French Comprehensive Exam

This exam is scheduled some time before the end of the seventh week of a Senior's last semester. (For those graduating in the Spring, the exam usually occurs just before or after Spring Break.) This year the comprehensive exams will take place during the week of March 11, 2024.  It is an oral exam conducted in French that lasts about 30 minutes, administered by two members of the French Department faculty. Each student first chooses one work from the Department's comprehensive exam reading list that they wish to discuss in the oral exam. Students are allowed to bring a 3 x 5 card of notes with them if they wish, but they are not to read their presentations. Students may also bring a copy of the text to the exam and mark the pages from which they will read selected passages. The exam consists of two parts: (1) a 20-minute presentation by the student based on an analysis of the selected work, and (2) a 10-minute discussion, during which faculty members will ask follow-up questions on the presentation. Seniors are encouraged, but not required, to enroll in FREN-410H, which will serve as a forum/workshop to prepare for the comprehensive exam. 

For information on how to structure your presentation, we encourage you to consult and follow the guidelines in the PDF linked below.