French program
Undergrad major Undergrad minor Teacher licenseLearn a language of diplomacy
Although many think of France as the primary place where French is spoken, it is just one of many spots throughout the world from West Africa to Canada. Learning French strengthens your skills for positions in business, healthcare, humanitarian work and more.
In addition to learning literature and cultural studies, UWL’s French program also prepares students for a variety of professional contexts. Courses are offered in French for professional communication and French for science and technology.
Career opportunities with a French degree
French is a language of diplomacy and leads to many opportunities in humanitarian or aid work with non-profit organizations. Several French majors have gone on to work for the Peace Corps.
Others pair French with another major area of study whether business, public health, anthropology or others.
UWL students can also consider applying to a program to teach English in France after graduation. The program, Teaching Assistant Program In France (TAPIF), offers paid positions for teaching English in secondary schools.
What distinguishes UWL's French program?
French courses will open student’s eyes to other parts of the world they may not otherwise learn about, including North and West Africa, and prepare them to be empathetic and culturally competent.
Students complete an individual research project for their senior capstone. Projects invite students to bridge their academic interests. Some past projects include an analysis of a literary translation, an economic perspective on nuclear energy in France, and a cross-cultural comparison of binge drinking in the U.S. and France.
UWL has direct exchange programs in France (in Caen and Lorraine) through which students pay the same tuition. Program options include studying for a semester or the summer. Students may also choose to spend a semester in Senegal.
A semester-long program in Senegal, West Africa, allows students to complete coursework and conduct an internship in an area of their interest.
Students receive individual attention through advising and in classes with an average class size of 12-15 students.
Because French is a small program, those involved become part of a community. Students get to know their cohort and professors, interacting with one another in and out of the classroom.
The conversation partner program is a great opportunity for students to meet their peers and practice language skills in an informal setting.
Students can interact with other French students and native speakers who are UWL students in French Club.
If students place into French 102 or higher after taking the placement test, they can receive the retroactive credits for all UWL French classes below the the level they test into.
In addition to majors in French and French with a Business Emphasis, and a French minor, a French proficiency certificate is available. This micro credential appears on a transcript.
Areas of study
French
Studying any language helps students hone important skills that employers are seeking such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, leadership and intercultural competency.
French is the fifth most spoken language globally and the third most spoken language in the U.S. French is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations, making it important for global relations.
Undergrad major Undergrad minor View a sample plan for French Catalogfor French Learn more for FrenchBusiness Concentration
The business concentration is focused on the study of French in professional business contexts, addressing written and oral conventions in business and other professional settings, as well as professional expectations across Francophone and Anglophone cultures.
Undergrad major View a sample plan for Business Catalogfor BusinessEducation
This major prepares students to teach French in grades K-12. Completion of the program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for a Wisconsin Teaching License. Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.
Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education Catalogfor EducationEducation & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Completion of the French Education and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching licenses: French, grades K-12 (1355) and English as a Second Language, grades K-12 (ESL, 1395). Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.
Undergrad major Teacher license View a sample plan for Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages Catalogfor Education & Teaching English to Speakers of Other LanguagesSample courses
FRE 307 French for Professional Communication A course designed to prepare students to communicate effectively in professional contexts. It addresses written and oral conventions in business and other professional settings, determines/compares professional expectations across Francophone and Anglophone cultures, and prepares for all aspects of the job search for a company dealing with Francophone professionals, with a focus on Canadian and European exchanges. Prerequisite: FRE 202 or equivalent. Offered Fall.
FRE 305 Exploring the Story This course introduces students to a variety of narrative structures in their cultural context. Students will increase their vocabulary, reinforce reading strategies, interpret cultural signifiers, and develop critical thinking skills as they confront the printed word in comics, short stories, fairy-tales, fables, poems, or newspaper articles. Prerequisite: FRE 300 or FRE 301. Offered Fall - Odd Numbered Years.
FRE 300 Visual Encounters This course introduces students to a variety of art and technology-related topics that define French-speaking cultures today while practicing grammatical structures required to narrate and describe. Analysis of visual artifacts and development of writing skills take place in contexts such as regional cultures and traditions, culinary arts, cinema, music, art festivals, popular culture, artistic genres, and new technologies. Prerequisite: FRE 202 or equivalent. Offered Fall.
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