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French: Language, Literature, Linguistics, Culture (including courses in English)

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  • CAS LF 111: First-Semester French
    A multimedia approach for students who have never studied French. A variety of communicative tasks develop speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community.
    • The Individual in Community
  • CAS LF 112: Second-Semester French
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLF111) or placement test results. - Continues CAS LF 111. A multimedia approach which develops speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills, together with the grammar and vocabulary needed for more complex communicative tasks. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community.
    • The Individual in Community
  • CAS LF 113: Intensive Beginning French
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: placement examination results. - Intensive French course for beginners or according to placement test results. Introduction to grammar, vocabulary, and structure of French, emphasizing the basic communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. (If CAS LF 111, 112, or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.) Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community.
    • The Individual in Community
  • CAS LF 211: Third-Semester French
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLF112) or placement test results. - Advances proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and listening in a communicative classroom setting. Grammar studied is used in context through thematic discussions on topics ranging from daily life to Francophone culture, in short readings, and through diverse written tasks.Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: The Individual in Community.
    • The Individual in Community
  • CAS LF 212: Fourth-Semester French
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLF211) or placement test results. - Advances proficiency in French in a communicative setting through thematic discussions on diverse, contemporary topics and media, short readings, and written tasks. Fulfills CAS second language requirement, prepares for Level 1 Advanced Courses (CAS LF 307 -- LF 311). Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • The Individual in Community
  • CAS LF 307: French Arts and Society
    Prerequisites: CASLF 212 or equivalent; or placement test results. Advanced study of French language through the analysis of a topic or theme in the arts and society. Students advance in speaking, reading, writing, and listening through the analysis of literary, historical, and cultural texts. Specific themes vary by semester. Topic for Fall 2026: Study of French Culture Through the Lens of Food. Topics include regional and artisan specialties; sustainability and social justice initiatives; global influences; literary and cinematic depictions. Assignments include cooking workshops and projects outside of class. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • CAS LF 308: French through Film and Media
    Prerequisites: CASLF 212 or equivalent; or placement test results. With the goal of better understanding French and Francophone culture and society, students study various media forms that can include film, written and broadcast press, television, podcasts, blogs, and social media. Topic for Fall 2026: France on the Small Screen. This course focuses on recent TV shows and films made for television that explore issues of race, gender, and sexuality in French society. TV shows include Mixte (2021) and Miskina la pauvre (2022). Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • CAS LF 309: French in the World
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLF212) or equivalent; or placement test results. - Advanced study of French through the analysis of images, short stories, excerpts of novels and films that explore topics pertaining to the Francophone World. Specific regions vary by semester, but can include Africa, the Caribbean or North America. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication. Effective Fall 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication (OSC), Historical Consciousness.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • CAS LF 310: French for the Professions
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASLF 212 or equivalent; or placement test results. - Advanced study of French as used in the professions in the francophone world. Readings, discussions, and assignments develop linguistic skills and cultural competence: current political and economic issues, familiarity with major French-language newspapers, creation of French CV and cover letter. Topic for Fall 2025: French for International Relations. This professionalizing course serves as an introduction to the specialized language employed in the fields of international relations and diplomacy. It provides students with the language tools and communication skills to perform common professional tasks in highly contextualized activities. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfill a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Digital/Multimedia Expression.
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
  • CAS LF 312: French Language and Identity
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLF212) or equivalent, or placement test results. - This advanced French language course focuses on social debates and sociolinguistic issues on language and identity in the French-speaking world. Themes such as language policy, gender representation, and regional languages, are explored through analysis and discussion of authentic cultural materials. Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Social Inquiry I.
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS LF 324: Advanced Spoken French
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: one CAS LF 307-311 course, or equivalent or placement test results. - Advanced training in rapid and idiomatic French speech. Oral reports. Role playing; vocabulary building; targeted work on pronunciation, intonation, and aural comprehension. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS LF 349: The History of the French Language
    Undergraduate pre-requisites: CASLX 250. - Overview of socio-historical and linguistic factors underpinning the emergence, development, and spread of the French language over time. Study of historical, societal, and political events, along with phonetic, morphological, syntactic, and orthographic changes. Representative texts demonstrate stages of language change. Effective Spring 2025, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Historical Consciousness
  • CAS LF 350: Reading the French Way
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: At least one Level 1 Advanced Course (CASLF 303, 307, 308, 309, 310, 3 11) or equivalent; or placement test results. First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). - Development of techniques for reading and interpreting French literary texts. Special attention to the study of lyric poetry, drama, and short narrative. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Writing-Intensive Course.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS LF 351: Introduction to the French Novel
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLF350) First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., WR 100 or WR 120). - Close readings in the French novel from 19th century to contemporary times. Attention to narration, themes, symbols, and schools. Investigation of the roman d'analyse, realist fiction, anti-colonialist, and other types of narrative. Carries humanities divisional credit in CAS. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Writing-Intensive Course.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS LF 441: Topics in Urban Imgainaries in Literature and Film
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASLF 350 or CASLF 351; or consent of instructor. - May be taken twice for credit if topics are different. Students examine the filmic and literary representations of urban environments in France and the francophone world; the phenomenon of urbanization, the historical development, cultural and artistic context of its attractive power; fluxes of migration of the city; streets and monuments as characters. Topic for Fall 2026: Examines questions of displacement, migration, and mobility in postcolonial cultures, which have been a central focus in African literature and film both on the African continent and in the diaspora in Paris. Particular focus on Dakar (Senegal) and Paris (France). Effective Fall 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Creativity/Innovation, The Individual in Community.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • The Individual in Community
  • CAS LF 455: Studies in Nineteenth-Century French Literature
    Prerequisites: CASLF 350 and First Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CASWR 100 or WR 120). - May be repeated twice for credit if topics are different. Examines major themes and works in the literature of nineteenth-century France. Attention to cultural context and dialogue between the arts, literature, politics, and popular culture. Effective Spring 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Aesthetic Exploration.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS LF 456: The Postcolonial Novel
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS LF 350 - An examination of postcolonial novels by contemporary writers. Discussion of linguistic and literary issues related to the process of decolonization, the usage of the French language today, and the renewal of aesthetics.
  • CAS LF 462: Cinema-Monde: Mapping French Film
    Spanning from the silent era to the present-day, this course reframes the key movements of French cinema through the lens of the global. Directors include Georges Melies, Jean Renoir, Jean-Luc Godard, Chantal Ackerman, Agnes Varda, and the Dardenne brothers. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • CAS LF 478: Topics in The Voice in the Text: Gender and Authorship
    May be taken twice for credit if topics are different. Explores how French and Francophone women writers and theorists engage with cultural, social, and political issues. Draws on works such as novels, autobiographies, plays, and essays, situating these writings at the intersection of gender, language, nationality, and collective memory. Topic for Spring 2026: Exploration of experimental texts by women writers, tracing questions of authorship, identity, language, sexuality, feminism, and gender roles in a variety of literary and cultural forms. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: The Individual in Community, Historical Consciousness, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • The Individual in Community
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS LF 491: Directed Study: French
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of department and CAS Academic Advising, 100 Bay State Rd., Room 401. - Application form available in CAS Academic Advising. Through interdisciplinary, in-depth study, explores the history, legacy, and future of a single 'lieu de mémoire'--an iconic 'site of memory' that serves as a cultural touchstone. Sources include manuscripts, architecture, literary texts, music, film, photography, and others. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Aesthetic Exploration, Teamwork/Collaboration.

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