French Program

Eiffel Tower at Night

Why Study French?

The Modern Languages Department is pleased to offer classes in French ranging from the elementary level to Conversational French. The courses are taught primarily in French and will introduce you to a full range of competencies in French, from basic language to culture and idioms.

  • After English, French is the second most frequently taught foreign language worldwide.
  • There are 28 countries that maintain French as their official language.
  • Except for English, French is the only other world language in common use on 5 continents.
  • With English, French is an official working language of UNESCO, NATO, OECD, the International Labor Bureau, The International Olympic Committee, the European Council, the European Community, the International Red Cross.
  • French is the language spoken in Quebec, the 6th largest trading partner of the U.S., and is the foreign language spoken in Canada, the largest trading partner of the U.S.
  • From 2003 to 2008 the U.S. did one billion dollars of transactions with France per day.
  • French is spoken in 1.9 million American homes, according to the 2000 census.
  • Historically, France was the United States' first ally, and France played an essential role in shaping American history and society.
  • France is a major source today of intellectual capital; scholarly research continues to come out of France in the humanities and social sciences as well as in the sciences and technological fields. -Knowledge of French will help you on graduate school applications.

Students desiring to enroll in French should do so during their freshman and sophomore years. It is impossible to complete the requirements for general education (B.A. degree) if one starts in the senior year. Students with high school French should consult with the department to confirm placement.

Please visit our French Student Resource Network for online resources on French and Francophone language, culture, literature and more.