French Major
To speak a language is to take on a world, a culture. - Frantz Fanon
In today’s increasingly multicultural and globalized world, French is one of the most practical foreign languages. Over 240 million people in 43 countries speak French and it is the only language other than English spoken on five continents. After English, it is the second most frequently taught language and it is an official or administrative language in more than 40 countries throughout the world. French is also the third most frequently spoken non-English language in U. S. homes. Its importance for global communication can be seen by its status as an official working language of the United Nations, NATO, the European Union, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, Amnesty International, the International Monetary Fund, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Red Cross.
Major and Minor
The department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Loyola offers both a major and minor in French, with courses ranging from beginning language courses to advanced language, literature and culture courses. Elementary and intermediate language courses provide balanced practice of the four language skills, —reading, writing, speaking and listening— in meaningful and real-world contexts, as well as an introduction to French and Francophone literatures and cultures. Advanced French courses are designed to help students gain an understanding of and appreciation for French and Francophone language, history, culture, and literature.
Students who wish to major in French take 11 courses (for class of 2026 and after) beyond the core requirement, including three to four courses at the 200-level and the remainder at the 300-level. Students who minor in French take six courses beyond the core requirement. To obtain a minor, students generally take two courses at the 200-level and four courses at the 300-level. The French minor can be combined with a major in Business, Science, Social Science, Education or the Humanities. Major/minor declaration forms and other forms can be found here.
2022-23 Academic Year Recap
Study Abroad
Through Loyola’s International Programs, students have the opportunity to study abroad in France for a semester or for a full academic year at the Centre d'Etudes Franco-American de Management in Lyon, France (Business majors, French minors), the American University in Paris (any major or minor) or the Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier, France (French majors and minors). Students planning on studying abroad during their junior year should meet with a member of the French faculty to discuss their study abroad options early in their sophomore year.
Loyola also offers two summer study abroad programs: one is in Montpellier, France (offered every summer) and one in Guadeloupe (offered every other summer). These programs are open to French majors and minors as well as students completing their language requirement. Interested students should contact a member of the French faculty to obtain more information.
All French majors and minors are strongly encouraged to study abroad in one of Loyola’s programs in France.