Goucher College 2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalogue 
    
    Mar 29, 2024  
Goucher College 2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalogue PLEASE NOTE: This is an archived catalog. Programs are subject to change each academic year.

French Transnational Studies Major


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French Transnational Studies is a flexible and interdisciplinary major that includes an experiential, individually-tailored project abroad as a central component.  The major gives students the skills to read, write, and speak the language accurately, to communicate effectively and with nuance in a range of settings from informal to professional (through an internship), and to interpret authentic French-language media within their specific cultural and historical contexts. In addition, majors will demonstrate the ability to use methods of literary, cinematic, and social and historical analysis to yield insights about today’s global movements and transnational realities through close study of the language and cultures of the French-speaking world. Majors are required to complete at least 30 credits chosen from courses at the 200, 300, and 400 levels, including at least eight at the 400 level, and an internship abroad. After the internship abroad, students must complete at least one 4-credit course on campus at the 300 or 400 level, in addition to the 2-credit capstone course, in order to successfully complete the major.

All courses must be passed with a minimum grade of C to count toward the major.

Three-hundred level options (1 required. A second may be taken to satisfy the elective course requirement)


All have FR 250 pre-requisite or IP = Instructor Permission.

Elective course options (4 credits required)


Semester abroad


IFE is required.

IFE Field Study and Internship - In Brussels, Paris or Strasbourg. Credit for one 400-level seminar toward the major. (16 Cr.) Pre-requisite: FR 250.

IFE Field Study and Internship

The Internships in Francophone Europe program takes place over the course of an 18 week semester in Paris, Brussels, or Strasbourg. Students make use of their French language skills in a work environment with a government agency, business, or nonprofit organization. The semester begins with 5 weeks of intensive interdisciplinary courses, followed by a 12-week full time internship in the student’s field. As part of the internship, students conduct field research, delving into an issue and producing a 30-page independent study in French under the guidance of a French scholar. Courses include: The Foundations of French Politics, Policies and Institutions (4 cr.), Structure, Transformation and Issues in French Society (4 cr.), and Towards a European society (2 cr.). The Internship & Mémoire de stage count for 6 credits. Fall or Spring semester.

Honors in the French Transnational Studies Major


Students wishing to pursue honors in French must have a GPA of 3.8 in the major and an overall GPA of 3.7 and must do a presentation on campus at the Goucher College Symposium describing their internship experience and the findings of their internship research project.

Senior Thesis


Although it is not mandatory for honors, students are also encouraged to complete a senior thesis. To do so, students must submit to the director of the French program by April 30 of their junior year a proposal outlining their thesis project and naming the proposed thesis director. Upon approval, the student then must enroll in a two-semester (eight credits) senior thesis course. At the end of the fall semester, the thesis advisor will determine whether the project has sufficiently progressed to warrant continuation. If not, the student may receive a grade of pass/no-pass for those credits. No later than three weeks before the end of the spring semester of the senior year, the student will defend the thesis before a committee of at least three faculty members, with at least two from the French program. The recommendation of the thesis committee will be brought to the French program director and the Modern Languages, Literatures, and Cultures center director, who must approve all candidates for honors.

Concentration in Secondary Education with Certification in French


Students planning to teach French in secondary schools after graduation should consult with the directors of the programs of French and Education as early as possible in their academic careers for certification requirements in education. For certification requirements, see description under Secondary Education Certification, Grades 7-12 .

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