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2024-2025 Catalog
French and Francophone Studies
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 Return to: Academic Fields
Professors: Beschea (Chair), Kruger
Assistant Professors: Bedecarre, Vessier
Visiting Assistant Professors: Newman, Robu
French and Francophone Studies students acquire knowledge of the languages, literatures, and cultures of France and French-speaking countries. Majors and minors gain cross-cultural understanding and global competence that prepare them for successful lives of leadership and service. Through our commitment to do work in French at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced language courses, students develop, practice and maintain the skills to read, write, speak, and understand French. Courses on the literatures and cultures of French-speaking communities in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and North America instill in students an appreciation of Francophone cultures and histories in their diversity. In keeping with the broader liberal arts mission of the college, the department trains students in the skills of both critical analysis and written and oral argument, as well as understand critical interdisciplinary connections with Africana Studies, the Humanities, Global Literary Theory, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Film and Media Studies, Art History, History. We strongly encourage all students to study in a French-speaking country. To that end, students have the opportunity to study in the college’s own Davidson in France program.
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Major Requirements (A.B. Degree)
To complete a major in French and Francophone Studies, students must take 9 courses above FRE 201 as follows:
1. Two foundation courses:
FRE 205 or its equivalent and an additional course FRE 206-219.
For any student placing out of FRE 205, two courses FRE 206-219
2. One methods course Francophone Humanities:
FRE 220: Francophone Humanities: decentering the Francophone world
Pre-requisite: one course at the FRE 205-219 level or equivalent.
3. Three courses in French and Francophone cultures and cultural productions. (Pre-requisite: FRE 220.)
Two of these courses must be taken in different geographical regions.
FRE 310-319 = Language courses: History of the language, French for the Professions and Translation, etc.
(does not fulfill the geographical region requirement.)
FRE 320-339 = France (incl. European Francophonie)
FRE 340-349 = Maghreb/Mashreq
FRE 350-359 = Québec (incl. North America)
FRE 360-369 = West Africa
FRE 370-379 = Caribbean (incl. French Guiana)
FRE 381-389 = Asia
4. Two elective courses (With prior approval by the French and Francophone Studies Department, we encourage majors to take one course in French or Francophone studies offered by other departments or in a study abroad program. Pre-approved courses include HIS 228, HIS 328, AFR 364, GSS 352, LIT245).*
5.One Seminar at the 400-level, including FRE 491. (Pre-requisite: 300-level course)
Note: Writing a thesis or producing an approved creative project are the only paths to honors. Students writing a thesis/doing a project must enroll in FRE 499 in the spring of their senior year. They will graduate with 10 credits in French and Francophone Studies.
No F&FS course taken Pass/Fail at Davidson may count towards the major in French and Francophone Studies. *Only one course taken in English can count as an elective toward the F&FS major or minor, provided that the course focuses on a Francophone topic.
Minor Requirements
To complete a minor in French and Francophone Studies, students must take 6 courses above FRE 201 as follows:
1. One foundation course: any 205-219 level course (FRE 205 if you have completed FRE 201 or depending on placement test for incoming students).
2. One methods course Francophone Humanities:
FRE 220: Francophone Humanities: decentering the Francophone world
Pre-requisite: one course at the FRE 205-219 level or equivalent.
3. Two courses in French and Francophone cultures and cultural productions. Pre-requisite: FRE 220.
The two courses must be taken in different geographical regions.
FRE 320-339 = France (incl. European Francophonie)
FRE 340-349 = Maghreb/Mashreq
FRE 350-359 = Québec (incl. North America)
FRE 360-369 = West Africa
FRE 370-379 = Caribbean (incl. French Guiana)
FRE 381-389 = Asia
4. Two electives (only one at the 200-level, the second can be a seminar depending on the student’s proficiency level or any 300-level course; the department may require Written Expression/Grammar as one of the electives depending on the student’s proficiency level)
For the minor, courses in the FRE 310-319 range = Language courses (History of the language, French for the Professions and Translation, etc.) may be taken as a 300-level elective only.
No F&FS course taken Pass/Fail at Davidson may count towards the major in French and Francophone Studies
Honors Requirements
French and Francophone Studies students can choose to complete their F&FS major through one of the following:
1) Capstone course
2) Written Thesis†
3) Creative project†
An oral defense of the project proposal is required in the semester prior to the oral defense of the thesis or project in the following semester. See the description of the courses and consult guidelines available on the department webpage.
In the case of an exceptional academic record, together with a thesis or project of the highest quality, the department may confer honors or high honors.
†Requires departmental approval.
French and Francophone Studies Courses
ELEMENTARY AND INTERMEDIATE LEVEL LANGUAGE COURSES
Guidelines for selecting courses beyond the intermediate level.
The minimum requirement for courses numbered 212 or above is French 201or an appropriate placement score. Students who have completed 201 or the equivalent may enroll in any course numbered 212-229 or 260, regardless of sequence in numbering. For help in matching literature, culture, and advanced language courses to linguistic skills and interests, students are strongly encouraged to consult with any member of the French and Francophone Studies Department.
Introductory Courses in Literature (220-229).
All Introductory Literature courses (numbered 220-229) satisfy Distribution Requirement in Literary Studies, Creative Writing, and Rhetoric.
Dual Listed Literature Course
Introductory Courses in French and Francophone Cultures
Advanced Courses (All 300 level courses have the same level of difficulty.)
Completion of a course numbered 220 or above is normally required for enrollment in a course numbered 300 or above. |
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