Undergraduate Program

French Courses in the YCPS

Yale Online Course Information 

Director of undergraduate studies:

Edwige Tamalet, Rm 326, 82-90 Wall St., 4324902

Language Program Director:

          Françoise Schneider, Rm. 313, 82–90 Wall St., 432-8855

Registrar:

Sonia Bauguil, Rm 311, 82-90 Wall St., 432-4902
 

FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FRENCH

Professors

R. Howard Bloch (on leave), Edwin M. Duval, Marie-Hélène Girard (Visiting),
Alice Kaplan (Chair), Thomas Kavanagh (on leave Spring 13), Christopher L. Miller (DGS), Maurice Samuels (on leave Spring 13)

Assistant Professors

Thomas Connolly, Christopher Semk, Edwige Tamalet-Talbayev (DUS), Yue Zhuo

Senior Lecturer

            Maryam Sanjabi

Lecturers

Diane Charney, Alyson Waters (not teaching in 12-13)

Senior Lectors

Ruth Koizim, Soumia Koundi, Matuku Ngame, Lauren Pinzka, Françoise Schneider (Director of Language Program), Constance Sherak

Lectors

Angelique Allain, Kathleen Burton,  Marie-Sophie Caruel, Jonathan Cornillon, Audrey Hoffmann, Pauline Lambert, Julian Michelet, Candace Skorupa, Vanessa Vysosias
  

Post Doctoral Fellow

          Jonathan Cayer

The Department of French has two distinct but complementary missions: to provide instruction in the French language at all levels of competence, and to lead students to a broad appreciation and deep understanding of the literatures and cultures of France and other French-speaking countries.

The major in French is a liberal arts major, designed for those who wish to study one of the world’s greatest and richest literatures in depth. The department offers courses devoted to authors, works, and literary and cultural movements that span ten centuries and four continents. The curriculum also includes interdisciplinary courses on relations between literature and other areas of study such as history, law, religion, politics, and the arts. Majors are encouraged to explore all periods and genres of literature in French, as well as a wide variety of critical approaches. 

Excellent knowledge of a foreign language and a mature, informed appreciation of a foreign literature open doors to many professions. For this reason the French major provides ideal preparation for careers not only in academics but also in a wide range of fields from law and diplomacy to journalism and the arts. Recent graduates have gone on to selective law schools and graduate programs in French and Comparative Literature. Others work in primary and secondary education, business, government, and a variety of nongovernmental agencies and international organizations.

French can be taken either as a primary major or as one of two majors, in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies. Appropriate majors to combine with French might include, but are not limited to, African American Studies, African Studies, English, Film Studies, History, History of Art, Humanities, International Studies, Literature, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Theater Studies, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. (Regulations concerning the completion of two majors can be found in chapter II, section K, of this bulletin.) The department is also committed to working closely with students who wish to earn certification as a teacher of French through the Teacher Preparation and Education Studies program.

Study abroad  Students are encouraged to spend a year or a term abroad, for which appropriate course credit is granted. Summer study abroad may also, in some cases, receive course credit. Further information may be obtained from the Center for International Experience ( www.yale.edu/yalecollege/international) and from Ruth Koizim, the study abroad adviser for the Department of French. The Kenneth Cornell Charitable Foundation provides some financial support for majors and prospective majors who undertake research projects related to their work in the major in France or a francophone country. Contact the director of undergraduate studies for details.

Prerequisites  Candidates for the major should take two courses in the FREN 150–159 range, or a reasonable equivalent, during the freshman or sophomore year. Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to take at least one literature course numbered 170 or above before the end of the sophomore year.

The standard major: The standard major consists of ten term courses numbered 160 or above, including a one-term senior essay (see below). At least four of these must be Group B courses numbered 200 or above. Students may count no more than three courses in the FREN 160–199 range and no more than two courses conducted in English (Group C or Group D) toward the major. With prior approval of the director of undergraduate studies, a maximum of four term courses taught outside the Yale Department of French but bearing directly on the student's principal interest may be counted toward the major. Up to two of these may be taken in other departments at Yale, and up to four may be taken as part of a Year or Term Abroad or summer study abroad program. However, the combined number of courses from other departments and from study abroad may not exceed four. (The director of undergraduate studies may grant exceptions to this limit for students who spend two academic terms in an approved study abroad program.) Relevant freshman seminars may count toward the major, with permission of the director of undergraduate studies.

The intensive major  The intensive major is designed for students who wish to undertake a more concentrated study of literature in French. It is recommended for students considering graduate study in French or in Comparative Literature. The intensive major consists of twelve term courses numbered 160 or above, including a one-term or two-term senior essay (see below). At least five courses must be from Group B and numbered 200 or above. Stipulations for courses in the 160–199 range, courses conducted in English, and courses taken outside the department are identical to those for the standard major.

Senior requirement  All majors must write a senior essay showing evidence of careful reading and research and substantial independent thought. Essays may be written in either French or English and must be prepared under the direction of a ladder faculty member in the Department of French. Students planning to pursue advanced work in French after graduation are encouraged to write their senior essay in French.

Students writing a one-term essay enroll in FREN 491a or b in the senior year. A one-term essay may be written in either the fall or the spring term and should be approximately thirty pages in length. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be addressed and the name of the adviser must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 14 (fall-term essay) or November 9 (spring-term essay). A one-page prospectus and bibliography are due September 21 (fall term) or January 25 (spring term). A rough draft must be submitted to the adviser by November 2 (fall term) or March 29 (spring term). Two copies of the final essay are due in the department by November 30 (fall term) or April 22 (spring term).

Students electing a two-term essay for the intensive major must select their subject and adviser by the end of the junior year and enroll in FREN 493a and 494b during the senior year. The essay should be approximately sixty pages in length. A preliminary statement indicating the general area to be addressed and the name of the adviser must be submitted to the director of undergraduate studies by September 14. A one-page prospectus and bibliography are due September 21. Students must submit an initial rough draft to their adviser by January 25 and a complete draft by March 29. Two copies of the final essay are due in the department by April 22.

All majors  It is strongly recommended that all majors complete at least one term course in the FREN 170–179 sequence early in their studies. They are also encouraged to take as many advanced courses as possible in all historical periods from the Middle Ages to the present. Candidates for the major should consult the director of undergraduate studies as early as the beginning of the sophomore year and no later than the fall term of the junior year. Schedules must be approved and signed by the director of undergraduate studies. Students planning to study abroad or to petition for completion of two majors should contact the director of undergraduate studies during the sophomore year. Courses taken Credit/D/Fail may not be counted toward the requirements of the major.

Special Divisional Major  The department will support the application of qualified students who wish to pursue an interdisciplinary course in French studies. Under the provisions of the Special Divisional Major, students may combine courses offered by the French department with subjects elected from other departments. Close consultation with departmental advisers is required; candidates for a Special Divisional Major should consult the director of undergraduate studies in French by the fall term of the junior year. For further information about the Special Divisional Major see under that heading in this chapter.

Group A courses  (FREN 110–159) This group consists of language courses that lead directly to courses counting toward the major. For further details, students should consult the Freshman Web site at www.yale.edu/yalecollege/freshmen or see the director of undergraduate studies.

Group B courses  (FREN 160–449, not including Group C courses) This group contains more advanced courses that are taught in French and count toward the major. Courses in the FREN 170–179 range are gateway courses that introduce students to the study of French and francophone literatures, societies, and cultures. Courses in the FREN 180–199 range are advanced language courses. Courses numbered 200–449 are advanced seminars in literature and culture. The 200–299 range contains courses devoted to broad, general fields defined by century or genre; the 300–449 range contains courses devoted to specific topics within or across those general fields.

Group C courses  This group comprises courses taught in English; readings may be in French or English. Two term courses from this group may be counted for credit toward the major.

Group D courses  Courses in this group are taught in other departments but may count toward the French major, with permission of the director of undergraduate studies.

Placement  Proper placement is essential for productive language study. All students who have not yet taken French at Yale are expected to take the departmental placement test, with the exception of students who have no previous knowledge of French whatsoever and those whose placement has already been established by other means (see the Freshman Web site).

Please note that the departmental placement test is given only once a year, in the fall. Times and locations for the placement test are posted on the departmental Web site under Placement and Registration.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE MAJOR

Prerequisites  2 term courses numbered FREN 150–159 or equivalent

Number of courses   Standard major—10 term courses numbered 160 or above; Intensive major—12 term courses numbered 160 or above

Distribution of courses   Standard major—at least 4 term courses in Group B numbered 200 or above; no more than 3 term courses numbered FREN 160–199; no more than 2 term courses conducted in English; Intensive major—same, plus 1 addtl Group B course numbered 200 or above

Substitution permitted  With prior approval of DUS, up to 4 term courses outside French dept, as specified

Senior requirement   Standard major—one-term senior essay in French or English (FREN 491a or b); Intensive major—one-term (FREN 491a or b) or two-term (FREN 493a, 494b) senior essay in French or English