UMM

Curriculum Committee

Form B

Rev: 07/2004

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Appropriate

Division Office

University of Minnesota, Morris

Curriculum Committee Form B:

Discipline Objectives and Requirements

All changes become effective the fall semester following Campus Assembly approval.

Date: 9/7/04

Discipline/Division: French/Humanities

I. Introductory Statement: The French discipline gives students the language and analytic skills necessary to participate in the cultural life and appreciate the literary heritage of France and fFrancophone countries throughout the world. French is an important language of diplomacy, commerce, health care, and research in many disciplines, such as music, art, linguistics, history, law, political science, anthropology, and philosophy.

II. Objectives: The French discipline is designed to teach the skills necessary for communicating with a variety of French-speaking peoples and to introduce their rich cultures, including their ideas, institutions, and writings, past and present. It invites students to look at the impact these cultures have had on Western civilization and to examine all of them critically.

III. Assessment: Students at the 1xxx level will take the placement exam at the beginning and at the end of the year. Students at the 2xxx level will write an essay at the beginning of the year in 2001, which will be used as a bench-mark. They will write another essay on the same topic at the end of 3011. Students will also keep all syllabi and compositions in a portfolio beginning in 2001 through 4901. At the end of 4901, they will meet with their professor to assess where they have made the most gains, and where they still need improvement. Also in 4901, students will reflect upon the courses they have taken for their major and assess their own progress and the French program in general.

IV. Requirements for a Major:

Fren 2001—Intermediate French I

Fren 2002—Intermediate French II

Fren 3001—Conversation and Composition

Fren 3011—Reading and Analysis of Texts

Fren 3015—French Culture I: Medieval and Early Modern France or Fren 3016—French Culture II: Modern and Contemporary France.

One course from the Early Modern Studies cluster (marked with an EMS designator)

One course from the Modern Studies cluster (marked with an MOS designator), or Fren 1302, Fren 1303 or Fren 1304

One course from the Francophone Studies cluster (marked with an FRS designator), or Fren 1311

Fren 4901—Senior Seminar

A minimum of 16 8 additional credits from Fren courses at 3xxx or above. (Students can select elective courses from any clustered or non-clustered courses at the 3xxx level or above).

Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad, but should also plan to complete a significant amount of course work in French at UMM. Up to 9 credits for one semester abroad or 16 credits for a year abroad may count towards the French major. Transfer students may apply up to 9 credits from another institution towards the French major. Students who wish to apply both transfer and study abroad credits to the French major must petition the French faculty for approval. Decisions will be made on an individual basis.

Courses with grades of D may not be used to meet the major requirements Fren 4901 must be taken on campus. One cross-listed French course taught in English (such as Fren 1302, 1303, 1304, or 1311) may be counted toward the major, provided that students complete written work for the class in French. Courses with grades of D or S/N may not be used to meet the major requirements. Students majoring in French are encouraged to take at least one year of instruction in another foreign language.

V. Requirements for a Minor:

Fren 2001—Intermediate French I

Fren 2002—Intermediate French II

Fren 3001—Conversation and Composition

Fren 3011—Reading and Analysis of Texts

One additional French course A minimum of 8 additional credits from Fren courses at 3xxx or above.

Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad, and may count 6 credits from study abroad toward their French minor. All courses for the French minor must be taught in French. Courses with grades of D or S/N may not be used to meet the minor requirements.

VI. Certificate Program in French.

The Certificate Program in French responds to the growing demand for individuals who can communicate successfully in a global environment, and is intended for students whose other academic commitments prevent them from completing either a major or a minor in French. To earn a certificate, a student must:

a) complete a minimum of 12 credits of college-level course work in French at UMM beyond the Foreign Language Requirement, at the 2xxx or 3xxx level. Performance across three courses will give the faculty a chance to assess the skills and progress of the student

b) earn at least a B in each of the three courses (S/N grades will not be accepted for the Certificate)

Four of the 12 credits required for the Certificate may be earned through Study Abroad, such as the UMM July in Paris Program. All courses for the Certificate must have a FREN designator. Courses taught in English do not meet the requirements for the Certificate Program. Students who complete a major or minor in French are not eligible for the Certificate Program.

A student who has met the above requirements will receive a reference letter from the UMM French Faculty certifying completion of the Certificate Program as well as language competence.

VII. Requirements for Teacher Preparation:

Students seeking teaching licensure in French K-12 should refer to the Education, Secondary (SeEd) section of this catalog.

VIII. Other heading (include heading title) :

Required Proficiency/Placement Examination:

Students who plan to complete courses in the same language they studied in high school must take the proficiency/placement examination and abide by the placement recommendation. If, after an initial exposure to the recommended course, the placement seems inappropriate, students may follow the recommendation of their language instructor as to the proper entry course.

Study Abroad:

In light of today's increasingly interdependent world, the UMM French faculty endorses study abroad, in combination with a French major or minor, as the most effective means by which to:

• Improve language abilities

• Broaden academic horizons

• Globalize one's world view

• Expand career opportunities

• Advance cross-cultural and problem-solving skills

• Gain confidence in oneself personally and professionally.

IX. CLUSTER DESCRIPTIONS:

Early Modern Studies Cluster: Courses with an Early Modern Studies designator (EMS) fall within the period from the Middle Ages to the French Revolution. Students will gain familiarity with the history, culture and literature of France from its beginning in feudal society through the Enlightenment and the end of the Ancien Regime.

Modern Studies Cluster: Courses with a Modern Studies designator (MOS) cover a wide range of historical, literary, and and cultural moments and movements that have marked France's development since 1789, the beginning of the French Revolution.

Francophone Studies Cluster: Courses with a Francophone Studies designator (FRS) examine the literature, film, history and cultures of French-speaking populations living in Africa, North America, the Caribbean and Asia.