Why study French?

Fluency in a second language is a valuable skill. French is an official language of 28 countries on five continents, including France, Canada, Belgium, Senegal and Vietnam. Learning French will allow you to converse with and better understand people throughout the world. Along with English, French is the world's most important diplomatic language. It is an official language of such organizations as the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO and the international Red Cross.


France, one of the world's largest economies, is a leader in the export of luxury goods and technology. Canada's French-speaking province of Quebec is in itself one of the largest trading partners of the United States. For this reason, French is an important language for conducting business in the United States and elsewhere. Finally, French is unsurpassed as a language of culture. Discussions about literature, art, gastronomy and fashion inevitably start from and return to France. By studying French, you will be able to experience the varied products of French culture firsthand and to travel more easily in the world's top-rated tourist destination.

 

Admission Requirements

Incoming firest-year students should review the High School Student admissions page. 

Students in French usually possess strong verbal skills, some facility with languages and a desire to travel and interact with other cultures.

Students who have earned a BA in French have become:

  • Secondary education teacher
  • Instructor at colleges and universities
  • Foreign service officer
  • Translator
  • Interpreter
  • Sales representative
  • Director of marketing
  • Lawyer

To obtain the minor in French (or French certificate for graduate or non-degree students), you must complete a total of at least 21 credit hours in French at 2000-level and above.

  1. Pre-Requisite Courses (not applicable toward 21-hour minor requirement)
    • For beginning students, complete or place out of the basic language sequence
      • FREN 1011, 1012, 1013, 1014 (Extended Basic French), 12 credits; OR
      • FREN 1001, 1002 (Basic French), 10 credits
    • Complete or place out of Composition and Conversation
      • FREN 2015, 2016 (French Composition and Conversation), 6 credits
      • Students who take the courses may count 2015, 2016 as electives toward the total number of 21 hours of credit for the minor.
  2.  Required Courses
    • FREN 3001 (French Grammar and Composition), 3 credits
    • FREN 3041 (Introduction to French Literature), 3 credits
  3. Elective Courses, 9-15 credits
    • Students choose FREN courses at the 3000 level or above (FREN 2015, 2016 will count for those starting at the 2000-level and earning a B or higher). Students must earn a minimum of 9 credits in the College of Arts and Sciences at UC. Of these, a minimum of 6 credits toward the minor must be at the 2000-level or higher. FREN 4001 is strongly recommended.

Total hours required in the French minor: 21

Per the department's undergraduate policies, students need to earn a C or higher in all classes counting towards the French minor.

Students can declare the minor online using the Program Changes & Readmissions Form. 

Contact the program director, whose name and information appear on this page.

Students in UC's College of Arts and Sciences enjoy many benefits afforded through study at a research-intensive institution ranked among the nation's top 25 public research universities. UC's urban, Tristate location offers exciting opportunities for global education, research and service learning, while its student-centered focus includes an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, a nationally recognized Center for Exploratory Studies and a highly successful First Year Experience program that teaches critical skills for first-year students and provides connections with important campus resources.

Study Abroad
The Department of Romance Languages & Literatures strongly encourages students to study abroad. We sponsor a variety of programs of different durations in different countries-- from Mexico and Spain to France, Italy and Brazil. Learn more about Study Abroad.

To graduate from the UC College of Arts and Sciences, students must:

  • Earn at least 120 credits. This can include transfer credit, AP credit and free electives, but does not include preparatory coursework. Students who have met all other degree requirements must continue earning credit until the total number of their earned hours comes to at least 120.
  • Attain a 2.0 grade point average for all courses taken at the University of Cincinnati.
  • Be in good academic standing, that is, not on either academic probation or disciplinary probation or suspension.
  • Complete the residency requirement by earning at least 30 credits after matriculating into the university.
  • Complete all of the requirements of at least one major (see major requirements above).
  • Complete the College Core Requirements.
  • Submit an application for graduation to the registrar's office by their posted deadline.

Admission to A&S is generally available for any off-campus student who was admissible directly from high school and has 2.0 GPA cum and a 2.0 in the most recent institution.

Students who were not admissible directly from high school must have:

  • 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
  • at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA and a 2.0 at most recent institution

Transfer students should apply using our transfer student online application

University transfer scholarships are available to those who meet specific requirements and ANY admitted A&S transfer student might qualify for an A&S transfer scholarship. Deadlines and eligibility criteria are online via the previous links.

For any inquiries please contact us at artsci@ucmail.uc.edu

Admission to A&S is generally available for any on-campus student who was admissible directly from high school and has a cumulative 2.0 GPA.

Students who were not admissible directly from high school must have:

  • 24 semester (36 quarter) hours earned
  • at least a cumulative 2.0 GPA 

Application Deadlines

While midyear admission is possible, fall semester is generally the best time to enter the college, since many course sequences begin in that semester. Applicants to the UC College of Arts and Sciences who are enrolled or who were previously enrolled as degree-seeking students in A&S or in other UC colleges should apply for admission directly to A&S (in French West, 2nd Floor). All other applicants who wish to earn an undergraduate degree from A&S should apply through the Office of Admissions (3rd Floor, University Pavilion).

The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Contact Information

Juan A. Godoy Peñas, Ph.D.
5267 Clifton Court Hall
ML 0377
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0377
(513) 556-1843
godoyjo@ucmail.uc.edu

Find related programs in the following interest areas:

Program Code: 15BAC-FREN-BA