French (BA)
The French BA combines language mastery with cultural, literary and professional applications. Students explore conversation, writing, civilization, translation, media and film while studying abroad opportunities enhance global experience. A senior capstone ties learning to real-world goals. With French spoken in 50+ countries, graduates are prepared for careers in diplomacy, law, business, teaching or graduate study with a strong international edge.
This program was approved for students entering the university in the Summer 2025-Spring 2026 catalog year. For more information about catalog year, go to Catalog Year Information.
Bachelor of Arts in French
Unit: College of Arts and Sciences (AS)
Department: Classical and Modern Languages
Academic Plan Code(s): FRENBA
Program Information
French is a language spoken on five continents and in over 50 countries of the world where it is used regularly in government, business, and, of course, in everyday life.
The French program at UofL offers a wide range of classes from beginning French to courses in literature, culture, media, linguistics, translation, and film.
Completion of this degree requires work to be submitted for the department’s Learning Outcomes Measurement. For details, contact the department.
Degree Summary
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| College/School Requirements | 22 | |
| Program/Major Requirements 1 | 31 | |
| Supporting Courses | 37 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
- 1
Some credit hours from the General Education Requirements may be satisfied by courses defined by the program, in which case additional electives will be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree. See the Degree Requirements tab for specific coursework.
Specific coursework information can be found on the Degree Requirements tab.
Departmental Admission Requirements
Admission to the BA in French requires a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on courses in the major.
The Change Major Request form can be found under the Academic Progress tile on ULink.
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Requirements * | 31 | |
| The following course is required by the program and can satisfy the respective General Education Requirements: | ||
FREN 250 | Introduction to the French-Speaking World - AH, P2 | |
*All degrees require the completion of the University-wide General Education Program (link provided above). Some General Education requirements may be met in the requirements for the major or supporting coursework, in which case additional electives may be required to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
College/School Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Arts & Sciences Requirements | ||
| GEN 100 | Student Success Center First Year Experience | 1 |
| or GEN 101 | Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | |
| Foreign Language 1 | 12 | |
| Electives in Social Sciences or Natural Sciences 2,3 | 9 | |
| WR—two approved courses at the 300 level or above 4 | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 22 | |
Program/Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| French Department | ||
| FREN 201 | Continuing French Language and Culture I | 4 |
| FREN 202 | Continuing French Language and Culture II | 3 |
| FREN 321 | French Conversation | 3 |
| FREN 322 | Written Expression - WR 5 | 3 |
| FREN 331 | French Civilization | 3 |
| FREN 332 | France Today | 3 |
| FREN 455 | Reading in French | 3 |
| FREN 524 | Theory and Practice of Translation | 3 |
| FREN 590 | Senior Capstone - CUE | 3 |
| French elective at the 300 level or above | 3 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 31 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Courses | ||
| FREN 250 | Introduction to the French-Speaking World - AH, P2 | 3 |
| or M L 250 | Introduction to the French-Speaking World - AH, P2 | |
| Electives in Humanities disciplines, other than French, at 300 level or above 6 | 6 | |
| Minimum Electives 7 | 28 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 37 | |
At least 50 of the total minimum hours required must be at the 300 level or above.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Culminating Undergraduate Experience (Graduation requirement) | ||
| Requirement fulfilled by completing: | ||
FREN 590 | Senior Capstone - CUE | |
- 1
Completion or demonstration / proof of competency at the intermediate level of a foreign language
- 2
Additional 3 hours of Arts and Sciences programmatic requirement in Natural Sciences or Social Sciences is met in supporting coursework.
- 3
In addition to courses counted toward General Education; 6 hours must be at the 300 level or above
- 4
May be incorporated into other degree requirements
- 5
Fulfills WR requirement.
- 6
Majors in one foreign language may count courses at the 300 level or above in another foreign language toward this requirement.
- 7
Students who satisfy General Education Requirements by courses defined by the program will require additional electives to complete the minimum hours for the degree.
Flight Plan
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| GEN 100 or GEN 101 | Student Success Center First Year Experience or Arts & Sciences First Year Experience | 1 |
| ENGL 101 | Introduction to College Writing - WC | 3 |
| FREN 201 | Continuing French Language and Culture I | 4 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Quantitative Reasoning - QR | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences with Lab - B | 4 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 102 | Intermediate College Writing - WC | 3 |
| FREN 202 | Continuing French Language and Culture II | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Natural Sciences - S | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences US Perspectives - SBP1 | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Oral Communication - OC | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| M L 250 or FREN 250 | Introduction to the French-Speaking World - AH, P2 | 3 |
| FREN 321 | French Conversation | 3 |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Social & Behavioral Sciences Historical Perspective - SBH | 3 | |
| General Education: Cardinal Core Arts & Humanities-AH | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| FREN 322 | Written Expression - WR | 3 |
| Humanities Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Science or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| General Elective or French Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FREN 331 | French Civilization | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective or French Elective | 3 | |
| Humanities WR Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Social Science or Natural Science Elective (300 level or above) | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FREN 332 | France Today | 3 |
| General Elective or French Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Social Science or Natural Science WR Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| FREN 455 | Reading in French | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| FREN 524 | Theory and Practice of Translation | 3 |
| FREN 590 | Senior Capstone - CUE | 3 |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Minimum Total Hours | 121 | |
The Flight Plan outlined above is intended to demonstrate one possible path to completing the degree within four years. Course selection and placement within the program may vary depending on course offerings and schedule, elective preferences, and other factors (study abroad, internship availability, etc.). Please consult your advisor for additional information about building a flight plan that works for you.
Degree Audit Report
Degree Audit reports illustrate how your completed courses fulfill the requirements of your academic plan, and which requirements are still outstanding. Degree audits also take transfer credits and test credits into account. "What-if" reports allow you to compare the courses you have completed in your current academic plan to the courses required in another academic plan. Should you have questions about either report, please consult with your academic advisor.
Flight Planner
The Flight Planner tool is available for you to create a personalized Flight Plan to graduation. Advisors have access to review your Flight Planner and can help you adjust it to ensure you remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.
To create these reports:
- Log into your ULink account.
- Click on the Academic Progress tile.
- Select the appropriate report.
- To run a Degree Audit report, click on "View my Degree Audit."
- To create a What-if report, click on "What-if Advisement Report."
- To run a Flight Planner report, click on "Use My Flight Planner."
Click here to run a Degree Audit report, create a What-if report, or run a Flight Planner report.