Director of Undergraduate Studies: Prof. Madeleine Dobie, 510 Philosophy; 854-9874; mld2027@columbia.edu
Director of the Language Program: Dr. Pascale Hubert-Leibler, 519 Philosophy; 854-4819; ph2028@columbia.edu
Academic Department Administrator: Isabelle Chagnon, 515 Philosophy; 854-3208 or 854-2500; ic7@columbia.edu
Departmental Office: 515 Philosophy; 854-3208 or 854-2500
|
Professors
Antoine Compagnon
Souleymane Bachir Diagne
Pierre Force
Sylvie Lefèvre
Sylvère Lotringer
Associate Professors
Peter Connor (Barnard)
Madeleine Dobie
Elisabeth Ladenson
Emmanuelle Saada
Philip Watts
Assistant Professors
Vincent Debaene
Joanna Stalnaker
|
Visiting Professors
Emmanuel Nay
Senior Lecturer
Pascale Hubert-Leibler
Lecturer
Vincent Aurora
Heidi Holst-Knudsen
Sophie Queuniet
Nicole Rudolph
Sarah Juliette Sasson
Associate in Languages
Samuel Skippon
Emilie Littlehales
|
The
undergraduate major in French is intended to give students an in-depth
familiarity with the language, culture, and literature of France and
the French-speaking world. After completion of the four-semester
language requirement students take courses in advanced grammar and
composition and stylistics to refine their skills in reading, speaking,
and writing French. They also undertake a comprehensive overview of the
development of French literature from the Middle Ages to the present
day in a required two-semester survey course. A wide choice of advanced
elective courses on French history, philosophy, cinema, and literature
allows students to explore a variety of intellectual interests, to
perfect their critical reading skills, and to master the techniques of
close reading. Cultural studies courses offered every semester on
different topics give students opportunities to broaden and
contextualize their appreciation of French literature. The capstone
course of the major is the senior seminar, in which students study a
range of texts and critical approaches and are encouraged to synthesize
their learning in previous courses. The optional senior essay, written
under the direction of a faculty member, or in an independent study
during the student's stay at Reid Hall, provides students with an
initiation to scholarly research. The senior essay is a requirement to
be considered for departmental honors.
Students
interested in French history and civilization, and in the literature
and culture of the Francophone world, should consider the major in
French and Francophone Studies, also administered by the French
Department.
In Fulfillment of the Language Requirement
FREN W1101-FREN W1102 and
W1201-W1202. Entering students are placed, or exempted, on the basis of their College Board
Achievement or Advanced Placement scores, or their scores on the placement test
administered by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, 403 Lerner. An SAT score
of 780 or a score of 4 on the AP exam satisfy the language requirement.
Language Proficiency Courses
Elementary and intermediate French courses are designed to help students develop
an active command of the language. In
W1101 and
W1102 the communicative approach
is the main method of instruction. In addition to practicing all four language
skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—students are introduced
to the cultural features of diverse French-speaking communities. Intermediate courses,
W1201 and
W1202, develop further linguistic competence
through the study of short stories, films, novels and plays. Upon completion of
the four-semester language sequence, students are able to discuss and write in
fairly proficient French on a variety of complex topics. At the third-year level
attention is focused on more sophisticated use of language in grammar and composition
courses and on literary, historical, and philosophical questions in literature
courses. In French
W3333 and
W3334 the whole span of French literature is surveyed and students learn techniques
for analyzing literature of different centuries, styles, and genres. After completion
of these core courses, French majors are encouraged to follow their individual
interests, and a wide range of language, literature, and cultural studies courses
is available to them. Small classes and seminars allow for individual attention
and enable students to work closely with faculty members.
Conversation Courses
Students looking for intensive oral practice in French may take one of the 2-credit
conversation courses offered at the intermediate and advanced levels. Conversation
courses generally may not be counted toward completion of the major. The exception
is the special 3 point advanced conversation course, French Cultural Workshop, offered in the fall semester
which is designed to meet the needs of students planning study abroad at Reid Hall.
Language Laboratory and On-line Materials
Language laboratories located in 116B Lewisohn Hall and in the International Affairs
Building provide opportunities for intensive practice in French pronunciation and
aural comprehension. French courses typically make extensive use of
on-line interactive materials that students can access from their own computer
terminals.
Maison Française
Students interested in French should acquaint themselves with the Maison Française, which has a reading room containing French language newspapers, periodicals, books, and videos, and which sponsors lectures and discussions by distinguished French visitors to New York City. With its weekly French film series, book club, café-conversation and other events, the Maison Française offers an excellent opportunity for students to perfect their language skills and enhance their knowledge of French and Francophone culture in a variety of extracurricular activities that take place in a friendly, informal environment.
Study Abroad
Because a direct experience of contemporary French society is an essential part
of the program, French majors and concentrators are strongly encouraged to spend
either a semester or a year at Reid Hall-Columbia University in Paris, or at another French/francophone university. During their time abroad students take courses credited toward the French major, and in some cases also toward other majors (e.g. history, art history, political science).
Qualified students may apply to the Columbia/Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences-Po) five-year BA/MA program. Students interested in this opportunity should speak to their undergraduate advisers and major adviser and contact the Office of Global Programs (OGP).
For more information on study abroad visit the OGP Web sit at www.ogp.columbia.edu, call 854-2559 or e-mail studyabroad@columbia.edu.
For a list of approved study abroad programs visit http://ogp.columbia.edu/programs/all.html.
Reid Hall, Paris
Located at 4 rue de Chevreuse, Paris, Reid Hall is administered by Columbia University. It offers semester and year-long programs of study, as well as summer courses.
Most students who study at Reid Hall take courses offered in the French university system (e.g. at the Sorbonne, Sciences-Po) as well as core courses offered at Reid Hall. Students begin their stay at Reid Hall with a month-long French immersion program. In their first semester most students also take a course in academic writing in French that enables them to succeed at a high level in French university courses. Special Reid Hall opportunities include small joint seminars in which ten students from Reid Hall participate with ten French students in seminars devoted to topical issues.
For information on fall/spring study at Reid Hall see: http://ogp.columbia.edu/pages/noncolumbia_students/index.html
For summer study at Reid Hall see: http://ogp.columbia.edu/pages/noncolumbia_students/summer/paris/index.html
Departmental Honors
Majors who wish to be considered for departmental honors should consult with the
director of undergraduate studies. To be eligible for consideration, the student
must have a grade point average of at least 3.7 in courses for the major and have completed an approved senior thesis under
the guidance of a faculty member at Columbia or Reid Hall. Normally no more than
10 percent of the graduating majors in the department each year will receive departmental
honors.
Undergraduate Prizes
The Department of French and Romance Philology awards the following prizes to
students enrolled in French/ French and Francophone Studies courses:
- Prize for Excellence in French Studies: awarded to a highly promising student in an intermediate or advanced French course
- Senior French Prize: awarded to an outstanding graduating major
