-European/non-Anglophone.
Credits
3Prerequisites
FRN 202 or approval of department chair.
FRN 365 : LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND LITERATURE STUDY SEMINAR
Students will study the target language and enroll in a foreign study program or participate in a Converse designed program, studying the language and discussing important topics on culture and contemporary life. Grades in the course will be determined either by the native language teacher or by a Converse professor, based on class participation, tests and graded assignments. Offered during Jan Term or Summer Terms, contingent upon sufficient enrollment. Non-European/non-Anglophone.
Credits
3FRN 490 : DIRECTED INDEPENDENT STUDY
Credits
3FRN 496 : FOREIGN LANGUAGE INTERNSHIP
Prerequisites
One course numbered 300 or above and permission of the instructor.