About French
Proficiency in French and the cultures of the Francophone world. Courses carry the FREN subject code and are offered through the College of Arts, Design & Communication. Numbers below 300 are introductory, 300–499 advanced undergraduate, and 500 and above graduate. Prerequisites are enforced at registration.
How the sequence works
Of the 8 FREN courses listed, 1 is introductory (numbers under 300), 1 is advanced undergraduate (300–499). 1 course has no prerequisite and is a reasonable first step. Later courses assume the earlier ones, so read prerequisites before you plan a term — they are enforced at registration and an override from the French department is the only way around them.
FREN 1010 — Elementary French I 4 cr
Foundations of listening, speaking, reading, and writing for everyday communication.
Prerequisite: none.
FREN 1020 — Elementary French II 4 cr
Continued development of the four skills, the passé composé, and cultural literacy.
Prerequisite: FREN 1010.
FREN 2010 — Intermediate French I 3 cr
Narration in past tenses, expanded vocabulary, and short authentic readings.
Prerequisite: FREN 1020.
FREN 2020 — Intermediate French II 3 cr
The subjunctive, complex structures, and reading and discussion of texts and film.
Prerequisite: FREN 2010.
FREN 2500 — French Conversation 3 cr
Fluency through structured discussion of contemporary topics.
Prerequisite: FREN 2010.
FREN 3100 — French for Global Careers 3 cr
Professional communication for business, diplomacy, and the arts in Francophone contexts.
Prerequisite: FREN 2020.
FREN 3300 — Introduction to French Literature 3 cr
Close reading of representative works across genres and periods.
Prerequisite: FREN 2020.
FREN 3500 — Francophone Cultures 3 cr
Society, history, and current issues across France, Canada, Africa, and the Caribbean.
Prerequisite: FREN 2020.
Planning and advising
Your degree audit shows exactly how FREN courses apply to your requirements; this list only shows what is offered. If you are choosing between two courses, deciding when to take a heavy one, or wondering whether a course will run next term, your academic adviser can tell you. Course availability by term is set close to registration and is not guaranteed by anything on this page.
Fictional information
UW–Porter Falls is a work of parody. Every course, prerequisite, credit value, and department on this page is invented; nothing here describes a real curriculum or a course you can enroll in.