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2009-2010 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
French
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 Return to: Academic Departments and Concentrations
Professors: Jacobus, Slawy-Sutton (Chair), Sutton
Associate Professor: Kruger
Assistant Professors: Fache (Resident Director, France, 2009-10), Pettersen
Visiting Professor: Buckley
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Distribution Requirements
Any course numbered 220–229, 290 or 320–349; or 361-363 may be counted toward the fulfillment of the distribution requirement in literature. Foreign Language Requirement
Completion of French 201 meets the foreign language requirement for the degree.
Students with prior work in French must take a placement test to assess their language proficiency. Using the results of the placement exam (which tests reading and listening skills) and the high school record, the department places the student at the appropriate level.
Students may satisfy the language requirement by high achievement on the placement exam. Should they wish to continue French, they should enroll in a course numbered 202 or above. Other students may petition the department to satisfy the language requirement on the basis of an oral examination given by a member of the department. Cultural Diversity Requirement
French 361, 362, 366, and 367 are options for fulfilling the cultural diversity requirement. Study Abroad
The department strongly encourages all students, especially French majors or minors, to study abroad for a minimum of one semester. Davidson’s own program is located in Tours where students may spend an academic year or either the fall or spring semester (see section on Study Abroad for more details). Students participating in non-Davidson foreign-study programs must secure advance approval from the department for credit toward the major. Major Requirements
No French course taken Pass/Fail will count towards the major in French.
Ten French courses numbered above 202, and including:
- French 211 or equivalent;
- a course in the 220-229 series or the equivalent;
- French 260 or the equivalent;
- three 300-level courses including at least one in the 320-349 series and at least one in the 361-369 series;
- 490 (Senior Seminar);
- 491 or 499 (Senior Thesis or Honors Thesis).
Note 1: In addition to 490 and 491 (or 499), senior majors are required to take a third course in the department during the senior year.
Note 2: We encourage majors to take courses in French studies offered by other departments. With approval of the French department, one such course may be included as one of the ten required for the major. Examples include HIS 228 and HIS 328.
In the spring semester of their senior year, French majors write a senior thesis in French based on a personal reading program developed with the help of a faculty advisor. The reading program may be organized around a literary theme, genre, or movement, as well as a particular author or a civilization topic. Recent topics (translated for convenience) have included: “Economic Development in Senegal,” “Images of Homelessness in French Literature,” “Literary Treatments of Robespierre,” “The Novels of Simone Schwarz-Bart,” and “Balzac and Ambition.”
Students interested in obtaining teacher certification (K–12) in French must satisfy all the education requirements in addition to the major requirements in French, with the exception of French 491 (which is waived to allow the student to complete the education program in the spring semester, including student teaching). Teacher certification candidates submit and present orally a paper on foreign language pedagogy in lieu of the senior thesis. Minor Requirements
No French course taken Pass/Fail will count towards the minor in French.
Six courses numbered above 202, and including: Composition and Conversation (211 or the equivalent), Introduction to French Literature (220–229, or the equivalent), a course in French culture or civilization (260, 360-369, or the equivalent), and three additional courses beyond 211 in French language, literature, and/or civilization, one of which must be at the 300 level. At least two of the six courses must be taken at Davidson, one of which must be at the 300 level. Honors Requirements
Candidates for honors take the regular courses for the major, with the exception of French 491. In the Fall, in order to be accepted as candidates for honors, students must, in addition to having a 3.5 GPA in French courses, write an essay demonstrating their ability in written French. Then, with prior departmental approval, candidates for honors register for French 499 in the spring semester of the senior year, write an honors thesis, and complete an oral defense in French before a departmental thesis committee. Guidelines for selecting courses beyond the intermediate level.
The minimum requirement for courses numbered 211 or above is French 202. Students who have completed 202 or the equivalent may enroll in any course in the 200’s. For help in matching literature, civilization, and advanced language courses to linguistic skills and interests, students may consult with any member of the French Department.
Completion of a course numbered 220 or above is normally required for enrollment in a course numbered 300 or above. Introductory Courses in Literature, Civilization, Phonetics and Translation (220-290)
Advanced Courses (All 300 level courses have the same level of difficulty.)
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