French (FREN)

FREN 101. Beginning French I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Enrollment requires any student with previous exposure to French to take the placement test to determine eligibility. For students with no prior knowledge of French. Beginning grammar, reading, writing and oral skills.

FREN 102. Beginning French II. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 101 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Continuation of beginning grammar, reading, writing and oral skills.

FREN 110. Intensive French I. 8 Hours.

Semester course; 10 lecture and laboratory hours. 8 credits. This intensive course combines FREN 101 and 102 into a single semester.

FREN 201. Intermediate French I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 102 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in French. Building toward intermediate-level cultural competence and proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing through authentic materials.

FREN 202. Intermediate French II. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 201 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in French. Increasing intermediate-level cultural competence and proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing through authentic materials.

FREN 205. Intermediate Conversation. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 201. Designed to increase the student's proficiency in the spoken language through audio-oral exercises, dialogues and free conversation.

FREN 210. Intensive French II. 6 Hours.

Semester course; 6 lecture and laboratory hours per week. 6 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 101 and 102, or FREN 110. This intensive course combines FREN 201 and 202/205 into a single semester.

FREN 300. Communication and Composition. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, FREN 205 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in French. Building toward intermediate-high proficiency in the three modes of communication: interpretive, interpersonal and presentational. Authentic materials enhance intercultural competence and communication skills.

FREN 301. Self and Society: Effective Writing. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, FREN 205 or FREN 300. Conducted in French. Students advance their knowledge of the French language and French-speaking cultures while developing their reading and writing skills. Students examine a variety of texts and media and gain strategies for interpretation and discussion, with a focus on effective writing.

FREN 305. Oral Communication. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, FREN 205, FREN 300 or a satisfactory score on the VCU Language Placement Test within the one-year period immediately preceding the beginning of the course. Conducted in French. Practice in the spoken language with emphasis on discussions relating to topics of current interest.

FREN 307. French Conversation and Film. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, 205 or 300. The course is designed to develop the student's conversational skills, oral comprehension ability and knowledge of contemporary culture through discussion of selected French films. Emphasis is also placed on vocabulary development and writing practice.

FREN 320. French Civilization and Culture I. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, 205 or 300. Conducted in French. A survey of French civilization and culture from its origins to the French Revolution. Introduction to and analysis of the most important aspects of Gallo-Roman society and of the Merovingian, Carolingian and Capetian dynasties which influenced the institutions of the Ancien Regime and still serve as cultural archetypes and icons in contemporary French culture.

FREN 321. French Civilization and Culture II. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, 205 or 300. Conducted in French. A survey of French civilization and culture from the Napoleonic era to the present. This course retraces important cultural and social traditions found during the first Empire, the Restoration, the Second Republic, the Second Empire, the Commune, the Third and Fourth Republics which influenced and continue to shape contemporary French civilization and culture of the Fifth Republic.

FREN 330. Survey of Literature. 3 Hours.

Semester courses; 3 lecture hours. 3, 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, 205 or 300. Conducted in French. First semester: through the 18th century. Second semester: 19th and 20th centuries.

FREN 331. Survey of Literature. 3 Hours.

Semester courses; 3 lecture hours. 3, 3 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 202, 205 or 300. Conducted in French. First semester: through the 18th century. Second semester: 19th and 20th centuries.

FREN 420. French Regional Culture. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Course can be repeated with different topics up to a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 320 or 321. Conducted in French. Focuses on the culture and civilization specific to each of France's 22 regions. History, culture, architecture as well as sociopolitical, linguistic identities, artisanal trades and folklore are presented for each region. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

FREN 421. French Contemporary Culture. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Course can be repeated with different topics up to a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 320 or 321. Conducted in French. Focuses on the contemporary culture found in French society. The individuals and events shaping current French social, political, artistic and cultural life are examined. Each theme is illustrated by current audiovisual materials. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

FREN 422. French Cinema. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Course can be repeated with different topics up to a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 320 or 321. Conducted in French. Tracing French cinema from les Frores Lumiore and Georges Melius through the New Wave to new contemporary directors, this course focuses on the thematic selections and stylistic techniques particular to French cinematographic culture. The class is offered concurrently with the annual VCU French Film Festival, thereby permitting students to directly communicate with French actors and directors participating in the festival. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

FREN 425. French Media. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Course can be repeated with different topics up to a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 320 or 321 or 330 or 331. Conducted in French. Analysis of the French media: written press, radio and television. Advanced comprehension skills required and stressed through regular exercises pertaining to different journalistic discourses and styles. Proficiency in journalistic writing is developed in class through the creation of an electronic French newspaper on the Internet. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

FREN 428. Earth Ahead: Contributions by French Authors, Artists and Activists. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or FREN 307; and FREN 320, FREN 321, FREN 330 or FREN 331. Conducted in French. Explores the theme of the earth, nature, and the environment in the philosophy, literature and art of contemporary Francophone cultures, and the extent to which these intellectual and cultural contributions have entered academic and popular discussions in 21st-century France and elsewhere in the world. Analyzes how these diverse manifestations of environmental discourse inform, shape and articulate Francophone cultural praxes of activism concerned with defending our natural world.

FREN 435. Contemporary French Literature. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 330 or 331. Conducted in French. An overview of French literature from 1900 to the present. Discusses texts that have particular resonance in relation to contemporary issues, including literary works that have contributed most saliently to French culture over this time period.

FREN 440. Commercial French. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Course can be repeated with different topics up to a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 320 or 321 or 330 or 331. This course introduces students to the cultural, economic and linguistic dimensions of the Francophone commercial sector. It builds the student's reading, writing, listening and speaking proficiencies through active engagement with business-related materials and activities. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester.

FREN 450. Francophone Literatures and Cultures. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours. 1-3 credits. Course can be repeated with different topics up to a total of 6 credits. Prerequisite: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 320 or 321 or 330 or 331. Conducted in French. Introduces students to the literatures and cultures of the Francophone world. Provides an overview of the Francophone world and an in-depth study of literary works written in French from Africa, the Caribbean, North America, Asia and Europe. Also explores the impact of Colonial history on Francophone literatures and cultures. See the Schedule of Classes for the specific topic to be offered each semester. Crosslisted as: INTL 450.

FREN 491. Topics in French. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; variable hours. 1-3 credits. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 9 credits. Prerequisites: FREN 301; FREN 305 or 307; FREN 320 or 321 or 330 or 331. An in-depth study of selected topics in French. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.

FREN 492. Independent Study. 1-3 Hours.

Semester course; variable hours. Variable credit. Maximum of 3 credits per semester; maximum total of 6 credits for all independent study courses in French. Prerequisite: FREN 301; FREN 320 or 321; Senior standing with a minimum of 85 credits earned toward the degree. Determination of course content and permission of the instructor must be obtained prior to registration of the course. A course designed to give students an opportunity to become involved in independent study in a literary or linguistic area or subject in which they have an interest.

FREN 500. French for Graduate Students. 3 Hours.

Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. This course is designed to prepare graduate students for the reading knowledge examination for higher degrees. Each graduate department will determine the nature and form of certifying examination.

FREN 501. French Communication. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 1-4 lecture hours. 1-4 credits. An intensive study of communication in French. Variable credits; primarily oral, written and listening skills.

FREN 511. French Civilization. 1-4 Hours.

Semester course; 1-4 lecture hours. 1-4 credits. Prerequisite: functional fluency in French since the class will be taught in French. A comprehensive study of the civilization and culture of France and its global expressions.