Major & Minor Requirements

For students entering IWU in fall 2021 and beyond,  French & Francophone Studies  is no longer available as a major or minor.

The Major and Minor in French & Francophone Studies

Whether choosing a major or a minor in French & Francophone Studies, our program is intended to provide a liberal arts/professional approach to undergraduate education and to help students select the academic and professional orientation that will best prepare them to fulfill individual career and personal goals. 


The Major Sequence in French & Francophone Studies

9 Courses 

(Please go to the courses page for information on each individual course.)

  1. FREN 201: Intermediate French l
  2. FREN 230: French for Human Rights and Social Justice
  3. FREN 303: Intro to Literature (cross-listed with LC 125 Special Topics in French Literature
  4. FREN 312 French: Cinema (cross-listed with LC 320 French Cinema)
  5. FREN 319: Survey of French Civilization (cross-listed with LC 325)
  6. FREN 330 or 340 or 350 (taken abroad)
  7. FREN 330 or 340 or 350 (taken abroad)
  8. FREN 360 (taken abroad)
  9. FREN 490: Senior Project

A minimum of one semester of approved study abroad in France or a French-speaking country is also required.  Click here for more details!
 Students wishing to pursue Research Honors in French & Francophone Studies should plan to enroll in French 499 either fall or spring of their senior year.

The Minor Sequence in French & Francophone Studies

5 Courses

(Please go to the courses page for information on each individual course.)

  1. FREN 201: Intermediate French
  2. FREN 230: French for Human Rights and Social Justice
  3. FREN 303: Intro to Literature (cross-listed with LC 125 Special Topics in French Literature)
  4. FREN 312 French: Cinema (cross-listed with LC 320 French Cinema)
  5. FREN 319: Survey of French Civilization (cross-listed with LC 325)

  *Placement test results or AP credit does not exempt students from taking the required number of courses for the major/minor in French. Students test- ing into the 300 level should substitute a 300 level elective for French 201/203. Furthermore, of the 9 courses required for a major and the 5 required for the minor, a minimum of 5 courses for the major and 3 for the minor must be taken in residence at IWU.

"The French and Francophone Studies major provides an excellent, meaningful, and well-rounded learning experience.  From introductory courses that provide a foundation for communication skills and grammar, the major includes wonderful classes that put skills into practice.  George Mitchell Courses in literature, civilization, and the arts allow students to practice and continually hone their French, while forcing them to think critically and exposing them to the cultural diversity of the Francophone world.  The required semester of study abroad is critical, because it provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the French/Francophone culture."

- George Mitchell '12,
French educator, Palatine, Illinois