MIT Global Languages

French and Francophone Studies

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Overview

With over 220 million speakers in 29 countries and 5 continents, French speaking countries play a significant role in the world economy. Students emerge from our classes linguistically and culturally prepared for today's increasingly fluid world.

Our curriculum is designed to offer rich opportunities to all students, from the elementary level to the most advanced courses. The expertise of the French group includes language pedagogy, literature, intercultural studies, critical theory, French politics and society, gender and queer studies, Modern French history, film studies, visual culture, Francophone African Studies, and cultural anthropology.

The diversity of our course offerings and the personal attention in small group classes create engaging and rewarding experiences for each student. Our classes are an excellent preparation for participation in programs such as MISTI France, Belgium and Switzerland, and January Scholars in France (a unique award for our most deserving students).

IAP 2020
21G.301 French I

Spring 2020
Tier I
21G.301 French I
21G.302   French II
21G.303   French III
21G.304   French IV
Tier II
21G.308   Writing (like the) French
21G.312 Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture: Migration, Multiculturalism, and Identity
How has the experience of migration and displacement shaped the sense of identity and belonging in the French and Francophone context? Why is multiculturalism such a polarizing notion in present-day France? How do ideas about identity and belonging shape the current political and social discourses on immigration in France, as well as laws and policies that address the definition of citizenship in relation to religion, race and ethnicity? Taking cues from literature, movies and other materials, this seminar will explore debates on ‘identity,’ ‘multiculturalism,’ ‘postcolonialism,’ ‘secularism,’ and how they interact with ideas of class, race, and gender in present-day France.
21G.315 Cross-cultural Perspectives on Contemporary French Society
Tier III
21G.341   Contemporary French Film and Social Issues
21G.346   Topics in Modern French Literature and Cultures: Contemporary Gender Politics and Ideas in France
How do ideas about gender impact politics and social life in France? Who are the writers, scholars, and artists who have opened up new perspectives on gender, power, and emancipation in the French context? How could their ideas be translated into practice in France, in the Francophone world, and at the global level? How could we transform current public discourses, laws and policies, including those dealing with family relations, the regulation of the body, political representation and discrimination in the workplace? Over the course of this seminar we will explore the writings of contemporary French authors and scholars. We will study movies, videos, newspapers, and online media to understand how ideas about gender shape current debates in France, as well as their global influence.

Looking ahead:

Fall 2020
Tier I
21G.301 French I
21G.302   French II
21G.303   French III
21G.304   French IV
Tier II
21G.308 Writing (Like the) French
21G.312   Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture:
Tier III
21G.028/328 African Migrations
21G.346 Topics in Modern French Literature and Cultures: French Science Fiction
21H.142 Modern Europe

A note regarding the enrollment policy of the Global Studies and Languages section: Enrollment limited to 18 for pedagogical reasons for Tier I and Tier II subjects. Preference will be given to pre-registered students, including pre-registered undergraduates who were cut from the same class the previous semester due to the enrollment cap. Please note that you have to attend the first day of class to maintain your preference level. In case of over-enrollment, preference will be given in the following order: declared majors, declared minors, declared concentrators, first-years, sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduate students.

Requirements

MIT students have interests and prospects that span the globe. The academic programs offered by Global Studies and Languages—concentrations, minors, and majors— offer undergraduates the opportunity to combine a degree in any STEM-related field with in-depth language and cultural studies. MIT Global Studies and Languages offers a Major, Minor, and Concentration in French.

Major
The program consists of 11 subjects (138 units) beginning at French III. 6 of the 11 subjects may count towards the 8-subject HASS GIR. The 5 remaining subjects provide 66 units beyond GIR.

Students choose from the following list of subjects:

Core subjects:
21G.304 French IV
21G.306 French Communication Intensive I CI-M (for majors in French only)
21G.307 French Communication Intensive II CI-M (for majors in French only)

Electives:
Tier I
21G.303 French III

Tier II
21G.308 Writing (Like the) French
21G.310 French Conversation
21G.311 Introduction to French Culture
21G.312 Basic Themes in French Literature and Culture
21G.315 A Window onto Contemporary French Society

Tier III
Taught in English
21G.026/326 Global Africa: Creative Cultures
21G.028/328 African Migrations
21G.049 French Photography
21G.052 French Film Classics
21G.053 Understanding Contemporary French Politics
21G.054 France: Enlightenment and Revolution

Taught in French
21G.320 Introduction to French Literature
21G.321 Childhood and Youth in French and Francophone Cultures
21G.322 Frenchness in an Era of Globalization
21G.325 New Culture of Gender: Queer France
21G.341 Contemporary French Film and Social Issues
21G.342 French Pop Music
21G.344 French Feminist Literature: Yesterday and Today
21G.346 Topics in Modern French Literature and Culture
21G.347 Social and Literary Trends in Contemporary Short French Fiction
21G.348 Global Paris

The CI-M requirement is completed by pairing the 3-unit add-on subject numbers 21G.306 and 21G.307 with two of the Tier III subjects in French, as listed above. These pairings count as two single subjects worth 15 units each towards the eleven-subject requirement. Students who have registered for 21G.306 or 21G.307 will develop an additional project with the faculty member teaching the affiliated subject.

A major course plan may include a pre-thesis (21G.THT) and thesis (21G.THU) for up to 18 units of the 138 units in the major. The pre-thesis and thesis are reserved for students who have completed advanced-level coursework in a particular language group and demonstrate outstanding competence in their field of study.

Note: students starting the major at Tier II do not need to take 21G.304 French IV as part of the major program.

Advisor: Emma Teng

French Major Degree Chart
Sample Roadmap French Major

Sample Roadmap Double Major French and Nuclear Science and Engineering

Double Major Worksheet

Double Major Application Instructions

Joint Majors: 21E Humanities and Engineering; 21S Humanities and Science
These programs entail nine subjects in French, starting at 21G.303 French III or higher, and six subjects from a chosen Engineering or Science course. Student must complete two CI-Ms, one taken from each area of study. Only one subject being used to meet the distribution component of the HASS Requirement may be counted toward the degree program.

Minor
A minor in French leads students who have already reached an intermediate level of proficiency (above French II) into a more advanced study of the language and culture.

The program consists of 6 subjects arranged in 3 tiers starting at French III. Five of these six subjects overlap with the 8-subject HASS GIR. A student can concentrate and minor in the same field.

All subjects listed above are eligible for the minor. Typically, only one subject taught in English is allowed in a minor course plan, and requires the approval of the minor advisor.

Co-advisors: Emma Teng and Sabine Levet

MInor in French: MIT Bulletin
Sample Roadmap French Minor and Nuclear Science and Engineering Major
SHASS Minor Guidelines and Procedures

Concentration
There are several concentration options, depending on whether the focus is language or literature and culture.

If a student’s incoming level is French I:
• 4 subjects, French I through French IV, are required to complete the concentration

If a student’s incoming level is French II or above:
• 3 subjects at French II or above are required to complete the concentration

An upper-level concentration may include 3 subjects, such as French III or French IV and/or intermediate to advanced classes taught in French (Tiers II and III). See above under French Major for the list of subjects.

Subjects offered in English that pertain to French/Francophone studies may be applied towards certain concentration requirements; please see the concentration advisor for approval.

Advisor: Sabine Levet

For the online HASS Concentration Form, click through to studentformsandpetitions.mit.edu
Current Brochure

Transfer Credit
Transfer credit advisor: Sabine Levet

Study Abroad

Study Abroad
Advisor: S abine Levet
You may also consider spending a summer, a semester, or a year abroad. Credits received from most accredited programs will count towards your major, minor or concentration if you consult with the Study Abroad Advisor in French prior to your departure.

January Scholars in France
A two-week undergraduate IAP program that provides cultural immersion in Paris.

MIT-France
Part of MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI)

MIT-Belgium
Part of MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI)

MIT-Switzerland
Part of MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI)

MIT Global Education: General information about study abroad. All forms related to study abroad and scholarship information available.

Activities

Global France Seminar

The MIT Global France Seminar aims to bring together MIT faculty, instructors, and graduate students
from across disciplines interested in the study of French and francophone cultures around the world. The
seminar series is free and open to the public.

http://mitgsl.mit.edu/mit-global-france-seminar

January Scholars in France

January Scholars in France gives MIT undergraduate students a tutored cultural immersion in Paris
during IAP, focusing on French arts, letters, theater, and history.

http://jsf.mit.edu/

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French and Francophone Studies

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Global France Seminar

January Scholars in France