French (FREN)


FREN 1001  Elementary French 1  (4 credits)  
Fundamentals of listening, speaking, reading and writing in French. Cultural awareness is developed through exposure to a wide range of authentic texts and materials. Students may not also receive credit for FREN 1003.
Prerequisite: Not open to students with native or near native fluency in French.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2015 Fall Term, 2014 Fall Term  
FREN 1002  Elementary French 2  (4 credits)  
Continuation of FREN 1001. Fundamentals of listening, speaking, reading and writing in French. Cultural awareness developed through exposure to a wide range of authentic texts and materials. Students may not also receive credit for FREN 1003.
Prerequisite: FREN 1001. Not open to students with native or near native fluency in French.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2016 Spring Term, 2015 Spring Term  
FREN 1003  Intensive Elementary French  (4 credits)  
Accelerated first-year French course. Development of active vocabulary, basic grammar, listening, reading, writing and speaking in French through class activities, web-based language practice and online homework assignments. Cultural awareness enhanced through exposure to authentic texts and materials from French and Francophone cultures. Students may not also receive credit for either FREN 1001 or FREN 1002.
Prerequisite: No previous French study or placement exam. Not open to students with native or near native fluency in French.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term  
FREN 2001  Intermediate French 1  (4 credits)  
Second-year French course. Continuation of FREN 1002 or FREN 1003. Continued development of listening, speaking, reading and writing in French. Cultural readings from the French and Francophone world are discussed. Emphasis on communicative practice and interaction in French, and the development of intermediate low language proficiency.
Prerequisite: FREN 1002 or FREN 1003; or placement exam. Not open to students with native or near native fluency in French.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Fall Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term  
FREN 2002  Intermediate French 2  (3 credits)  
Continuation of FREN 2001. Continued development of listening, speaking, reading and writing in French. Cultural readings from the French and Francophone world. Emphasis on communicative practice and interaction in French, and the development of intermediate mid language proficiency required for the major and minor in French.
Prerequisite: FREN 2001. Not open to students with native or near native fluency in French.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term  
FREN 2003  Intensive Intermediate French  (4 credits)  
Accelerated second-year French course. Continued development of listening, speaking, reading and writing in French. Cultural readings from the French and Francophone world. Emphasis on communicative practice and interaction in French. Development of intermediate mid language proficiency required for French major and minor. Students may not also receive credit for either FREN 2001 or FREN 2002.
Prerequisite: FREN 1002 or FREN 1003 with minimum grade of B+, or placement exam. Not open to students with native or near native fluency in French.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Fall Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Fall Term  
FREN 3001  French Composition and Conversation  (3 credits)  
Development of effective writing proficiency in French for a variety of contexts (descriptions, explanations, letters, e-mails and papers) with review of linguistic and grammatical structures. Development of culturally, socially and contextually appropriate conversational skills (oral and aural) about a variety of topics with a focus on linguistic accuracy and fluency.
Prerequisite: FREN 2002 or FREN 2003; or by departmental placement. Not open to students with native or near native fluency in French.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term  
FREN 3120  French Phonetics  (3 credits)  
Offers an understanding and practice of the basic pronunciation rules of Standard French; the articulation of individual sounds, sound groupings, and speech patterns.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Cgntn, Lang, Mmry/Intlgnc  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2021 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Summer Term  
FREN 3500  Introduction to Textual Analysis in French  (3 credits)  
A survey of major genres, styles and periods of French and Francophone literature designed to prepare students for upper level literature courses with a focus on interpretation of poetry, theater, prose and contemporary press.
Prerequisite: FREN 2001 or FREN 2003; or by department placement.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term  
FREN 3705  Advanced French for Business  (3 credits)  
Advanced French for international business in the French-speaking world.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2018 Spring Term, 2014 Spring Term  
FREN 4110  Advanced Grammar and Written Expression in French  (3 credits)  
Examines advanced structures, forms and style of the French language through contextual practice.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: Writing Intensive  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2020 Spring Term  
FREN 4200  Francophone Literature: Non-Western  (3 credits)  
Study of indigenous and colonial Francophone literature of Africa, the Caribbean or Asia. Examinations include stylistic techniques, thematic concerns and place in literary history. Variable subtitles depending on content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2021 Fall Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2019 Spring Term, 2017 Fall Term  
FREN 4210  Francophone Literature: Western  (3 credits)  
Study of the Francophone literature of Europe or North America. Examinations include stylistic techniques, thematic concerns and place in literary history. Variable subtitles depending on content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2018 Fall Term, 2017 Spring Term  
FREN 4220  Francophone Art or Film: Non-Western  (3 credits)  
Study of indigenous and colonial Francophone art and film of Sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean or Asia. Examinations include stylistic techniques, thematic concerns and place in art or cinematic history. Variable subtitles depending on content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2019 Fall Term, 2016 Fall Term  
FREN 4230  Francophone Art or Film: Western  (3 credits)  
Study of Francophone art and film of Europe or North America. Examinations include stylistic techniques, thematic concerns and place in art or cinematic history. Variable subtitles depending on the content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Expanding Our Horizons  
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2020 Spring Term, 2018 Spring Term  
FREN 4240  Francophone Popular Culture  (3 credits)  
Study of indigenous and colonial Francophone culture of North Africa and the Middle East. Topics include the study of cuisine, fashion, social norms and mass media and their relationship to environmental, economic, social and political factors. Variable subtitles depending on content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2020 Fall Term, 2018 Fall Term  
FREN 4250  Francophone Arts and Cultures in English  (3 credits)  
Topics in Francophone Arts and Cultures taught in English. Topics vary. Subject to be announced.
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2021 Spring Term, 2018 Fall Term  
FREN 4251  Vincent Van Gogh and the Literary Tableau  (3 credits)  
Discover the works of Vincent Van Gogh as well as his thought processes as he relates his theories of artistic creation to the development of nineteenth-century French realist novels and the literary tableau. Study Van Gogh’s letters to his brother Theo, and read the novels depicted in his painting Still Life with Plaster Statuette, a Rose and Two Novels. Enter a window into the mind of an artistic genius proficient in literary criticism. Taught in English.
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Cgntn, Lang, Mmry/Intlgnc  
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term  
FREN 4260  French Existentialism  (3 credits)  
An in-depth analysis of French Existentialist philosophy and literature. Study of major figures and themes of French Existentialism.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Expanding Our Horizons  
FREN 4270  French Holocaust Writings in English Translation  (3 credits)  
An in-depth analysis of French philosophical, testimonial, cinematic and literary representations of the Holocaust. Questions to be investigated include What is “genocide”? What conditions (deprivations of which types of basic needs) make genocide possible? What does it mean to “bear witness”? What is the relationship between “truth” and “testimony”? What is our responsibility (as individuals and as a community) vis-à-vis the prevention of such atrocities? Taught in English.
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Basic Needs & Justice, Writing Intensive  
FREN 4280  Creative Writing in French  (3 credits)  
An introduction to creative writing in French through illustrative texts. Study of major literary genres and forms.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: Writing Intensive  
FREN 4300  Francophone History and Politics: Non-Western  (3 credits)  
Principal political dynamics of Francophone Africa, the Caribbean, or Asia and their interactions with France. Variable subtitles depending on content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2019 Spring Term  
FREN 4310  Francophone History and Politics: Western  (3 credits)  
Principal political dynamics of Francophone Europe or North Africa their interactions with France. Variable subtitles depending on the content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2022 Fall Term, 2020 Spring Term, 2017 Fall Term, 2016 Fall Term  
FREN 4320  Francophone Critical Theories  (3 credits)  
Examination of philosophies and critical theories originating from Francophone thinkers and related to the Francophone world. Topics include existentialism, structuralism, post-structuralism and post-colonial theories. Variable subtitles depending on the content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2019 Spring Term, 2017 Spring Term  
FREN 4330  Francophone Studies in Human Rights  (3 credits)  
An in-depth analysis of human rights issues of the Francophone world. Topics include ethnic or religious subjugation, immigration, political repression and genocide. Variable subtitles depending on content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Basic Needs & Justice  
Interdisciplinary Studies: Peace Studies  
Last four terms offered: 2020 Fall Term, 2018 Spring Term  
FREN 4340  Francophone Studies in Gender or Sexuality  (3 credits)  
An in-depth analysis of issues related to women and gender concerns in Francophone countries. Topics include theory (feminism, écriture féminine, gay and lesbian studies), law (family law regulating non-married couples, marriage, property rights, inheritance) and socio-cultural issues (religion, employment, public and private space, dress, linguistic accessibility, domestic abuse and genital mutilation). Variable subtitles depending on content and focus.
Prerequisite: FREN 3001 and FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Individuals & Communities  
Interdisciplinary Studies: Gender and Sexualities Studies  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2020 Fall Term, 2019 Fall Term, 2017 Spring Term  
FREN 4350  Francophone Civilization in English  (3 credits)  
Topics in Francophone Civilization in English. Topics vary. Subject to be announced.
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2021 Fall Term  
FREN 4350H  Honors Francophone Civilization in English  (3 credits)  
Topics in Francophone Civilization in English. Topics vary. Subject to be announced. As an Honors Program course, includes a more intensive research or project component.
Prerequisite: Admission to French Disciplinary Honors Program.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
FREN 4360  Postcolonial Francophone African Cinema  (3 credits)  
Examine diverse films by African directors from French-speaking former colonies in Africa, interpreting their creations as both visual texts and cultural documents. Help students explore multiplicity of issues related to identity and its representation in cinema. Engage in discussions of representation of gender, race, social, political, religious and cultural questions. Taught in English.
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Marquette Core Curriculum: HUM Crossing Boundaries  
FREN 4931  Topics in French Language, Culture and Literature  (1-3 credits)  
Topics vary. Subject to be announced.
Prerequisite: FREN 3500; or cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2023 Fall Term, 2022 Spring Term, 2017 Fall Term, 2015 Fall Term  
FREN 4995  Independent Study in French  (1-3 credits)  
Faculty-supervised, independent study/research of a specific area or topic in French.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Spring Term, 2023 Spring Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2020 Spring Term  
FREN 4999  Senior Thesis in French  (2 credits)  
Introductory thesis guidance for approved students under the direction of a departmental adviser.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
Last four terms offered: 2012 Summer Term, 2011 Summer Term, 2010 Summer Term, 2009 Fall Term  
FREN 4999H  Honors Senior Thesis  (3 credits)  
Introductory thesis guidance for approved students under the direction of a departmental adviser. As an Honors Program course, includes a more intensive research or project component.
Prerequisite: Cons. of dept. ch.; admission to French Disciplinary Honors Program.  
Level of Study: Undergraduate  
FREN 5110  Advanced Grammar and Written Expression in French  (3 credits)  
Examines advanced structures, forms and style of the French language through contextual practice.
Level of Study: Graduate  
Last four terms offered: 2009 Fall Term  
FREN 6204  French for Reading Knowledge  (3 credits)  
Provides an overview of French grammar, reading comprehension of basic texts and translation practice for graduate students who plan to use French in their field of research. May only be taken for credit and may not be audited.
Prerequisite: Enrolled in the Graduate School.  
Level of Study: Graduate  
Last four terms offered: 2024 Summer Term, 2023 Summer Term, 2022 Summer Term, 2021 Summer Term