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French

Major
Minor
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When you study French at Gettysburg, you learn more than a second language.

You develop an understanding of other people’s perspectives and experiences. Come explore the Francophone world with us!

Majors & Minors

Program Name Program Type

French

Major Bachelor of Arts

French

Minor

Why study French?

French is spoken across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, North America, and beyond, making it one of the world’s major international languages. Studying French at Gettysburg College allows students to engage with a wide range of cultures, histories, and contemporary global issues while developing advanced skills in communication, analysis, and cross-cultural understanding.

Learning another language also strengthens abilities that are valuable across professions and fields of study: interpreting complex ideas, communicating clearly, adapting to unfamiliar contexts, and understanding perspectives different from one’s own. French students at Gettysburg build these skills through close interaction with faculty, discussion-based classes, cultural analysis, and opportunities for study abroad and experiential learning.

Whether pursued as a major or minor, French complements a wide range of academic and professional interests, including international affairs, business, law, education, public service, health professions, and the arts. Above all, studying French encourages students to think more critically about language, culture, and the wider world.

Why study French at Gettysburg

Opportunities

Explore the world of French history, culture, and language at Gettysburg College.

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Academics

Select a major or minor in French as your course of study at Gettysburg.

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Community of Experts and Professors

Knowledgeable French faculty members allow students to master the language and culture.

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French is a global language spoken across Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and North America. At Gettysburg, students study French in ways that connect language learning to the cultural, historical, and political contexts of the French-speaking world. Through sustained engagement with texts, films, and other cultural materials, students develop both linguistic proficiency and the analytical skills central to the liberal arts.

Courses in the French program span language study as well as literature, cinema, history, and cultural studies. Students strengthen their abilities in speaking, listening, reading, and writing while also examining how language shapes social identity, cultural expression, and political life. Small class sizes allow for close interaction with faculty and meaningful discussion, helping students build confidence and precision in their use of French.

Beyond the Classroom

French at Gettysburg also includes a range of co-curricular opportunities. Students can participate in French Table for informal conversation, attend film screenings, and take part in events that highlight the diversity of Francophone cultures. These activities support language learning while fostering a sense of community among students.

Many students choose to study abroad in France or another Francophone context, where they deepen their language skills through immersion and cultural experience. Study abroad strengthens linguistic fluency and provides valuable opportunities for independence, adaptability, and cross-cultural engagement.

Why French still matters

French remains one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and its global presence continues to expand. In recent years, Forbes and other sources have highlighted the projected growth of French worldwide over the coming decades, particularly in parts of Africa. For students, this means that French is not only a language of literature and culture, but also a practical asset in a wide range of professional contexts.

Featured Courses

300 Level

Study of the relationship between food and national identity in the French context. Through close readings of historical, sociological, and anthropological texts, as well as analysis of debates surrounding recent food controversies (rising obesity rates, genetically modified foods, regionally certified “authentic” foods), this course aims to develop students’ understanding of important anthropological theory in the study of food (taste, consumption, gifts), while building their awareness of the role food plays in the construction and expression of individual and group identity. Prerequisite: FREN 310. FREN 315 and ANTH 217 are cross-listed.

Study of a genre often considered minor though a variety of documents: novels, bande dessinée, cinema and TV series both in France and the francophone world. The focus is on the variety of styles and authors throughout time, as well as the analysis of various narrative and aesthetics theories and choices. Major emphasis is also placed on the socio-historical and political context, such as the history of the police, famous serial killers, and the daily life of the criminal police. Prerequisite: FREN 305

This course explores the ideological and aesthetic stakes of tourism and voyage in the French and Francophone world. From Imperial France to the postcolonial world, it interrogates what travel writings tell us about fantasies and anxieties haunting our imagination. Have travel writings, tourism, and voyage served to perpetuate or undermine racial stereotypes? What impact (ideological, economic, environmental) has tourism had on local populations? Prerequisite: FREN 305.

Preparation for careers and graduate study

A major or minor in French complements many fields and prepares students for careers in education, international affairs, public service, business, nonprofit work, law, journalism, and global health, among others. Many students also pursue graduate study in French and Francophone studies, international relations, history, political science, or related disciplines.

In an increasingly interconnected world, advanced language skills and cultural literacy are valuable assets. French at Gettysburg provides students with the tools to communicate across cultures, analyze complex global issues, and apply their learning in meaningful professional and personal contexts.
 

As a French major or minor, you’re encouraged to study abroad to build upon your understanding of French culture—and the world. We offer programs in Nantes, Paris, and Dakar.

You’ll also explore France’s past and present achievements through an in-depth study of the nation’s literature, film, society, and culture.

French study affords you invaluable insight into what The Economist calls “unquestionably top of the list” of truly global languages, preparing you for graduate study and for careers in teaching, interpreting, international business and government, medicine, science, or technology.

Major and Minor Information

Ten French courses and a semester abroad are required for the major.

Required Courses

  • French 202 Intermediate French or French 300-level elective
  • French 305 Methods on French and Francophone Studies. French 305 is taught in the Spring semester and is the French methods course
  • French 400 Seminar (must be taken in Spring of Senior Year)

French 300-level Electives

  • Seven electives chosen from the other French departmental offerings at the 300-level or above.
  • May include up to two courses taught in English with an emphasis on France or the broader French -speaking world, subject to department approval

Semester Abroad

  • All French majors are required to spend at least one semester at an approved French speaking program abroad.
  • Up to three courses taken aboard may be counted toward the major requirements, subject to the approval of the French department chairperson.

Notes

  • All majors must take at least one course within the French department during their senior year.

Six French courses are required for the minor.

French Minor Core

  • French 201 Intermediate French or French 300-level elective
  • French 202 Intermediate French or French 300-level elective
  • French 305 Methods in French and Francophone Studies. French 305 is taught in the Spring semester and is the French methods course

French 300-level Electives

  • Three courses chosen from the other French departmental offerings at the 300-level or above.

Notes

  • French Minors can spend at least one semester at an approved French- speaking program aboard.
  • Up to two courses taken may be counted toward the minor requirements, subject to the approval of the French department chairperson.
  • Courses taken under the S/U grading option do not count toward the minor.

First Year Advising and Registration recommendations

Before you register

  • Students with prior French study must take the online placement test located on the First-Year Dashboard before registering and should enroll in the level indicated by their results.
  • Students with no prior French experience should enroll in FREN 101.
  • Placement into a 300-level course indicates strong proficiency; it is not uncommon for first-year students to begin at this level and succeed.

Common first-year courses

Fall semester offerings
  • FREN 101 French for Beginners I
  • FREN 201 Intermediate French I
  • 300-level courses (for students with strong prior background)
Spring semester offerings
  • FREN 102 French for Beginners II
  • FREN 202 Intermediate French II

Students who place into FREN 102 or FREN 202 will begin their language study in the spring semester.

Available Courses

100 Level

Continuation of French 101. Focus on grammar, composition, and pronunciation, with ongoing emphasis on oral comprehension, communication, reading, and writing within French and Francophone contexts. Classroom interaction continues to stress the oral-aural method of language learning. Prerequisite: successful completion of French 101 or placement into 102 based on the Departmental Placement Examination

Fundamentals of French grammar, composition, and pronunciation. Emphasis on oral comprehension, verbal communication, reading, and writing in the broader context of French and Francophone culture. Classroom interaction stresses the oral-aural method of language learning. Enrollment limited to those with no previous study of French or placement based on the Departmental Placement Examination

200 Level

Grammar review and practice in oral French, with stress on reading and written expression in the spring. Contact with French culture is maintained throughout. Enrollment limited to those who have previously studied French and who have completed 101-102, or who are enrolled according to achievement on the Departmental Placement Examination. Successful completion of 201 is a prerequisite for entry into 202, unless student is placed there according to the placement examination.

Grammar review and practice in oral French in the fall semester, with stress on reading and written expression in the spring. Contact with French culture is maintained throughout. Enrollment limited to those who have previously studied French and who have completed 101-102, or who are enrolled according to achievement on the Departmental Placement Examination. Successful completion of 201 is a prerequisite for entry into 202, unless student is placed there according to the placement examination.

This course examines how sports in contemporary France both reflect and reshape struggles over race, power, and equity. From Zinedine Zidane’s rise from an Algerian-immigrant family to national icon, to debates over Muslim women athletes wearing headscarves, sports reveal the tensions of belonging in a society that officially denies racial categories. Students will explore how colonial history, immigration, class, gender, and religion intersect in French sporting culture. Case studies include the 1998 and 2018 World Cups, suburban football academies, parkour in banlieue housing projects, and the Tour de France as a national myth. Comparative analysis with the United States and other countries will highlight different models of multiculturalism, universalism, and exclusion. Offered in English. No previous knowledge of French required.

300 Level

Study of how social and cultural differences are understood, used, and managed in contemporary France. Through close readings of historical, anthropological, and sociological works, as well as analysis of literary, philosophical, and political texts, this course aims to shed light on recent polemics concerning headscarves, the banlieue, gay marriage, affirmative action, and the new Paris museums of immigration and “primitive” art. In the process, it invites reflection on the relativity of such notions as race, ethnicity, gender, and national identity. Prerequisite: French 310. Cross-listed with ANTH 233.

Study of specialized vocabulary and culturally relevant concepts in such fields as business, international relations, journalism, law, and healthcare. Students will develop advanced written and oral communication skills and gain practical and theoretical knowledge in preparation for working in a variety of international contexts. Prerequisite: FREN 300.

Study and practice in translating from French to English and from English to French. Course develops the ability to render idiomatic French into idiomatic English, and vice-versa.

Intensive practice in the refinement of writing skills directed toward a sophisticated and idiomatic use of the language. Coursework includes composition, translation, comparative stylistics, French for use in commercial and other correspondence, and work in the spoken language.

Study of Quebecois identity through careful reading of major literary works by women authors from French Canada. Course focuses not only on the literal periods of unrest as well as on the losses suffered by the Quebecois people but also on the metaphorical turmoil and loss experienced by the characters in the chosen novels. Various aspects of the cultural background are presented (language, religion, music, and art) in an effort to understand the evolution of Quebec's literary tradition and its impact in today's society. A small and accessible body of theory supplements the works of fiction. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.

Study of 19th-century Paris as a site of major cultural and social upheavals that have contributed to shaping modernity. Through an examination of figures populating the 19th-century changing Parisian urban space (the flâneur, the prostitute, the department store clerk, etc.), this seminar investigates the evolution of cultural, economic, and political institutions toward modernity. Topics covered include avant-garde literary and artistic movements; photography; urban planning; retail; finance; politics; and shifting paradigms of gender and economic class. Prerequisite: FREN 305 or equivalent

This course explores the ideological and aesthetic stakes of tourism and voyage in the French and Francophone world. From Imperial France to the postcolonial world, it interrogates what travel writings tell us about fantasies and anxieties haunting our imagination. Have travel writings, tourism, and voyage served to perpetuate or undermine racial stereotypes? What impact (ideological, economic, environmental) has tourism had on local populations? Prerequisite: FREN 305.

Reading and discussion of masterworks of French poetry, prose, and theater in their historical, artistic and social contexts. Works by such authors as Villon, Montaigne, Moliere, Mme de Lafayette, Voltaire, Balzac, Flaubert, Colette and Beckett are read in their entirety. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.

Study of a genre often considered minor though a variety of documents: novels, bande dessinée, cinema and TV series both in France and the francophone world. The focus is on the variety of styles and authors throughout time, as well as the analysis of various narrative and aesthetics theories and choices. Major emphasis is also placed on the socio-historical and political context, such as the history of the police, famous serial killers, and the daily life of the criminal police. Prerequisite: FREN 305

Study of an emerging body of literature in France written by Beur authors as well as first generation of French African authors. The focus is on the experience of the protagonists who, when trying to mix their cultural heritage to the French culture, encounter a myriad of reactions. Major emphasis is placed on the study of literary texts, but the historical and cultural context is also covered as well as themes such as racism, post/colonialism, women, and religion. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.

Study of literary texts from the Francophone world (French-speaking countries in North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean, Quebec, and Vietnam). In addition to their intrinsic literary worth, the selections bring to light the changing identities of formerly colonized people in a post-colonial world. Major emphasis placed on the study of the literary texts, but the historical and cultural context is also covered. Prerequisite: French 305 or equivalent.

Examination of literary, historical, or sociocultural aspects of France or the Francophone world through texts and materials from a variety of sources. The medium of instruction and assessment will be in French. Specific topics will vary.

Study of critically-acclaimed contemporary French and Francophone films. The selections for “Contemporary French and Francophone Cinema,” explore how political and social issues centered around various forms of discrimination (unemployment, immigration, illness, gender and sexual identity) are conceptualized and addressed today in France. Major emphasis is placed on cinematography as students learn the vocabulary and visual grammar of film. Literature from the fields of cinema, sociology, history, and literature, as well as excerpts of foundational films, complement film screenings. Prerequisite: FREN 305 or 310.

Study of the relationship between food and national identity in the French context. Through close readings of historical, sociological, and anthropological texts, as well as analysis of debates surrounding recent food controversies (rising obesity rates, genetically modified foods, regionally certified “authentic” foods), this course aims to develop students’ understanding of important anthropological theory in the study of food (taste, consumption, gifts), while building their awareness of the role food plays in the construction and expression of individual and group identity. Prerequisite: FREN 310. FREN 315 and ANTH 217 are cross-listed.

Overview of the various literal and figurative revolutions in France following the Revolution of 1789. Course examines the many political changes from the rise of the French Republic to the political, social, demographic, economic, intellectual and artistic developments in the multicultural France of the 21st century, including its place and role in the expanding European Union. Prerequisite: French 300. Required of all majors. Offered in the spring.

Reading and analysis of representative selections of texts from the global francophone world (literature, essays, film, art). Course introduces students to interpretive strategies and argumentative writing. Students will also acquire knowledge of the context in which specific texts were created (social, geographical, historical, literary, artistic). Prerequisite: French 202. Required of all majors. Course is a prerequisite for all literature and film courses at the 300-level.

Oral, aural, and written practices of French structures. Collaborative writing, group discussions, individual compositions, and presentations. Recent French films serve as text. Course is a prerequisite for all 300-level courses. Offered every semester.

400 Level

Intensive study of a particular aspect of French literature, civilization, or culture to be determined by the instructor. Past offerings include The Art of Emile Zola, The Image of Women in French Literature: A Feminist Perspective, The Gaze and Self-Image in French Film, 1959-89 and Postcolonial Immigrations in France. Course is for seniors (in the final semester) to complete undergraduate work in French. Prerequisites: Limited to seniors, except with permission of instructor and approval of department chairperson. Offered every spring.

Individualized tutorial counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Individualized research counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded A-F

Internship counting toward the minimum requirements in a major or minor, graded S/U

French and Italian

Address
Campus Box
0411
Contact
John P. Murphy
Associate Professor (French and Italian), French and Italian
Robin Oliver
Casual Academic Operations Assistant, Academic Operations

Faculty

Name & Title
Department
Phone

Caroline Ferraris-Besso

Associate Professor (French and Italian)

Luna Guinebault Foré

French Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant (French and Italian)

Florence Ramond Jurney

Kermit O. Paxton & Renee A. Paxton Endowed Teaching Chair and Professor (French and Italian)

John P. Murphy

Associate Professor (French and Italian)
French and Italian

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