The major in Foreign Languages has four concentrations—French and Francophone Studies, German, Japanese, and Spanish—and leads to either the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree.
Minors are offered in French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. Courses in Arabic, Chinese,
Hebrew, Italian, Kurdish, Latin, Portuguese, and Russian are available.
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS button to the right.
Interdisciplinary minors coordinated through the Department of World Languages, Literatures,
and Cultures include Classical Studies, Early Modern European Studies, Latin American
Studies, Linguistic Studies, and Portuguese Studies.
Students in French and Francophone Studies can study abroad for a semester or a full
year at one of two universities in France or for a four-week summer term in Cherbourg,
France. Living with a host family allows immersion in the culture and improvement
in communication skills.
Students wishing to teach in elementary and secondary schools need to seek licensure
in a foreign language. This requires the equivalent of a major in that language (Spanish,
French, or German); FL4500 Introduction to Teaching a Foreign Language; and a minor
in Education.
Graduate students may pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T).
Professional Licensure Disclosure
The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) College of Education’s teacher licensure preparation programs are accredited by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and are eligible for accreditation by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in French and Francophone Studies with teacher licensure programs at MTSU are designed to meet the licensure requirements set by the Tennessee Department of Education. Students should be aware that licensure requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change. MTSU has not made a determination whether a specific program will meet all of the requirements of another US state or territory. MTSU recommends that students who plan to seek licensure outside the state of Tennessee contact the appropriate licensing agency and discuss their plans with their advisor. To obtain current information about each state’s and territory’s licensure requirements and any additional regulations, students should consult the US Department of Education’s website for state contacts at https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html.
Graduates of MTSU teacher education programs certified to teach in Tennessee are eligible for certification reciprocity in many states. Reciprocity is not an automatic or complete transfer of certification, thus individuals should consult the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) site at https://www.tn.gov/education/licensing.html and the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC) site at https://www.nasdtec.net/page/Interstate as well as the US Department of Education state contacts site for information about any additional state requirements.
French and Francophone Studies
FREN 1010 - Elementary French I
3 credit hours
Foundation course in reading, writing, speaking, and aural comprehension.
FREN 1020 - Elementary French II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 1010 or advanced placement. Continuation of FREN 1010.
FREN 1030 - Elementary Business French
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 1010 or equivalent. Embarks students on a mastery of the linguistic and cultural skills necessary for effective communication in francophone professional contexts. May substitute for FREN 1020.
FREN 1040 - Intensive Elementary French
6 credit hours
A foundation course in reading, writing, speaking, and aural comprehension. FREN 1040 counts as combined credit for FREN 1010 and FREN 1020.
FREN 2010 - Intermediate French I
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 1020 or advanced placement.
FREN 2020 - Intermediate French II
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 2010 or advanced placement. Continuation of FREN 2010.
FREN 2900 - Directed Study in French Grammar and Composition
1 to 6 credits credi
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Arrangements must be made with instructor prior to registration. May be repeated.
FREN 2910 - Study Abroad
1 to 6 credit hours
Two semesters of French or equivalent and/or approval of French faculty. For students in any major or minor.
FREN 3010 - Advanced Composition
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 2020 or advanced placement.
FREN 3030 - Business French
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 2020. The linguistic and cultural skills necessary to conduct business in France or any other francophone setting.
FREN 3040 - Intensive Conversational French
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 2020.
FREN 3070 - Topics in French and Francophone Film
3 credit hours
Prerequisite:FREN 3010 or equivalent. History, aesthetics, and analysis of French and francophone film. Course conducted in French.
FREN 3080 - Topics in French Studies
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 3010 or permission of instructor. Study of a selected topic in French culture, cinema, or literature. Content varies to reflect expertise of instructor. May be repeated once.
FREN 3110 - French and Francophone Culture
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 2020 or equivalent. History of French/Francophone culture from the beginning to present.
FREN 3140 - Introductory French-English Translation
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: FL 3100 and FREN 3010 or equivalent or permission of instructor. Introduces French translation through practical application of French to English translation skills using audiovisual, literary, legal, information technology, localization, commercial, business, medical, scientific, and technical texts, among others.
FREN 3200 - French for the Tourism Industry
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 2020 or equivalent or by permission of instructor. Focuses on the linguistic and cultural elements necessary to the francophone tourism industry.
FREN 3910 - Study Abroad
3 to 12 credit hours
Taken by students while in an approved study abroad program. May be repeated twice.
FREN 3970 - Cooperative Education
3 credit hours
Provides students with opportunities for on-the-job training in conjunction with on-campus academic experiences. Students will participate in professional growth seminars. Requirements of the department must be completed to receive credit.
FREN 3980 - Cooperative Education
3 credit hours
Provides students with opportunities for on-the-job training in conjunction with on-campus academic experiences. Students will participate in professional growth seminars. Requirements of the department must be completed to receive credit.
FREN 4010 - Topics in Twentieth-Century French Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level.
FREN 4020 - Topics in French Film
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level. Class conducted in English. No language prerequisite. However, students taking course for French major or minor credit will be required to do some written assignments in French.
FREN 4030 - Topics in Nineteenth-Century French Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level.
FREN 4040 - Topics in Eighteenth-Century French Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level.
FREN 4050 - Topics in Medieval and Renaissance French Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level.
FREN 4060 - Topics in Neoclassical French Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level.
FREN 4070 - Topics in Sixteenth-Century French Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level.
FREN 4080 - Topics in Medieval French Literature
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level.
FREN 4110 - French Press and Politics
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Six hours of French at the 3000 level. Focuses on contemporary France and current events, emphasizing the role of media as well as relevant political and social issues. Stresses cultural knowledge and competency in oral and written expression.
FREN 4120 - La Cuisine francaise: le gout et la gourmandise
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Six hours of French at the 3000 level. Focuses on the culinary history of France and its role in the social, economic, and political identity of France.
FREN 4130 - Special Topics in Professional French
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 3010 or equivalent or by permission of instructor. Focuses on developing linguistic and cultural proficiency in a variety of professional contexts.
FREN 4150 - Money, Murder, and Madness
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 3010 plus one other course at the 3000 level or permission of instructor. Examines social and cultural issues addressed in French-language literature, film, and other media and focuses specifically on the confrontation of immorality and criminal behavior.
FREN 4160 - Social Change in the Francophone World
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 3010 plus one other course at the 3000 level or permission of instructor. Focuses on major social movements of France and the French-speaking world, addressing diverse topics such as race, gender, class, sexuality, politics, and religion.
FREN 4170 - The French Graphic Novel
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 3010 plus one other course at the 3000 level or permission of instructor. Focuses on the tradition of the French graphic novel. Taught in French.
FREN 4180 - Comparative Stylistics of French and English
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: FREN 3010 plus one other course at the 3000 level or permission of instructor. Focuses on contrastive and stylistic analysis of French texts with emphasis on grammatically accurate translation.
FREN 4900 - Directed Study in French Literature and Culture
1 to 6 credit hours
Prerequisites: Six hours of French at the 3000 level. Individualized intensive reading in primary and secondary sources relating to a specific topic in French literature or culture. Arrangements must be made with instructor prior to registration. Proposals must be approved by the French section one month prior to the end of the preceding semester.
FREN 4990 - French for Reading Knowledge
3 credit hours
Prerequisites: Admission to the College of Graduate Studies or permission of the instructor. For graduate students seeking proficiency in reading French for research purposes. Open to undergraduates seeking to prepare for graduate study. Will not count toward a major or minor in French.
Year-long Study
MTSU has an exchange program with the Université de Franche-Comté in Besançon, France, which allows students to study for a full-year in France. Students
pay MTSU tuition plus living costs and travel expenses. Although students may apply
for one or two semesters, students applying for a full academic year will be given
preference. Students must have completed two years of French, but students who have
earned six hours of credit at the 3000 level are more likely to be prepared for French
university courses. Consideration will be given to students with fewer than six hours
at the 300 level, but they will be required to do their first semester of work in
a language program at the CLA in Besançon, which requires additional fees. Students
earn 12 credits per semester while enrolled. For details, contact Dr. Leah Lyons,
ltlyons@mtsu.edu, 615-898-5778.
Summer Study Opportunities
The French program at MTSU offers a summer program in Cherbourg, France. Students
will spend four weeks on the campus of the I.U.T.-Cherbourg (University Technological
Institute) and other locations in Cherbourg, France studying the French language and
extending their knowledge of French daily life and culture. Through a wide-range of
teacher-led activities, both inside and outside the classroom, students will improve
and develop their speaking, listening, writing, and reading skills. Afternoon activities
and excursions will present students with the opportunity to use their language abilities
in an enjoyable but structured environment. Living with host families will provide
students with increased opportunities for progress in their language skills and will
allow them to expand their knowledge of French society and value systems. Students
will tour Paris and its landmarks, as well as important sites in and near Cherbourg,
including Mont St. Michel, Utah (D-Day) Beach, and several historical, botanical,
and art museums. For details, contact Prof. Nancy Goldberg at goldberg@mtsu.edu or 898-2281.
MTSU-French Study Abroad Articulation Sequence
Please note: no retroactive substitution credit will be awarded
Students studying abroad in French Section approved programs and/or Exchanges may
earn substitution credit for their work in France. The requirements that must be met
are below:
- Students will meet with Dr. Goldberg (Normandy) or Dr. Lyons (Besançon) to work out
a proposed substitution contract BEFORE leaving for France.
- Students will register for the courses at MTSU as per the contract in #1.
- Students will provide documentation that the contract is being met during the study
abroad period and after their return. It is the student's responsibility to furnish
the required materials on time.
- The contract may be modified according to availability of courses with approval from
Dr. Goldberg or Dr. Lyons, NO LATER than 2 weeks after the beginning of classes in
the on-site program.
- The Literature/Culture Module is defined as FREN 3050, 3060, 3070, and 3110 (pending
administrative approval).
- 4000 courses : Students who have the prerequisites may take the FREN 4000 course offered during
each semester of their Study Abroad program with permission of BOTH the instructor
and either Dr. Goldberg or Dr. Lyons. Students are cautioned to arrange this option
with enough time to secure the materials necessary. Students will work independently
and electronically to complete all requirements for the 4000 course. They should communicate
regularly with their instructor as well as with Dr. Lyons or Dr. Goldberg about their
progress in the 4000 course. The student must complete the work for each 4000 course
in addition to their other studies and work in France.
- Besançon students must stay the entire year. Students wishing to study in France one semester will go to
one of the Normandy Programs.
- Grades for substituted courses will be determined according to the equivalency chart
contained in the contract (see attached).
- No substitution credit will be granted unless all pre-arranged and contracted obligations
are met.
- In the event that a student does not present a transcript from the French institution
showing the grades earned, a grade of F will be recorded for all of the 2910/3910
study abroad credits.
- In the event that the student fails to present a certificate of attendance (Assiduité),
a grade of F will be recorded for all of the 2910/3910 study abroad credits.
- In the event that a student does not present a report from the Internship Director
and/or Employer showing satisfactory job performance, a grade of F will be recorded
for all of the 2910/3910 study abroad credits.
- Should circumstances arise during the student's study abroad experience that are not
covered in this contract, every effort will be made to resolve the situation to mutual
satisfaction. However, the members of the French Section reserve the right to make
the final determination regarding any question or situation related to the granting
of credits and/or of substitution credit to the student.
MTSU-French Study Abroad Grade Equivalents
| French Exam Grade Scale |
French Grade Description (Mention) |
Standard U.S. Grade Equivalents |
MTSU Grade Equivalents |
|
20
19
18
17
16
|
Très Bien (Very Good)
|
A+
|
100= A+
99= A+
98= A+
97= A+
96= A+
|
|
15.9
15
14.5
14
|
Bien (Good)
|
A
|
95= A
94= A
93= A
93= A
92= A-
|
|
13.9
13.5
13
12.5
12
|
Assez Bien (Quite Good)
|
B
|
90= A-
88= B+
86= B
84= B
82= B-
|
|
11.9
11.5
11
10.5
10
|
Passable (Satisfactory)
|
C
|
80= B-
79= C+
78= C+
77= C
75= C
|
|
9.9
9.5
9
8.5
8
|
|
*
|
74= C
73= C
72= C-
71= C-
70= C-
below 70=P
no grades=F
|
* May be considered passing grade if entire year is passed.
World Education Services
