French and Francophone Studies
Degree: BA
Campus: Columbus
College: Arts and Sciences
The French and Francophone Studies major allows students to gain expertise in the French language and the many cultures in which it is spoken.
This major is for students who:
- Would like to attain more language proficiency than a French minor can provide.
- Want to explore French and Francophone Studies through courses taught in departments such as History, History of Art, International Studies, and Political Science
- Are deeply interested in French and Francophone Studies but who may find the number of advanced-level language courses required for the French major daunting.
- Semi-native and native French speakers who would like a wider range of course options.
It’s not necessary to have made a firm decision to major in French and Francophone Studies to consider the program or even enroll in it. Interested students can reach out to the Department of French and Italian at frit@osu.edu with questions or when ready to declare the major.
The French and Francophone Studies major consists of 12 credit hours of prerequisites and 30 credit hours of courses at the 2000 level and above. Compared to the French major, for which at least 27 of the required 30 credit hours must be from courses taught in French, the French and Francophone Studies major allows students to count 12 credits of courses taught in English toward the major, 9 of which can be taught in other departments.
Prerequisites
- French 1101
- French 1102
- French 1103
- French 2101
Core Requirements (30 hours)
- French 3101
- Grammar Review (3 hours)
- Three French courses taught in French at the 3000-level or above (9 hours)
- Two French courses taught in French at the 4000-level or above (6 hours)
- One FRIT course taught in English at the 2000-level or above (3 hours)
Courses taught outside the department (9 hours)
- Three additional courses taught in English from within the department, at least one at the 4000- or 5000-level.
Students are encouraged to study abroad — either for the summer, a semester, or an academic year — and should begin considering and planning for a study abroad program as soon as they have decided to major in French and Francophone Studies. Programs are offered in France, Italy, Quebec and Senegal, with internship opportunities offered in Italy.
Students interested in studying abroad during their junior or senior year can get specific information about various programs from the Office of International Affairs.
Though internships are not required for Arts and Sciences students, many students do choose to work with the Center for Career and Professional Success to search for and participate in an internship experience before they graduate.
Honors students majoring in the College of Arts and Sciences are encouraged to construct an enhanced curriculum that includes honors courses, upper-division courses to meet general requirements, rigorous sequences, honors seminars, a minor and a strong major, including a significant research experience.
College of Arts and Sciences Scholars Programs that may be of interest to students studying French and Francophone Studies include Arts, Humanities, International Affairs, and Politics, Society and Law (PSL) Scholars.
Learn more about Honors and Scholars Programs at honors-scholars.osu.edu.
Students can participate in Café +, a French conversation table in Hagerty Hall’s Crane Café, and they can join in the activities of the French Club, which plans and hosts linguistic and cultural events for anyone at Ohio State who wants to learn more about France and Francophone countries as well as the French language.
A degree in French and Francophone Studies can lead to careers in:
- Government and public service
- Communications and journalism
- Research
- Public health
- Hospitality
- Fashion
- Business and international relations
- Translation and interpretation
- Education