Minor in French Language, Literature and Culture

Why minor in French at GW?

French is, and always has been, a global language. Our courses provide a historical and contemporary perspective on French and Francophone literature, culture, and society. Our curriculum fosters deep engagement with cultural production of the French-speaking world and encourages you to develop and hone critical thinking and analytical writing skills. In your courses you will study literature, film, visual arts, music, history, theater, popular culture, and creative writing. We seek to promote an understanding of different cultures as profoundly interconnected.

We welcome majors from all disciplines, including International Affairs, Business, English, History, and the sciences. Our recent graduates have pursued careers in foreign service, international development, business, secondary and higher education, law and medicine.

Note: AP credits do not count toward the French major or minor.

Required Courses

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 18 credits, as follows:

Prerequisites
FREN 1001Basic French I
FREN 1002Basic French II
FREN 1003Intermediate French I
FREN 1004Intermediate French II (AP credit may be substituted)
Minor curriculum
Required
FREN 3100WIntroduction to French Literature
One course from the following:
FREN 3210Medieval and Early Modern French Literature in Context
FREN 3520The Age of Classicism
FREN 3530The Age of Enlightenment
FREN 4500Studies in Medieval French Literature
FREN 4510French Literature of the Renaissance
Four courses from the following:
FREN 2005Language, Culture, and Society I *
FREN 2006Language, Culture, and Society II
FREN 3010WAdvanced French Grammar and Style
FREN 3020Contemporary France
FREN 3210Medieval and Early Modern French Literature in Context
FREN 3220Modern French Literature
FREN 3300Topics in French and Francophone Literatures and Cultures in Translation
FREN 3400Studies in Genre
FREN 3500Race, Religion, and Identity in France
FREN 3520The Age of Classicism
FREN 3530The Age of Enlightenment
FREN 3550Studies in Twentieth-Century French Literature
FREN 3560Topics in Contemporary Francophone Literature and Cinema
FREN 3560Topics in Contemporary Francophone Literature and Cinema
FREN 3600Special Topics in French Literature
FREN 3700History of French Cinema
FREN 4470Writing Women
FREN 4500Studies in Medieval French Literature
FREN 4510French Literature of the Renaissance
FREN 4540Nineteenth-Century French Literature and Culture
FREN 4600Special Topics in French Literature
FREN 4700Race Matters: Literature, Culture, and Identity in Contemporary France

*AP credit for FREN 2005 allows students to place into higher-level FREN courses, but those credits do not count toward the total required for the minor.

French Minor Advising

Masha Belenky
(Last names A-M) 
Kathryn Kleppinger
(Last names N-Z) 

French Literature Research Guide

Find literary studies scholarship for all periods and genres. Gelman library's French Literature research guide can help!