French, BA BA
Studying French language and culture opens many doors both personally and professionally.
French is an official language in dozens of countries around the world including, France, Canada, Gabon, Haiti, Belgium, Senegal, Switzerland, and Cameroon, just to name a few. And French is used as a language of culture, communication and commerce in many other countries across the world as well. French is the fifth most common language globally with more than 300 million speakers.
French students at UWM develop a global perspective and a better understanding of cultural diversity on a global scale. A French degree can serve as a gateway to a wide variety of career opportunities in business, finance, tech, marketing, journalism, translation, hospitality, architecture, engineering, the arts, government, and more.
As students move through the French curriculum, they develop greater fluency and use their knowledge of French to explore the cultures, arts, societies, literature, history, and politics of French speaking people from around the world. In almost all of the French program’s courses, students read, write about, and discuss course topics entirely in French.
Many students studying French at UWM spend time studying abroad in a French speaking country and often find that immersing themselves in the language and culture of another country can be an extremely enriching intellectual and personal experience.
Students who enter UWM already at an advanced French level can earn both a bachelor’s and master’s in 5 years (instead of 6) in French and Francophone literatures and cultures or in Translation and Interpretation.
Student with no previous experience in French will start in the introductory French language class; those who have studied French in high school should take the placement exam to determine if they can start at a higher level. Students who place in a higher-level course who subsequently complete that course with a “B” or better may receive retroactive credits for the courses that were skipped.
Program Type
Major
Program Format
On Campus
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Major Requirements
The College of Letters and Science requires that students attain at least a 2.0 GPA on all credits in the major attempted at UWM. In addition, students must attain a 2.0 GPA on all major credits attempted, including any transfer work.
The major in French consists of 37 credits, at least 15 numbered above 303 taken in residence at UWM.1
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| The beginning and intermediate level sequence 1 | ||
| FRENCH 104 | Second-Semester French | 4 |
| FRENCH 203 | Third-Semester French | 3 |
| FRENCH 204 | Fourth-Semester French | 3 |
| FRENCH 303 | Conversation and Composition: Intermediate Level | 3 |
| One of the following electives: 2 | 3 | |
| Introduction to Global Languages and Cultures | ||
| Views of France: | ||
Any French course at the 300-level or above | ||
| Select 21 credits from the two categories below as follows: | 21 | |
| Select 6-12 credits from the following 300-level courses 1 | ||
| Contemporary French Language and Culture | ||
| Intensive Grammar and Usage | ||
| Reading French Texts | ||
| French on Screen | ||
| Select 9-15 credits at the 350 level or above 3 | ||
| Literature of the French-Speaking World in Translation: | ||
| Phonetics | ||
| French Immersion: Advanced | ||
| Growing Up French | ||
| Advanced Written Expression | ||
| Castles, Cathedrals, and Common People: The Foundations of French Culture | ||
| Royalty, Reason, and Revolution: The Golden Age of French Culture | ||
| Reaction and Innovation: French Culture of the 19th and 20th Centuries | ||
| Seminar in Literature of the Francophone World: | ||
| Seminar in French and Francophone Cultures: | ||
| Seminar in French Literature: | ||
| Institutions and Culture of Contemporary France | ||
| Cinema of the French-Speaking World: | ||
| Topics in French and Francophone Studies in Translation: | ||
| Internship in French | ||
| Seminar on Masterpieces of Literature Written in French: | ||
| Seminar in Contemporary French Literature: | ||
| Seminar in French Language: | ||
| Total Credits | 37 | |
- 1
Students receiving a B or better in any of these lower division courses, or FRENCH 324 or FRENCH 325, if it is their first French course at university level, can receive retro-credits for all the first- and second-year courses preceding that course in the sequence, up to 14 credits. For example, a student completing FRENCH 303 as the first French course at UWM with a B or better would receive the 3 credits for FRENCH 303 and 14 credits for first- and second-year sequence.
- 2
Study abroad courses (numbered 297, 397 or 497), internship credits (numbered 289 and 489) or immersion weekends (numbered 210 or 410), can count toward these credits. Students are encouraged to consult with French faculty members about these options.
- 3
Only one course taught in English can be counted toward the 15 upper-division elective credits. Courses taught in English are FRENCH 357; FRENCH 383; and FRENCH 457.
Additional Requirements
All French majors are required to pass an advanced language proficiency examination, which they are advised to take in the second-to-last semester of their BA.
- Currently enrolled majors with questions about general degree requirements? Make an appointment with your assigned Letters & Science College Advisor through Navigate or email your advisor.
- Currently enrolled majors with questions about the major specifically? Email your faculty advisor or the department directly.
- Currently enrolled UWM students not yet in the College of Letters & Science? Email ls-advising@uwm.edu.
- Haven’t started classes yet at UWM? Email our admissions counselor at let-sci@uwm.edu.
In addition to the requirements for the major (in the Requirements tab of this page), students must fulfill a number of other requirements. Students must take a minimum of 120 credits to graduate. These can be thought of as falling into one of three "buckets:" major, general requirements, and electives, which is where a minor could fall. Many classes fall into more than one bucket at the same time. This is why it is important to talk to your advisor, so you can take advantage of those double-counting opportunities.
For more details and a visual guide to the content in each bucket, review our L&S requirements page.
Students interested in French likely are interested in a career with global features. And that is a very possible outcome! The challenge is figuring out how and where you want to apply your French skills – Do you want to work in a business setting for an international company? Do you want to work within the U.S. or work abroad? Do you want to work directly to promote and teach French language and culture in an educational or social service setting? Do you want to use your French skills everyday in a public facing career in the hospitality or travel industry?
There are so many options, and you will need to research, explore and gain hands-in experience while in college to match your skills, knowledge and interests to jobs in the marketplace.
Internships, research projects, and part-time jobs can help you determine which career path is right for you. French majors often find job opportunities in social research, business administration, marketing and market research, banking, social services, community development, health services, journalism, travel and tourism, sales, teaching, human resources/personnel management, corporate training, and fundraising.
We encourage you to begin exploring career options when you declare your French major or at the start of your sophomore year, whichever comes first.