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
21G.056/356 The "Making" of Moderin Europe: 1789 to the Present
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: Catherine Clark
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.
Advisor: Catherine Clark
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: Catherine Clark
For the online HASS Concentration Form, click through to studentformsandpetitions.mit.edu
Current Brochure
Transfer Credit
Transfer Credit Examiner: Catherine Clark
