Major Requirements for the French Major

  1. A total of eight courses in French or Francophone literature and culture
    • six of which must be courses that are conducted in French—and a grade of “pass” on the Comprehensive Exam.—All Amherst College French Department courses numbered 205 or above, with the exception of 410H, may count for this requirement.
    • Please note: A senior thesis does not count as one of the eight courses required for the major.

  2. At least four of the eight courses must be taken in the Amherst College French Department.
    • Please note: no combination of courses from items #5 and 6 below supersedes checklist item #2. French 410H does not count toward fulfilling this requirement.

  3. At least one of the eight courses must be taken in the Amherst College French Department during the senior year.
    • Please note: Only courses numbered 310 and above may count for this requirement.  410H does not fulfill this requirement.
    • Please note: A senior thesis does not count as the course that must be taken in the Amherst College French Department during the senior year.

  4. At least two of the eight courses must explore pre-nineteenth century French and/or Francophone literatures, histories and/or cultures.
    • Please note: These classes may be taken at Amherst or during Study Away. At Amherst, students may choose any combination of two classes numbered 310, 320, or 330 to satisfy this requirement.

  5. Students may count two “related” courses toward the total of eight courses mentioned above in checklist item #1.  (But see checklist item #2.)
    • “Related” courses must be approved for the major by the Department.  They must be courses that concern primarily French or Francophone subjects, as determined by the Amherst College French Department.  They may be taught in other Amherst College Departments or elsewhere in the Five Colleges.  They may include, for example, courses in History, the History of Art, Political Science, Philosophy, Black Studies, etc. providing that they are devoted primarily to French or Francophone subjects.  These courses do not necessarily need to be conducted in French.

  6. Students may count up to four courses taken on an approved Study Abroad program toward the total of eight courses mentioned above in checklist item #1.  (But see —checklist item #2.)
    • Courses taken abroad must be approved for the major by the Department.  Generally speaking, courses taken abroad that concern primarily French or Francophone literature or culture, broadly construed, may count toward the major.  However, it is not enough for the courses to have been conducted in French for them to be counted toward the major.

**PLEASE NOTE: No course that a student is counting toward the completion of another major may count toward the eight courses required for the French major.

 

Checklist for the Amherst College French Major

  • A total of eight courses at the minimum, FREN-205 and above. 
  • Up to four courses taken while on Study Away may count toward the major, conditional upon these classes being approved for major credit by the student’s academic advisor.
  • Students must take two classes that explore pre-nineteenth century French and/or Francophone literatures, histories and/or cultures. These classes may be taken at Amherst or during Study Away. At Amherst, students may choose any combination of two classes numbered 310, 320, or 330 to satisfy this requirement. 
  • Up to two related classes in other departments may count toward the major, conditional upon the classes being approved by the student’s academic advisor. Examples may be a class in the History department on the French revolution, or a class in the Black Studies department on Francophone literatures and cultures in West Africa. 
  • Students must take one 300-level class in the French Department at Amherst College during their senior year.
  • Students must pass the Comprehensive Exam during the final semester of their senior year. 
  • Classes taken Pass/fail may not count toward the major. 
  • FREN-398 and FREN-399 (Senior Honors) may not count toward the major. 
  • FREN-410 H (French in Oral Practice) is a half credit course which may not count toward the major. 
  • Special Topics and Independent Studies in the French department may count toward the major.
  • Study Away in France or in a French-speaking country is strongly encouraged, but is not a requirement for the major
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