French

About this opportunity

The BA program in French offers the opportunity to study the language, literature and culture of France and other French-speaking countries.

Students gain competence in reading, writing, speaking and listening to French and take a number of related courses on topics such as:

• Art and literature

• Linguistics

   

• Cinema

   

• History and civilization

   

• Popular culture
• Government and political science

• Business

   

• Religion

Thesis

Honors students do not need to be majors in French in order to complete a directed study or an honors thesis in the French program, but in the event of high demand, priority will be given to French majors and minors. 

Thesis projects may take any number of forms (research essay, creative writing, multimedia presentation, digital storytelling, etc.) as long as they meet the goals and standards established by the thesis committee in consultation with the student. The director of the honors thesis must be a member of the French faculty at the lecturer, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor level. The thesis committee normally consists of two members, but a third reader may be included if the student and director feel it is necessary.

Students will enroll for thesis credit under FRE 492 for the first part of their thesis and then FRE 493 for the last portion including thesis defense and final thesis submission. 

Academic Preparation

Students need to take advanced French language classes (such as FRE 411 and/or FRE 412) to master the language, and content courses in literature or culture. Students are encouraged to take courses that will provide a strong background for the thesis. Among courses offered on a regular basis, students may choose: 

FRE 321 – French Cultural Masterpieces I (from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution)
FRE 322 – French Cultural Masterpieces II (from the French Revolution to the Present)
FRE 325 – French Language and Culture through Film

FRE 411 – Advanced Spoken French
FRE 412 – Advanced Written French

FRE 415 – French Civilization (classical)
FRE 416 – French Civilization (modern)

FRE 421 – Structure of French
FRE 461 – Modern French Narrative

FRE 492 – Honors Directed Study
FRE 493 – Honors Thesis


FRE 494 – Topics recently offered include: Gay Identities in Modern French Culture; Baroque Theater: Texts and Productions; African Literature and Cinema; African Culture in Global Contexts; Adventure and Exploration in Medieval French Literature; French and Italian Popular Culture; History of the French Language.

Recommended Timeline

It is recommended that students start exploring a topic and discuss it with a faculty member in the French program as early as the first semester of their junior year and no later than the second semester of their junior year. Students usually pursue research in the summer before their senior year; finish the research, a complete outline, a complete bibliography, and a draft of the first chapter or two in the first semester of their senior year; and complete the thesis by the eighth week of their final semester.

Other Honors Opportunities

• Honors enrichment contracts are offered on a case-by-case basis. Students do not need to be French majors or minors to do enrichment contracts. Students choose the topic and format for their contract project in consultation with the instructor. 
• The French program offers internships for students interested in teaching French.
• Students are encouraged to join the French Club to help them gain proficiency in the language. ASU French Club meets on campus on a regular basis and has a page on Facebook with information on current events: https://www.facebook.com/groups/245729325445970

• The French program offers opportunities to study abroad for the summer. The ASU faculty-led summer program "Language and Culture in Lyon" enables students to earn up to 7 French credits  and to improve their French rapidly. Honors credits can be obtained during the summer program. Recruitment starts at the end of Fall semester for the following summer session. Information can be obtained from the program director ([email protected]

  ). It is also available on the ASU Global Education webpage: https://studyabroad.asu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=1040

• French also has a semester-long and a year-long exchange programs with the Catholic University in Lyon. This programs are not faculty-led. Information can be found on the ASU Global Education webpage: https://studyabroad.asu.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=8923

• There are various scholarships available for many students, especially those receiving Pell Grants. A list of available scholarships can be found on the French @ ASU webpage: https://silc.asu.edu/french

   

• For information about our faculty-led summer programs and our semester-long and year-long exchange program and scholarship opportunities, contact Marie Raasch in the Global Education Office ([email protected]) and Professor Frédéric Canovas in the Faculty of French and Italian ([email protected]).
• Phoenix has a Sister Cities relationship with Grenoble, France, and offers internship opportunities in Grenoble to ASU students. Information at: https://phoenixsistercities.org/sister-city-grenoble-france/

• The Arizona chapter of the French Alliance also provides internship opportunities for students of French. Contact AF director Janine Bobin at https://kiwiverse.com/afphoenix/contact_us.php 

  for information on internships.

• Modified by F. Canovas on 09/03/25