BA in French Language & Literature

Twelve courses with a grade of C or higher are required. Students entering with advanced standing in French must complete a minimum of six principal courses in French at Boston University. Students participating in a Boston University program in France must complete a minimum of four principal courses in French on the Boston campus; two of these four courses must be taken at the 400 level or above following study abroad. Internships taken on study abroad programs may not be credited toward a major in French.

Required Courses

1. Two semesters of advanced language study at the 300 level from CAS LF 303, 304, 305, 306.
2. Five literature courses: CAS LF 350 and 351 and a 400- or 500-level course from each of the following three historical periods:
   Middle Ages, Renaissance CAS LF 451, 457, 564, 565, 574, 575;
   Classical Period, Enlightenment CAS LF 450, 452, 453, 550, 553, 555, 560, 563;
   Nineteenth and Twentieth Century CAS LF 454, 456, 459, 460, 461, 462, 551, 552, 557, 558, 567, 570, 571, 572, 573.
3. CAS LF 475.
4. Two courses, chosen from the following, in linguistics and/or comparative literature: CAS LX 250; courses in French linguistics (CAS LF 500, 502, 503, 504); CAS XL courses; or other linguistics or comparative literature courses approved by the concentration advisor. (Note that CAS CC 101 and 102 together may be substituted for one course in comparative literature.)
5. Two additional electives taken from among other upper-level (300-, 400-, or 500-level) French courses; or, with faculty advisor’s approval, upper-level courses offered in Boston University programs in Grenoble, Niger, and Paris.

Study Abroad Opportunities

Students may take courses to fulfill their language requirement or courses toward a French major or minor in the Boston University Study Abroad programs in Grenoble, Niamey, and Paris. In Grenoble, students enroll in intensive language courses and in university courses covering a broad curriculum. The BU center in Paris offers two programs: the Paris Contemporary Studies Program and the Paris Internship Program. Students in the Paris Contemporary Studies Program select three courses at the Université Paris 8 along with two courses at the center. Students in the Paris Internship Program take three courses at the center followed by an internship placement with accompanying academic work. The Niamey program includes some offerings in French language as part of a curriculum focused on development studies. Opportunities to take courses abroad taught in French are also available in BU’s international program in Geneva, and through exchange programs in Paris in the fields of management and political science. Additional information on these programs is available under Study Abroad and Internship Programs. Students should consult with a faculty advisor to determine which Study Abroad courses may fulfill major and minor requirements.

Placement Examination

A placement test is required of all students whose most recent course in French was taken in high school or at a college other than Boston University and who wish to continue their study of this language here. Information regarding online placement exams is available in the department or on the departmental website.