1. Handbook
  2. Bachelor of Arts
  3. Majors, Minors and Specialisations
  4. French Studies
  5. Print

French Studies

Bachelor of ArtsMajorYear: 2023

You’re viewing the 2023 Handbook:
Or view archived Handbooks
You’re currently viewing the 2023 version of this component

Overview

French is one of the world's major international languages: it is spoken by over 200 million people in 43 countries, on five continents. Knowledge of French may increase access to careers in international relations, development studies, business, science and the arts.

The overall objective of the French Studies program is to teach students to process information from a wide variety of materials in French, both written and spoken, and to produce accounts and discussions of that information in a variety of forms. In subjects at all levels, you will be guided towards undertaking independent research projects into areas including language, literature, politics, cinema, theatre, travel writing, food and wine, immigration and identity.

The core subjects in French are organised in a progressive sequence from French 1 through to French 7. Entry and exit points are determined by the French Studies program based on the student’s background in the language, placement testing or prerequisites. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the head of the French program. Accelerated progression is possible on advice from the French Program.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

  • Interpret a range of different genres relevant in French and Francophone social and cultural contexts;
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of oral and written formats, comprehending and producing French discourse with fluency (relative to entry level) and appreciate its cultural contexts;
  • Specialize in at least one of the three core areas of French and Francophone literature, linguistics, cinema and cultural studies;
  • Apply relevant research and analytical skills combined with a strong sense of intellectual integrity and the ethics of scholarship;
  • Appreciate French and Francophone cultures in a differentiated and informed way;
  • Engage critically and to constructively in intercultural dialogue as a bi/multicultural and bi/multilingual person and as a global citizen;
  • Independently apply a wide range of learning techniques (in French and English) as autonomous, motivated, self-directed and well-organised learners;
  • Act confidently in French-speaking milieus and target cultures, and work effectively in a cooperative way using French and English as media.

Last updated: 3 May 2024

Structure

100 credit points

Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the French Studies program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required. Please refer to the following link for further information:

http://arts.unimelb.edu.au/soll/resources/language-placement-testing

The entry points for this major are:

  • Entry at French Studies 1 is for students who have little or no background in the French language. Students commencing their study of French at this level range from absolute beginners to students who have completed up to four years of French study at secondary level (not including VCE or equivalent).
  • Entry at French Studies 3 is for students who have completed more than four years of French study at secondary level, including those who have achieved a VCE French study score of up to 34 (up to 4 in IB French), or equivalent.
  • Entry at French Studies 5 is for students who have achieved a VCE French study score of 35 or more (5 or more in IB French), or equivalent.

This major requires the completion of either:

Entry Point 1

  • 25 credit points of EP1 Level 1 Core subjects

  • 25 credit points of EP1 Level 2 Core subjects and 12.5 credit points of Level 2 French Studies Electives

  • 25 credit points of EP1 Level 3 Core subjects and 12.5 credit points of Level 3 Electives

OR

Entry Point 3

  • 25 credit points of EP3 Level 1 Core subjects

  • 25 credit points of EP3 Level 2 Core subjects and 12.5 credit points of Level 2 French Studies Electives

  • 12.5 credit points of EP3 Level 3 Core subjects and 25 credit points of Level 3 Electives

  • A minimum of 12.5 credit points of Level 3 French Studies Electives is required

OR

Entry Point 5

  • 25 credit points of EP5 Level 1 Core subjects

  • 12.5 credit points of EP5 Level 2 Core subjects and 25 credit points of Level 2 French Studies electives

  • 37.5 credit points of Level 3 Electives
  • A minimum of 25 credit points of Level 3 French Studies electives is required

Subject Options

Level 1

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN10004 French 1
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Winter Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN10005 French 2
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN10001 French 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN10003 French 4
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN10006 French 5
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN10007 French 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 2

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN20015 French 3
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN20017 French 4
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN20018 Intensive French 3 and 4
Summer Term (On Campus - Parkville)
 25

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN20001 French 5
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN20002 French 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN20019 French 7
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 2 French Studies Electives

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN20003 Romanticism to Decadence: French Novels
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN20011 French Cinema: The New Wave and Beyond
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN20013 Matters of Taste: French Eating Cultures Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN20020 In the Heart of the Loire Valley
Winter Term (Off Campus)
 12.5
FREN20021 The French Pacific in a Global Context Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN20022 From Page to Stage: French Theatre Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN20007 Immigration and Identity Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN20004 French Translation
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN20012 French Travel Writing Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN20010 The Rise of the Novel Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN20016 French and Francophone Cultural Studies
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN30003 French 5
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN30004 French 6
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN30001 French 7
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3 French Studies electives

Code Name Study period Credit Points
FREN30013 French Cinema: The New Wave and Beyond
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN30015 Matters of Taste: French Eating Cultures Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN30018 In the Heart of the Loire Valley
Winter Term (Off Campus)
 12.5
FREN30019 The French Pacific in a Global Context Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN30020 From Page to Stage: French Theatre Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN30014 French Travel Writing Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN30006 French Translation
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN30005 Romanticism to Decadence: French Novels
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
FREN30012 The Rise of the Novel Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN30017 Immigration and Identity Not available in 2023 12.5
FREN30021 French and Francophone Cultural Studies
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Level 3 Other electives

Code Name Study period Credit Points
EURO30002 Memory & Memoirs of 20th Century Europe
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
EURO30001 Language and Society in Europe Not available in 2023 12.5
EURO30003 European Modernism Not available in 2023 12.5
EURO30004 Screening Europe: Image and Identity Not available in 2023 12.5
EURO30005 Europe and its Others
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
EURO30006 A Taste of Europe: Melbourne Intensive
February (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
 12.5
EURO30008 Wines of the World
July (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5
LANG30001 Languages at Work Not available in 2023 12.5
LING30015 Corpus Linguistics
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
 12.5

Links

http://languages-linguistics.unimelb.edu.au

Last updated: 3 May 2024