The French major allows students to attain advanced proficiency in the areas of speaking, listening comprehension, reading, and writing. All students are encouraged to partake in an immersion experience either through a semester or yearlong study abroad program or by taking at least one course at our sister university, the Université de Moncton Campus d’Edmundston located in Edmundston, New Brunswick, located 20 miles away.

* This requirement is waived if the student chooses to spend a semester or year studying abroad at another francophone university. Students who participate in the Edmundston exchange program will meet with UMFK French faculty before and during the semester on exchange to discuss issues related to the immersion experience.

Note: Students may petition to have Fre 150 and Fre 151 count toward the French major.

Techniques of Assessment
Each student learning outcome will be assessed via the following techniques and each graduate will be expected to:

1. receive satisfactory grades on their oral exams in upper-level French courses;
2. receive satisfactory grades on their essays and grammar tests in Advanced Composition I and II;
3. successfully earn nine credits in upper-level (300 and 400-level) literature courses;
4. successfully earn six credits in upper-level French and francophone culture courses;
5. receive satisfactory grades on their final papers in upper-level literature and culture courses; and
6. study abroad in a French-speaking country for a semester or year, successfully complete a course in French at our partner institution Université de Moncton Campus d’Edmunston, or complete a community outreach project as part of the Capstone project.

French majors and minors are required to meet with the French faculty during the first half of their junior year for a discussion of their progress and goals. Further assessment will be accomplished through the Capstone Project. The Project can take one of four forms:

1. Senior Thesis. Students can write an extended research paper (20 page minimum with full MLA documentation) on a literary, cultural or linguistic topic with the guidance of a French faculty advisor. This option is especially appropriate for students who are considering graduate work in French or other related studies.
2. Community Outreach Project. Because of the advantageous location of UMFK in the largely French speaking Saint John Valley and the bordering francophone region of Canada, possibilities for community outreach are abundant. With this option, students, either individually or in small groups, initiate a community event or project promoting the study of French or celebration of local French identity, language, and culture with the guidance of a French faculty advisor. Students will document the progress and planning of their project in the form of a journal written in French which will include the written proposal of their project and self-assessment following completion of the project.
3. Combination of Thesis and Community Outreach Project. Students may elect to combine the above two options of writing an extended research paper (15 page minimum) and initiating a community project or event under the guidance of a French faculty advisor.
4. One semester course at a francophone university. Selection of the school and course is made with the guidance of a French faculty advisor.