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French Undergraduate Course Descriptions

FR 001 Elementary French I (4)
Grammar, with reading and writing of simple French; oral and aural work stressed. Students who have received high school credit for two or more years of French may not schedule this course for credit, without the permission of the department.

FR 002 Elementary French II (4)
Grammar and reading continued; oral and aural phases progressively increased. Students who have received high school credit for four years of French may not schedule this course for credit, without the permission of the department.
Prerequisite: FR 001

FR 003 Intermediate French (4)
Grammar, reading, composition, oral and aural exercises.
Prerequisite: FR 002  

FR 083S (GH;IL) First-Year Seminar in French (3)
Critical approaches to the dimensions and directions in French & Francophone literatures and cultures.

FR 111 Elementary French (6)
Acquisition of basic skills in the active use of French: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

FR 112 Intermediate French (6)
Reinforcement of basic skills previously acquired in the active use of French in FR 111.

FR 121G Fundamentals of Reading French (3)
Instruction in fundamental skills required for reading expository French prose, primarily for research purposes. (This course may not be used to satisfy any baccalaureate degree requirements. No graduate credit is given for this course.)
Prerequisite: seventh-semester standing

FR 122G Practice in Reading French (3)
Development and reinforcement of basic reading skills, with emphasis on the individual student's area of research. (This course may not be used to satisfy any baccalaureate degree requirements. No graduate credit is given for this course.)
Prerequisite: FR 121G

FR 137 (GH;IL) Paris: Anatomy of a City (3)
Survey of the cultural, artistic, literary, and social life of the city of Paris from Gallo-Roman times to the present.

FR 138 (GH) French Culture Through Film (3)
Introduction to French culture through film by French and francophone directors examining gender, ethnicity, and global issues. Taught in English.

FR 139 (GH;IL) France and the French-Speaking World (3)
An introduction to the culture of France and its impact on the world.

FR 140 (IL) French Novel in English Translation (1-6)
Readings of selected French masterpieces in translation; discussion of recurring themes in several literary periods.

FR 141 (IL) Cultural Tradition in French Cuisine (3)
A study of French culture in English, emphasizing the French gastronomical traditions in literature and civilization.

FR 142 (GH) French and Francophone Literatures in Translation (3)
An introduction to the literature of France and French-speaking countries.

FR 187 French Freshman Seminar (3)
The meaning and advantages of a Liberal Arts education in context of a specific discipline.
Prerequisite: first-semester standing and enrollment in the College of the Liberal Arts 

FR 197 Special Topics (1-9)
Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.

FR 199 (IL) Foreign Study — French (1-12)
Intensive postintermediate grammar review, with emphasis on oral skills and vocabulary building.
Prerequisite: FR 003

FR 201 (IL) Oral Communication and Reading Comprehension (3)
Emphasis on oral skills and reading for total comprehension.
Prerequisite: FR 003 or FR 112

FR 202 (IL) Grammar and Composition (3)
Grammar review and writing of short essays.
Prerequisite: FR 003

FR 270 (WMNST 270) Race and Gender in Literature Translated from French (3)
A critical presentation, taught in English, of changing ideas and values on race and gender in French and Francophone literatures.

FR 294 Research Project (1-12)
Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individualor small-group basis.

FR 296 Independent Studies (1-18)
Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

FR 297 Special Topics (1-9)
Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.

FR 299 (IL) Foreign Study — French (3-12)
Writing practice at postintermediate level. Cultural readings about French civilization.
Prerequisite: FR 199

FR 316 French Linguistics (3)
Survey of the theory and methods of linguistics as they apply to the major subfields.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 330 (IL) French Culture and Civilization (3)
French history and culture from the Middle Ages through the Third Republic.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 331 (IL) French Culture and Civilization I (3)
French history and culture from the Middle Ages until the French Revolution.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 332 (IL) French Culture and Civilization II (3)
French history and culture from the French Revolution through the Third Republic.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 351 (IL) Introduction to French Literature I (3)
Introduction to close textual reading and analysis of selected works of French literature from the middle ages to 1789.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202, FR 330

FR 352 (IL) Introduction to French Literature II (3)
Introduction to close textual reading and analysis of selected works of FrenchLiterature from 1789 to the present.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202, FR 330

FR 395 Internship (1-18)
Supervised off-campus, nongroup instruction including field experiences, practica, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required.

FR 397 Independent Studies (1-18)
Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

FR 399 (IL) Foreign Study — French (3-12)
Advanced training in the French language skills.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 401 (IL) Advanced Oral Communication (3)
Emphasis on speaking and listening comprehension through discussion of current issues, using journalistic materials.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 402Y (IL) Advanced Grammar and Writing (3)
Advanced study of the structure of the French language. Intensive essay writing.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 407 (IL) Business Writing in French (3)
Common forms of business communication; writing of reports and abstracts.
Prerequisite: FR 331 or FR 332

FR 408 (IL) French-American Business Translation (3)
Translation from French to English of actual documents from the business world; theoretical consideration and systematic vocabulary building.
Prerequisite: FR 407

FR 409 (IL) Commercial and Technical Translation (3)
Translation from English to French of commercial and technical materials; vocabulary building; writing of abstracts and summaries.
Prerequisite: FR 402Y

FR 410 (IL) French Press (3)
Extensive readings of selected french daily and weekly newspapers and magazines, along with newscast viewings.
Prerequisite: FR 331 or FR 332

FR 416 (IL) Introduction to French Linguistics (3)
Introduction to the theory and methods of linguistics as they apply to the major subfields.

FR 417 (IL) French Phonology (3)
A formal study of the sound pattern of French.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202

FR 418 (IL) French Syntax (3)
A formal theory of word order and related issues in French grammar.
Prerequisite: FR 201 and FR 202

FR 422 (IL) Old French Literature (3)
Medieval masterpieces in original and modern French versions.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 426Y (IL) French Literature of the Renaissance (3)
Survey of key texts from sixteenth century France, with attention to historical and philosophical currents of French social thought.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 430 (IL) Contemporary France (3)
Study of contemporary French society, politics, and culture from 1870 to the present.
Prerequisite: FR 330

FR 434Y (IL) Culture and Cuisine (3)
Interdisciplinary perspectives on the historical, political, and cultural dimensions of French food.
Prerequisite: FR 330, FR 452, FR 460

FR 436Y (IL) Readings in Seventeenth-Century French Literature (3)
Baroque and classicism: reappraisal of major and lesser-known 17th-century texts and theories.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 440 (IL) Teaching of Romance Languages (3)
Theories of second language acquisition. Current classroom practices in the teaching of Romance languages.
Prerequisite: 15 credits beyond the elementary level

FR 445Y (IL) Self and Society in Eighteenth-Century France (3)
The changing relationship of the individual to society in pre-Revolutionary France will be explored in texts by major writers.
Prerequisite: FR 351 . Prerequisite or concurrent: FR 352

FR 452Y (IL) Nineteenth-Century French Literature (3)
Selected readings in romanticism, realism, and symbolism, including Balzac, Stendhal, Sand, Baudelaire, and others, with emphasis on cultural issues.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 453Y (IL) La Belle Epoque: Politics, Society, and Culture in France, 1880-1914 (3)
Interdisciplinary perspectives on the politics, society, and culture of France, 1880-1914.
Prerequisite: FR 330 or FR 351 or FR 352

FR 458 (IL) African Literature of French Expression (3)
Genesis of Franco-African literature in the 1930s; phases of the negritude movement; colonial and national literature.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 460 (IL) Contemporary French Literature (3)
Major authors and movements in French novel, drama, and poetry from Proust to the present.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 470 (IL) Race and Gender Issues in Literatures in French (3)
A critical presentation, taught in French, of changing ideas and values on race and gender in French and Francophone literatures.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 471 (IL) Francophone Women in Literature and Culture (3)
Women's issues in literatures and cultures of French-speaking countries in Europe, the mediterranean, Africa, the Caribbean, and Quebec.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 487 (IL) Topics in French Film History and Theory I: 1895-1945 (3)
Provide background needed to understand the broad outlines of French film history and theory in their first fifty years (1895-1945).
Prerequisite: FR 351 and FR 352 or COMM 250

FR 488 (IL) Topics in French Film History and Theory II: 1945-2002 (3)
Provide background needed to understand the broad outlines of French film history and theory in their second half-century (1945-2002).
Prerequisite: FR 351 and FR 352 or COMM 250

FR 489 (IL) French Literature and Film (3)
Comparison of artistic differences between selected pieces of French literature and their film adaptations.
Prerequisite: FR 351 or FR 352

FR 494 Research Project (1-12)
Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individualor small-group basis.

FR 494H Research Project (1-12)
Supervised student activities on research projects identified on an individualor small-group basis.

FR 495 Internship (1-18)
Supervised off-campus, nongroup instruction including field experiences, practica, or internships. Written and oral critique of activity required.
Prerequisite: prior approval of proposed assignment by instructor

FR 496 Independent Studies (1-18)
Creative projects, including research and design, which are supervised on an individual basis and which fall outside the scope of formal courses.

FR 497 Special Topics (1-9)
Formal courses given infrequently to explore, in depth, a comparatively narrow subject which may be topical or of special interest.

FR 499 (IL) Foreign Study — French (3-12)
Advanced studies in French language and literature.
Prerequisite: FR 201, FR 202  


The Department of French and Francophone Studies
The Pennsylvania State University
211 Burrowes Building
University Park, PA 16802
Tel: 814.865.1492 | Fax: 814.863.1103

Undergraduate Officer
Kathryn M. Grossman
kmg2@psu.edu
Department Head
Thomas A. Hale
tah@psu.edu
Graduate Officer
Jean-Claude Vuillemin
jcv1@psu.edu


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