French, BS

The French program at UW–Madison offers students opportunities for cultural and literary learning about the French-speaking world through dynamic, in-class experiences and extracurricular components such as the French House, an immersion residence hall and cultural center, and the French Ambassador program, a student organization that engages students with French and Francophone cultural events in and around Madison.Students intending to major in French or complete the certificate enter the program at the appropriate level depending on their language proficiency.

• The French major includes two prerequisite courses (FRENCH 228 and FRENCH 271) followed by 24 credits in French.  
• The French certificate includes two core courses (FRENCH 228 and FRENCH 271) followed by three additional courses at the 311 level or above. 

The majority of UW–Madison French majors or certificate students complete their requirements through a combination of courses taken on campus and abroad with a UW–Madison sponsored program.Students have the option to take a class for Honors at almost all levels. For more information, please see the department website and/or consult a department advisor.

Introductory and Intermediate French Language Sequence

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FRENCH 101	First Semester French	4
FRENCH 102	Second Semester French	4
FRENCH 201	French for Speakers of Other Romance Languages	4
FRENCH 203	Third Semester French	4
FRENCH 204	Fourth Semester French	4
FRENCH 227	Exploring French: Intermediate-Level Course for Entering Students	3
FRENCH 228	Intermediate Language and Culture	3-4

After French 228, courses focus on language, culture, and literature.

Advanced Courses in Language

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FRENCH 301 & FRENCH 302	Practical French Conversation and Practical French Conversation	2
FRENCH 311	Advanced Composition and Conversation	3
FRENCH 312	Advanced Oral and Written Expression: Writing Across the Humanities	3
FRENCH/​INTL BUS  313	Professional Communication and Culture in the Francophone World	3
FRENCH/​INTL BUS  314	Contemporary Issues in Government, Organizations, and Enterprise	3
FRENCH/​INTL BUS  315	Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in Professional Communication	3
FRENCH 350	Applied French Language Studies	1-3
FRENCH 590	Advanced Phonetics	3

Advanced courses in Culture

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FRENCH 347	Introduction to Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Civilization	3
FRENCH 348	Modernity Studies	3
FRENCH 449	Francophone Modernity Studies	3
FRENCH 451	Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Studies	3
FRENCH 462	French/Francophone Cultural Studies Across the Centuries	3
FRENCH 568	Undergraduate Seminar in French/Francophone Cultural Studies	3

Advanced Courses in Literature

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FRENCH 321	Introduction to Medieval, Renaissance, and Early Modern Literature	3
FRENCH 322	Introduction to Literature of Modernity	3
FRENCH 430	Readings in Medieval and Renaissance Literature	3
FRENCH 431	Readings in Early Modern Literature	3
FRENCH 433	Readings in Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Literature	3
FRENCH 461	French/Francophone Literary Studies Across the Centuries	3
FRENCH 472	French/Francophone Literature and Women	3
FRENCH 567	Undergraduate Seminar in French/Francophone Literary Studies	3
FRENCH 595	Theory and Practice of French/Francophone Drama	4
FRENCH 681 & FRENCH 682	Senior Honors Thesis and Senior Honors Thesis	6
FRENCH 698	Directed Study	1-6
FRENCH 699	Directed Study	1-6

French courses at the 600 level or above (not including those listed above) are primarily graduate courses and require permission of an undergraduate advisor and the instructor.

Courses Taught in English

The following are introductory culture courses taught in English and do not count for credit toward the Major or the Certificate in French:

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
FRENCH 211	French Interdisciplinary Studies	3
FRENCH 240	Immigration and Expression	3
FRENCH 248	Ethnic Studies in the French/Francophone World(s)	3
FRENCH/​CLASSICS/​HISTORY/​ITALIAN/​MEDIEVAL  550	Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies in Medieval Civilization	3

For information on teacher training in French, see the School of Education section in the Guide.For courses in French literature in translation, see the Literature in Translation course listing.