The major in French and Francophone Studies provides an interdisciplinary framework for the study of the history, culture, and literature of France and the Francophone world. Students examine the history and contemporary significance of key concepts such as human rights, citizenship and national unity, and explore important dichotomies including universalism/relativism, tradition/modernity, and church/state as they developed in 18th- and 19th-century France, and in the context of the colonial history and contemporary realities of French-speaking Africa, Canada, Asia and the Caribbean. Courses are taken in the French department and in study abroad programs but also in other departments, such as history, political science, art history, or anthropology.
French and Francophone Studies Course Descriptions
PROGRAM
OFFICE
515 Philosophy
Hall
(212) 854-2500; (212) 854-3208
DIRECTOR OF
UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES
Madeleine Dobie
510 Philosophy Hall; (212) 854-9874
mld2027@columbia.edu
INTERDEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
Gil Anidjar
(Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures)
Hilary Ballon (Art
History)
Taoufik Ben-Amor (Middle East and Asian Languages and
Cultures)
Barry Bergdoll (Art History)
Susan Boynton (Music)
Jean
Cohen (Political Science)
Matthew Connelly (History)
Peter Connor
(French, Barnard)
Victoria de Grazia (History)
Madeleine Dobie (French,
Chair of the Committee)
Priscilla Ferguson (Sociology)
Irčne
Final-Honigman (Institute for the Study of Europe)
Pierre Force (French)
Serge Gavronsky (French, Barnard)
Kaiama Glover (French, Barnard)
Danielle Haase-Dubosc (Reid Hall)
Marianne Hirsch
John Huber
(Political Science)
Annette Insdorf (Film Studies)
Matthew Jones
(History)
Mark Kesselman (Political
Science)
Gregory Mann (History)
Samuel Moyn (History)
Glenda Rosenthal
(Institute on Western Europe)
Emmanuelle Saada (French)
Allan Silver (Sociology)
Gayatri
Chakravorty Spivak (Center for Comparative Literature and Society)
Lisa
Tiersten (History, Barnard)
Isser Woloch (History)
REQUIREMENTS FOR A MAJOR IN FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
Program of Study: 33 credits beyond completion of the language requirement (FREN W1202) distributed as follows:
The remaining 12 credits to be chosen from among the list of courses approved by the Committee on French and Francophone Studies. To ensure methodological focus, three of these courses must be taken within a single department or discipline or on a single topic/region.
REQUIREMENTS FOR A CONCENTRATION IN FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
Program of Study: 27 credits beyond completion of the language requirement (FREN W1202) distributed as follows:
The remaining 9 credits to be chosen from among the list of courses approved by the Committee on French and Francophone Studies. To ensure methodological focus, three of these courses must be taken within a single department or discipline or on a single topic/region.
MAISON FRANÇAISE
Students interested in French and in the Francophone world should acquaint themselves early with the Maison Française, which has libraries of books and videos and which sponsors lectures and discussions by distinguished French visitors to New York City. It is also the social center of the French Department, and students may count on a friendly welcome. With its theater workshop, French film series, book club, café-conversation and other events, the Maison Française offers an excellent opportunity for students to perfect their language skills and enhance their knowledge of French and Francophone culture in a variety of extracurricular activities that take place in a pleasant, informal environment.
STUDY ABROAD
French and Francophone studies majors are encouraged to spend a semester or year abroad, either in Paris at Columbia’s Reid Hall program or at a university in the Francophone world, e.g. Senegal or Morocco.
REID HALL IN PARIS
Reid Hall, located at 4 rue de Chevreuse, Paris, is administered by Columbia University. It offers semester and year-long programs of study, as well as summer courses. Advanced students enrolled at Reid Hall have the opportunity to take courses in the French university system. Some Reid Hall and French university courses may be counted towards a major in other departments (e.g. History or Art History).
For additional information about the Columbia University in Paris Program at Reid Hall, including summer-session courses, consult the Office of Global Programs website. For information about the applicability of Reid Hall courses to the major or concentration, consult the director of undergraduate studies.
DEPARTMENTAL HONORS
Majors who wish to be considered for departmental honors should consult with the director of undergraduate studies. To be eligible for consideration, the student must have a grade point average of at least 3.7 in courses for the major, the permission of the director of undergraduate studies, and have completed a senior thesis under the guidance of a faculty member at Columbia or Reid Hall. Normally no more than 10 percent of the graduating majors in the department each year will receive departmental honors.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS (for a detailed description of each course, see the French and Francophone Studies Course Descriptions)