French

For student advising and information on our French program, please contact any of the professors listed above.

Courses and programs in French are offered by the Department of Languages and Cultures.

1. Enrollment in some language courses involves the following formal placement procedures.
   
   Students who have not previously taken a language course at this University, but who have a background in French, must take a placement test available on-line. Students who do not have any background in French should enroll in Beginners' French Level I (FREN 1111) without taking the test. At the beginning of each language class, students will also be asked to complete and sign a Language Profile Form attesting their language background.
   
   All information regarding the placement test is available at the following link: https://www.smu.ca/lc/programs-french-placement-test.html.
   1. Permission to register or remain in a particular language course can be refused if the Department judges that the student’s knowledge exceeds the level for that course.
   2. Native speakers are not eligible to receive advanced credit for language courses.
   3. Completion of Advanced Standing (transfer) courses does not exempt a student from taking the placement test.
2.  The student’s eligibility to enroll in language, culture, and literature courses, and in specific sections of those courses, is determined by the Chairperson in consultation with the instructor in light of the student’s ability level in the language concerned, previous course work completed at university or elsewhere, and overall size of the course or section of a course. In matters of placement, the decision of the Chairperson is final.
3. In order to ensure the academic integrity in language courses, especially at the lower levels of instruction, the Department of Languages and Cultures does not allow native or near-native speakers of a particular target language to enroll in courses at the 2000 level or lower.
   
   Students who misrepresent their knowledge of any given language by providing inaccurate or incomplete information about their linguistic educational history will be subject to disciplinary action as laid out in Academic Regulation 18.
4. The Department of Languages and Cultures supports a policy of regular class attendance by students. Frequent, unexplained absences from class will result in a lowering of the final grade in a manner to be determined by each faculty member.
5. Students enrolling in any French course below the 3000 level are required to take a placement test (unless they have previously successfully completed a French course at this University at the 3000 level).
6. Students should note that courses in literature and/or culture fulfill the BA Humanities requirement 3(c) but do not fulfill the 3(b) requirement. The following courses satisfy the 3(c) requirement;

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
FREN 3310	Introduction to French Culture	3
FREN 3312	Introduction to Quebec Culture	3
FREN 3350	Introduction to Literature Written in French, I	3
FREN 3351	Introduction to Literature Written in French, II	3
FREN 4410	Songs in French	3
FREN 4416	The Eighteenth Century	3
FREN 4426	The French Short Story	3
FREN 4433	Francophone Women	3
FREN 4451	Quebecois Literature I	3
FREN 4452	Quebecois Literature II	3
FREN 4460	20th Century French Literature	3
FREN 4461	Contemporary French Literature	3

Programs in French 

The following programs are available in French: Honours, a major, a minor, a concentration, study abroad, and a certificate of proficiency. The Department offers a balanced program involving courses in language, culture and literature.  

Those with a solid background in French, especially Francophones or those having attended a French school, are to begin their studies with courses beyond Intermediate French Level I (FREN 2235)/Intermediate French Level II (FREN 2236) This condition may also apply to certain high school immersion graduates.  Native, near-native, or fluent speakers of French may not enroll in courses at the 2000 level or below. Courses at the 2000 and 3000 levels cannot be taken concurrently.

Intermediate French Level I (FREN 2235) is the normal starting point for majors. High school graduates having completed the “Core” program should enroll in Basic University French Level I (FREN 2201). Students who have taken French at another university are asked to consult with the Chairperson before registering.

Students are required to do the online Placement Test (on Departmental Website) in order to find the course that best suits their needs. Students having previously taken Beginners' French Level I (FREN 1111) and Beginners' French Level II (FREN 1112) or Basic University French Level I (FREN 2201) and Basic University French Level II (FREN 2202) at Saint Mary’s are not required to take the placement test.

Students interested in doing a Major or a Minor in French or in teaching French as a career are strongly advised to seek assistance from the Department on course selection and teacher training programs as early as possible.

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is a well-established, foundational degree and requires the requirements listed below alongside general graduation requirements.

Major in French

A major in French normally consists of at least forty-two (42) credit hours in French beyond Basic University French Level II (FREN 2202) with the following requirements:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
FREN 3307	Advanced French Language Skills I	3
FREN 3308	Advanced French Language Skills II	3
FREN 3321	Writing in French	3
Select six credit hours at the 3000 level in any culture and/or literature courses, including FREN 3350 and/or FREN 3351.		6
Select twelve credit hours at the 4000 level.		12
The remaining credit hours must be beyond FREN 2202.		15
Total Credit Hours		42

 Starting at the 3000 level, students have the option to specialize in language or in culture and literature.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Courses suggested for specialization in language:
FREN 3315	Academic Translation I	3
FREN 3331	French Oral Skills	3
FREN 4437	Comparison of English and French Stylistics I	3
FREN 4438	Comparison of English and French Stylistics II	3
FREN 4440	Canadian French: Sociolinguistic Perspectives	3
Courses suggested for specialization in literature and culture:
FREN 3310	Introduction to French Culture	3
FREN 3500	Indigenous Literatures in French / Littératures autochtones en français	3
FREN 3701	The Postcolonial Experience	3
FREN 4410	Songs in French	3
FREN 4455	Popular Literature	3
FREN 4463	French & Francophone Cinemas	3
FREN 4700	African Literatures and Postcolonial Theory	3

Students interested in one of these specializations should consult with the French Program Coordinator. Note that these specializations are optional, and students can choose courses from both suggested streams.

Students also have the option of counting a maximum of six (6) credit hours of French culture courses delivered in English towards the major.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Language Courses
FREN 1111	Beginners' French Level I	3
FREN 1112	Beginners' French Level II	3
FREN 2201	Basic University French Level I	3
FREN 2202	Basic University French Level II	3
FREN 2235	Intermediate French Level I	3
FREN 2236	Intermediate French Level II	3
FREN 3307	Advanced French Language Skills I	3
FREN 3308	Advanced French Language Skills II	3
FREN 3320	French Phonetics	3
FREN 3321	Writing in French	3
FREN 3331	French Oral Skills	3
FREN 3335	French for Business	3
FREN 4400	French Speech Strategies: Perfecting Oral Skills	3
FREN 4435	Advanced Grammar I	3
FREN 4436	Advanced Grammar II	3
FREN 4437	Comparison of English and French Stylistics I	3
FREN 4438	Comparison of English and French Stylistics II	3
Culture Courses
FREN 2200	Oral Traditions in the Francophone World	3
FREN 2260	Francophone Cultures Through Film	3
FREN 2300	French Film Comedy	3
FREN 3310	Introduction to French Culture	3
FREN 3312	Introduction to Quebec Culture	3
FREN 4410	Songs in French	3
FREN 4440	Canadian French: Sociolinguistic Perspectives	3
FREN 4463	French & Francophone Cinemas	3
FREN 4464	African Cinema	3
Literature Courses
FREN 3350	Introduction to Literature Written in French, I	3
FREN 3351	Introduction to Literature Written in French, II	3
FREN 3422	Introduction to Literary Analysis	3
FREN 3500	Indigenous Literatures in French / Littératures autochtones en français	3
FREN 3700	Postcolonial African Historiographies	3
FREN 3701	The Postcolonial Experience	3
FREN 4410	Songs in French	3
FREN 4418	Realism and Naturalism	3
FREN 4426	The French Short Story	3
FREN 4433	Francophone Women	3
FREN 4451	Quebecois Literature I	3
FREN 4452	Quebecois Literature II	3
FREN 4454	Literatures of French Canada	3
FREN 4455	Popular Literature	3
FREN 4457	Children’s and Youth Literature	3
FREN 4460	20th Century French Literature	3
FREN 4461	Contemporary French Literature	3
FREN 4700	African Literatures and Postcolonial Theory	3

Concentration in French

To obtain a concentration in French in partial fulfillment of the B.A. General Degree (i.e. one with a Double Arts Concentration and a minimum of ninety (90) credit hours), a minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours in French is required. A minimum of twelve (12) credit hours are required at the 3000/4000 level. Also, the minimum grade point average is 2.00.

Students also have the option of counting a maximum of six (6) credit hours of French culture courses delivered in English.

Honours in French with Three Possible Options: Linguistics, Literature, and Culture

All prospective honours students should refer to the section of this Calendar pertaining to honours degrees.  Students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 can submit an Honours Application to Department/Department Chairperson after completing a minimum of 18 credit hours. In addition to the overall grade point average of 3.00 requirement, prospective honours students are expected to have demonstrated a B+ (or 3.3 of GPA out of 4.3) cumulative average in the French major program.

Honours degrees consist of fifty-four (54) credit hours.  Beyond the requirements for the French major, twelve (12) additional credit hours in French are required at the 4000-level:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Honours with thesis:
FREN 4500	The Honors Essay	6
Select 6 credit hours at the 4000 level		6
Total Credit Hours		12

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Honours without thesis:
Select 12 credit hours at the 3000-4000 level with a maximum of three (3) credit hours at the 3000 level.		12
Total Credit Hours		12

The Chair of the Department will direct students to the appropriate faculty member with whom they will discuss the topic and the nature of the Honours essay.  The deadline for such a meeting is May 31, prior to the year of entry into the program.  For additional detail regarding Honours guidelines, please go to the department webpage.

Minor in French

A minor in French consists of twenty-four (24) credit hours beyond the 1000 level. Students must complete FREN 2235, FREN 2236, FREN 3307, and FREN 3308 with an additional three credit hours at the 3000 level. Students also have the option of counting a maximum of six (6) credit hours of French culture courses delivered in English towards the minor.

Year Abroad at the Université Catholique d’Angers, France

This study abroad program consists of two semesters: a Fall semester (October - January), and a Spring semester (February – June), during which course work in language, culture and literature is offered. One-month programs are also available in the summer during the months of July, August, and September. These are strictly language courses. Students who successfully complete their programs receive credit recognition at Saint Mary’s University: fifteen (15) credit hours per semester and six (6) credit hours each for the months of July, August or September. To be eligible to participate in this Study Abroad program, students must have the approval of the Coordinator of the program, and must have a CGPA of 2.00 or above. Although students will take a placement test upon their arrival in France, it is strongly advised that they complete at least six (6) credit hours in French at Saint Mary’s in the year prior to their departure.

Information sessions about the Study Abroad program will be held in the months of October and February every year. Please inquire at the secretary’s office, 902-420-5808.

With the Department’s approval, a student may undertake a year of study at another French-speaking university.

Certificate of Proficiency in French (CPF)

This certificate confirms that the student has earned eighteen (18) credit hours in French. There are two (2) options:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Certificate of Basic Proficiency in French:
FREN 1111	Beginners' French Level I	3
FREN 1112	Beginners' French Level II	3
FREN 2201	Basic University French Level I	3
FREN 2202	Basic University French Level II	3
Six (6) credit hours at the 2000 level 1		6
Total Credit Hours		18

¹

Students also have the option of counting a maximum of three (3) credit hours of French and Francophone culture courses delivered in English.

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Certificate of Advanced Proficiency in French:
FREN 2235	Intermediate French Level I	3
FREN 2236	Intermediate French Level II	3
FREN 3307	Advanced French Language Skills I	3
FREN 3308	Advanced French Language Skills II	3
FREN 3320	French Phonetics	3
FREN 3331	French Oral Skills	3
Total Credit Hours		18