Division of Humanities

Patrice Mothion (chair), Karin Ciholas, Ken Keffer, David Llorca; students: Josh Frederick, Tanya Harris

Recommended Freshman-Sophomore Preparation

Students considering a major in French are encouraged to plan their academic program to include as wide a distribution of courses as possible regardless of their professional or vocational objectives. Prospective majors should consider taking courses in literature, history, philosophy, and the fine arts.


Requirements for the Major

FRE 210, 220, 260, 270 or equivalent;
Five FRE courses numbered 300 or higher;
One additional FRE course numbered 250 or higher;
FRE 500.

Note: It is strongly recommended that majors and minors participate in a term abroad in our Centre-in-Europe program in Strasbourg, France, as an integral component of their French studies.

Requirements for the Minor

FRE 210, 220, 260, 270 or equivalent;
Two FRE courses numbered 300 or higher;
One additional FRE course numbered 250 or higher;

French Courses

FRE 110, 120 Introduction to French Language and Culture-I, II (four credit hours each)
An introduction to French language and culture. FRE 110 references our abroad program in Strasbourg; FRE 120 references the Tour de France bicycle race. Prerequisite: 110 for 120.

FRE 150 Fundamentals-IV
This course is designed for students in Strasbourg who have met the minimum proficiency level in French but have not studied French since entering Centre. The course uses materials comparable to FRE 110 but students are given additional assignments dependent on their individual capabilities.

FRE 210, 220 Intermediate Workshop
A course in simple French emphasizing conversation and treating one or more of the following topics: painting, history, cinema, song, or current events. Prerequisite: FRE 120 or placement.

FRE 260 Joan of Arc
A course tracing the history and civilization of France from its medieval beginnings through the life and legend of Joan of Arc; primary sources from her trials and her portayal in literature, art, music and film; emphasis on French language skills including composition and debate. Prerequisite: FRE 220 or placement.

FRE 270 Napoleon Bonaparte
The life and times of this military figure and statesman introduces students to the upper-level study of France after the Revolution; primary source material and portrayal in literature, art, music and film; emphasis on French language skills including composition and debate. Prerequisite: FRE 220 or placement.

FRE 251/350 Contemporary French Culture
A systematic study of Modern France and its social institutions. Offered in Strasbourg. Prerequisite: FRE 120 for 251; FRE 210 or placement for 350.

FRE 410 Food for Thought
A study of the different aspects of the French culinary tradition in literature, from Renart's hunger in the Middle Ages to Astérix's banquets. Prerequisite: FRE 260 or 270.

FRE 420 The Theme of Love in Film and Literature
Great love stories of the French literary tradition from early Troubadour love songs to New Wave cinema. Prerequisite: FRE 260 or 270.

FRE 430 The Molière Stage
A course using the rehearsal, design and staging of a major play by Molière (Tartuffe, Le Misanthrope, Le Bourgeois gentilhomme...) as the chief means of exploring classicism in 17th-century France. Prerequisite: FRE 260 or 270.

FRE 440 Paris in French Literature
Study of the growth and development of the French capital from Lutetia to the City of Lights as reflected in French literature; course includes study of the representation of Paris in art and study of its architecture. Prerequisite: FRE 260 or 270.

FRE 450 Utopia and the Self
A study of the ways in which French essayists and novelists, from the Renaissance to the early 20th century, have described the relationship between the individual and society; emphasis on the "moralist" writings of Montaigne, Pascal, Rousseau, Chateaubriand, and Proust. Prerequisite: FRE 260 or 270.

FRE 460 Existentialism and the Quest for Meaning
An exploration of spiritual dilemmas and existential choices in French literature from Pascal to Sartre. Students writee and present dialogues illustrating existential choices confronting us in the 21st century. Prerequisite: FRE 260 or 270.

FRE 461 Advanced Studies: Joan of Arc
This advanced studies course provides an advanced French major the opportunity to intern as an assistant in a lower-level class. The course traces the history and civilization of France from the beginning up through the life of Joan of Arc. Prerequisite: FRE 210, 220, and by invitation of the French program.

FRE 470 Impressionism and Nature
A course treating the representation of the natural and built worlds in the movement called Impressionism . Emphasis is on discussion in French of how water, sunlight, and gardens shape the painting, literature, and music in the works of Edouard Monet, Paul Cézanne, Berthe Morisot, Marcel Proust, and Claude Debussy. The course includes a painting “campaign” on the trials at Shakertown, a garden project and a group visit to the Art Institute in Chicago . Prerequisite: FRE 260 or 270 or permission of the instructor.

FRE 500 Senior Seminar (one credit hour)
Weekly meetings with French program faculty for discussion of topics of mutual interest between faculty and senios. Offered on a pass/unsatisfactory basis only. Prerequisite: Senior French major.

Special Topics Offered 2004-2005:

FRE 254/454 French Comic Books
Slowly but surely, French comic books are replacing traditional literature in the hearts of millions of readers, both young and old. They easily outsell novels, short stories, poetry, etc. The topic of this course is to study the origins of such a wave of success – focusing on the “classics” of the genre (Tintin, Astérix) – and the impact that contemporary B.D. (Bande Dessinée) authors have on the art of story telling. Prerequisite: FRE 210 for 254; 260 for 454.


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