French Program Requirements (Pre-2026 Academic Year)

This page displays the French program requirements for students who declared a major, minor, or honours prior to the 2026 Academic Year. 

Honours in French Language, Literatures and Cultures

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Required courses (6 credits)

  • FREN (3) 321 Critical Writing
  • FREN (3) 353 Advanced French Grammar

Selected courses (39 credits)
* with at least 6 credits from each of the 4 clusters

Cluster A: French Literature and Culture from the Middle Ages to the Revolution

  • FREN 331 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from the Middle Ages to the Revolution
  • FREN 407 (3) Medieval French Literature
  • FREN 408 (3) Renaissance: Studies in 16th-century French Literature
  • FREN 409 (3) Ancients and Moderns: Studies in 17th-century French Literature
  • FREN 410 (3) Enlightenment and Revolution: Studies in 18th-century French Literature
  • FREN 450 (3) Old French
  • FREN 484 (3) History of the Book
  • FREN 485 (3) Early Encounters: Travel Literature and Colonial Writing in French

Cluster B: French Literature and Culture since the Revolution

  • FREN 341 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from Romanticism to the Present Day
  • FREN 413 (3) Tradition and Modernity: Studies in 19th-century French Literature
  • FREN 414 (3) The Modern and Contemporary French Novel
  • FREN 415 (3) French Digital Culture
  • FREN 416 (3) Contemporary French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 417 (3) Popular Fiction
  • FREN 427 (3) French Cinema
  • FREN 480 (3) French Theory

Cluster C: Francophone Literatures and Cultures

  • FREN 330 (3) Introduction to Quebec Literature
  • FREN 418 (3) African and Caribbean Francophone Literatures
  • FREN 428 (3) Francophone Cinema
  • FREN 430 (3) Quebec Literature and Culture
  • FREN 431 (3) Indigenous Literatures of Francophone Canada
  • FREN 440 (3) Francophonie: History and Current Debates
  • FREN 441 (3) Francophone Literatures and Cultures of North America
  • FREN 442 (3) Cultures of the Francophone World
  • FREN 443 (3) Postcolonial Studies

Cluster D: Language and Linguistics

  • FREN 357 (3) Translation
  • FREN 370 (3) Introduction to French Linguistics
  • FREN 451 (3) French Phonetics
  • FREN 457 (3) Advanced Translation
  • FREN 460 (3) History of the French Language
  • FREN 470 (3) Studies in Modern French Linguistics
  • FREN 472 (3) Morphology and Syntax of the French Language
  • FREN 474 (3) Lexicology and Semantics of the French Language
  • FREN 476 (3) French Language and Societies
  • FREN 477 (3) Contemporary Varieties of French
  • FREN 496 (3) Research Seminar in French Language and Linguistics

Special Topics

  • FREN 395 (3-6) Special Topics Abroad
  • FREN 419 (3) Women’s Writing
  • FREN 420 (3) Selected Topics in French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 455 (3) Creative Writing in French
  • FREN 495 (3) Research Seminar in French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 498 (3) Directed Reading

Honours essay (3 credits)

  • FREN 499 (3) Honours Essay

The Honours Essay represents an extended personal research project (in finished form usually about 20-25 pages typewritten) carried out under the supervision of two members of the Department’s Graduate Faculty: a supervisor who will meet regularly with the student and a second reader.

Preliminary research on the topic chosen is expected to be completed by mid-term, at which time the candidate is required to submit for approval a detailed outline of the projected work. The finished essay is due on the last day of lectures of the term.

The Honours Essay is seen less as an original contribution to knowledge than as a means for providing the student with an opportunity to become familiar with the methodological problems of research as well as with the techniques and problems of scholarly writing.

Students who are planning to do an Honours Essay must submit a proposal to the Major and Honours Advisor. The proposal must include a one-page abstract, a bibliography, and the names of the two professors who are willing to supervise the work.

The proposal should be submitted by November 1, if the student intends to register in this course in January (FREN499-201).

The proposal should be submitted by March 1, if the student intends to register in this course the following September (FREN499-101)

Major in French Language, Literatures and Cultures

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Required courses (18 credits)

  • FREN 311 (3) Introduction to Literature in French
  • FREN 321 (3) Critical Writing
  • FREN 352 (3) French Grammar
  • FREN 353 (3) Advanced French Grammar
  • FREN 401 (3) Upper-Intermediate French I *
  • FREN 402 (3) Upper-Intermediate French II *

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* If you are a native French speaker or heritage speaker, you may be exempt from FREN 401 and FREN 402. Please contact FHIS Student Programs Coordinator using this online form.

Selected courses (24 credits)
* with at least 3 credits from each of the 4 clusters

Cluster A: French Literature and Culture from the Middle Ages to the Revolution

  • FREN 331 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from the Middle Ages to the Revolution
  • FREN 407 (3) Medieval French Literature
  • FREN 408 (3) Renaissance: Studies in 16th-century French Literature
  • FREN 409 (3) Ancients and Moderns: Studies in 17th-century French Literature
  • FREN 410 (3) Enlightenment and Revolution: Studies in 18th-century French Literature
  • FREN 450 (3) Old French
  • FREN 484 (3) History of the Book
  • FREN 485 (3) Early Encounters: Travel Literature and Colonial Writing in French

Cluster B: French Literature and Culture since the Revolution

  • FREN 341 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from Romanticism to the Present Day
  • FREN 413 (3) Tradition and Modernity: Studies in 19th-century French Literature
  • FREN 414 (3) The Modern and Contemporary French Novel
  • FREN 415 (3) French Digital Culture
  • FREN 416 (3) Contemporary French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 417 (3) Popular Fiction
  • FREN 427 (3) French Cinema
  • FREN 480 (3) French Theory

Cluster C: Francophone Literatures and Cultures

  • FREN 330 (3) Introduction to Quebec Literature
  • FREN 418 (3) African and Caribbean Francophone Literatures
  • FREN 428 (3) Francophone Cinema
  • FREN 430 (3) Quebec Literature and Culture
  • FREN 431 (3) Indigenous Literatures of Francophone Canada
  • FREN 440 (3) Francophonie: History and Current Debates
  • FREN 441 (3) Francophone Literatures and Cultures of North America
  • FREN 442 (3) Cultures of the Francophone World
  • FREN 443 (3) Postcolonial Studies

Cluster D: Language and Linguistics

  • FREN 357 (3) Translation
  • FREN 370 (3) Introduction to French Linguistics
  • FREN 451 (3) French Phonetics
  • FREN 457 (3) Advanced Translation
  • FREN 460 (3) History of the French Language
  • FREN 470 (3) Studies in Modern French Linguistics
  • FREN 472 (3) Morphology and Syntax of the French Language
  • FREN 474 (3) Lexicology and Semantics of the French Language
  • FREN 476 (3) French Language and Societies
  • FREN 477 (3) Contemporary Varieties of French
  • FREN 496 (3) Research Seminar in French Language and Linguistics

Special Topics

  • FREN 419 (3) Women’s Writing
  • FREN 420 (3) Selected Topics in French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 395 (3-6) Special Topics Abroad
  • FREN 455 (3) Creative Writing in French
  • FREN 495 (3) Research Seminar in French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 498 (3) Directed Reading

Minor in French Language, Literatures and Cultures

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Required courses (18 credits)

  • FREN 311 (3) Introduction to Literature in French
  • FREN 321 (3) Critical Writing
  • FREN 352 (3) French Grammar
  • FREN 353 (3) Advanced French Grammar
  • FREN 401 (3) Upper-Intermediate French I
  • FREN 402 (3) Upper-Intermediate French II

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* If you are a native French speaker or heritage speaker, you may be exempt from FREN 401 and FREN 402. Please contact FHIS Student Programs Coordinator using this online form.

Selected courses (12 credits)

Cluster A: French Literature and Culture from the Middle Ages to the Revolution

  • FREN 331 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from the Middle Ages to the Revolution
  • FREN 407 (3) Medieval French Literature
  • FREN 408 (3) Renaissance: Studies in 16th-century French Literature
  • FREN 409 (3) Ancients and Moderns: Studies in 17th-century French Literature
  • FREN 410 (3) Enlightenment and Revolution: Studies in 18th-century French Literature
  • FREN 450 (3) Old French
  • FREN 484 (3) History of the Book
  • FREN 485 (3) Early Encounters: Travel Literature and Colonial Writing in French

Cluster B: French Literature and Culture since the Revolution

  • FREN 341 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from Romanticism to the Present Day
  • FREN 413 (3) Tradition and Modernity: Studies in 19th-century French Literature
  • FREN 414 (3) The Modern and Contemporary French Novel
  • FREN 415 (3) French Digital Culture
  • FREN 416 (3) Contemporary French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 417 (3) Popular Fiction
  • FREN 427 (3) French Cinema
  • FREN 480 (3) French Theory

Cluster C: Francophone Literatures and Cultures

  • FREN 330 (3) Introduction to Quebec Literature
  • FREN 418 (3) African and Caribbean Francophone Literatures
  • FREN 428 (3) Francophone Cinema
  • FREN 430 (3) Quebec Literature and Culture
  • FREN 431 (3) Indigenous Literatures of Francophone Canada
  • FREN 440 (3) Francophonie: History and Current Debates
  • FREN 441 (3) Francophone Literatures and Cultures of North America
  • FREN 442 (3) Cultures of the Francophone World
  • FREN 443 (3) Postcolonial Studies

Cluster D: Language and Linguistics

  • FREN 357 (3) Translation
  • FREN 370 (3) Introduction to French Linguistics
  • FREN 451 (3) French Phonetics
  • FREN 457 (3) Advanced Translation
  • FREN 460 (3) History of the French Language
  • FREN 470 (3) Studies in Modern French Linguistics
  • FREN 472 (3) Morphology and Syntax of the French Language
  • FREN 474 (3) Lexicology and Semantics of the French Language
  • FREN 476 (3) French Language and Societies
  • FREN 477 (3) Contemporary Varieties of French
  • FREN 496 (3) Research Seminar in French Language and Linguistics

Special Topics

  • FREN 395 (3-6) Special Topics Abroad
  • FREN 419 (3) Women’s Writing
  • FREN 420 (3) Selected Topics in French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 455 (3) Creative Writing in French
  • FREN 495 (3) Research Seminar in French Literature and Culture
  • FREN 498 (3) Directed Reading

Minor in French Language

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Lower-level requirements

6 credits1, 2:

  • FREN 201 (3) Elementary French I
  • FREN 202 (3) Elementary French II

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1Students starting at an introductory level must complete the requirements leading to FREN 201 (6 credits of 100-level French) before taking the courses required for the Minor.

2Students with credit for secondary-school French 12 may not be required to complete FREN 201 and FREN 202, but may instead be permitted to begin at FREN 301. Please contact FHIS Student Programs Coordinator using this online form.

Upper-level requirements

18 credits of required courses:

  • FREN 301 (3) Intermediate French I
  • FREN 302 (3) Intermediate French II
  • FREN 311 (3) Introduction to Literature in French
  • FREN 352 (3) French Grammar
  • FREN 401 (3) Upper Intermediate French I
  • FREN 402 (3) Upper Intermediate French II

6 credits of selected courses from the following:

  • FREN 321 (3) Critical Writing
  • FREN 330 (3) Introduction to Quebec Literature
  • FREN 331 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from the Middle Ages to the Revolution
  • FREN 341 (3) Arts, Cultures and Society from Romanticism to the Present Day
  • FREN 346 (3) French at Work
  • FREN 353 (3) Advanced French Grammar
  • FREN 357 (3) Translation
  • FREN 370 (3) Introduction to French Linguistics
  • FREN 395 (3-6) Special Topics Abroad

Questions? Contact Advising.