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B.A. in French

 

Open a world of opportunity with your love of French.

As a French major at Grove City College, you will gain fluency in the language, history, and culture of the French-speaking world through immersive classes all taught en français, as well as study abroad opportunities around the world. Moreover, you will cultivate highly marketable skills that will set you apart in any career – such as the ability to infer meaning, appreciate nuance, adapt quickly, and solve problems. With a French degree, you will be prepared for graduate school or a fulfilling career in translation, social work, public relations, journalism, international business, government service, international law, mission work, and more. Wherever you use your gifts, you will carry a broadened perspective, refined communication skills, and deeper appreciation for the diversity of God’s Kingdom.

Program Distinctives
  • Rigorous, Christ-centered education – You will be well prepared academically and gain compassion for humanity, emboldening you in your calling.
  • Accessible faculty mentors – Highly accomplished and well-traveled Christian faculty who are deeply involved in the department will encourage your growth as a French speaker, collaborator, and critical thinker.
  • Immersive learning experience – All of your major-specific courses are taught entirely in French, setting you up for in-depth knowledge and mastery of the language.
  • Dynamic classroom environment – You will enjoy fun and creative learning experiences with encouragement and support from peers and faculty that will grow your confidence.
  • Study abroad opportunities around the globe.
    • International immersion study – French majors often pursue an immersion study program to get firsthand exposure to the culture of France or another French-speaking country. Whether you hope to study abroad for a semester, summer, or an entire year, studying abroad is an excellent way to establish contacts around the world and obtain relevant internship or job experience prior to graduation. Recently, students have studied in Lyon, Paris, and Aix-en-Provence.
    • The Office of Global Programs – Beginning your freshman year, you’ll have access to a wealth of resources and seasoned advisors who will help you explore program options and map out a plan that will serve your academic and personal goals while allowing you to graduate on time.
  • Flexibility to double major or minor – Like most of our French students, you might double major to enhance your marketability and potential for international or intercultural impact.
    • Choose a complementary discipline such as Spanish, management, marketing, sales, finance, biology, history, philosophy, international studies, accounting, economics, communication, law, psychology, or political science.
    • Many large companies such as Citigroup, General Motors, IBM, DuPont, and Westinghouse prefer to hire individuals with a deep knowledge of more than one discipline.
  • Internship opportunities – Gain valuable intercultural exposure and competence in a wide range of professional environments.
  • Research opportunities – Grow in expertise and care for other cultures by conducting research with faculty or through independent study.
    • Recent projects include an overview of French philosophy from Montaigne through Derrida; explorations of French national identity in contemporary literature and film; and a survey of French Christian writers from the early 20th century.
    • Advanced students have also participated in a project translating historical documents from WWII from French into English.
  • Certification opportunity – Obtain a career-advancing certification through the Diplôme de Français des Affaires, an internationally recognized credential from the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI).
  • Active student-led groups – Join vibrant groups including the French Club and Grove City’s chapter of Alpha Mu Gamma (the national foreign language honorary and service organization).
  • Vocation-enriching humanities core courses – Deepen your critical thinking, writing, and other communication skills while cultivating empathy and a well-rounded worldview.
Career Opportunities & Outcomes
  • Career paths: diplomat, translator, interpreter, study abroad advisor, health-care worker, speech pathologist, teacher, and more.
  • Wide career opportunities – As a French speaker, you will be in high demand in industries ranging from banking and finance to diplomacy, communication and education, foreign market analysis, hospitality, and more.
  • Outstanding career outcomes – Like 95% of Grove City College graduates, you will be well prepared to enter top graduate programs or an exciting career within six months of graduation.
    • Our French graduates pursue a wide array of careers in diverse fields.
    • Some of our graduates choose to pursue further education and have been admitted to prestigious graduate programs at Oxford, University of Paris-Sorbonne, University of Pittsburgh, and Queen’s University Belfast. Whether you want to pursue an MBA, JD, or PhD in French or another discipline, you will have the transferrable critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and work ethic to thrive.
  • Valuable skills for any vocation – You will possess excellent proficiency in the French language and the necessary tools to navigate important conversations, transactions, and projects with confidence and cultural sensitivity.
Program Specifics
  • 30 major credit hours of rigorous undergraduate coursework ranging from grammar and conversation to phonetics, history, and cultural studies. For detailed course descriptions, refer to the College Catalog.
    • Core French major requirements include Intermediate French I and II (or six hours of 300-level French courses if you have already completed the intermediate equivalent), Understanding France & the French, French Composition and Style, Applied Phonetics, Topics in French and Francophone Studies or Moments in French and Francophone History.
    • French literature options include Medieval and Early Modern French Literature, 18th through 21st Century French Literature, French Theatre, Cinema, Poetry, and Caribbean and African Literature in French.
    • While many students begin coursework at the 200 or 300 level, with careful planning it is possible to begin with French 101 in the fall of freshman year and complete the major in four years. Advanced students will not run out of options because several of our upper-level courses cover different topics each time they are offered and can therefore be taken more than once.
      • Students who have had prior exposure to a language but have not taken an AP exam or received college credit in the language must take the Foreign Language Placement Exam before registering for their first modern languages course at Grove City College.

Student & Alumni Stories

“There are a lot of opportunities for class discussion, and I have always found the professors interested to hear students’ thoughts and opinions!” — Sarah Markley ’17, B.A. in French, B.A. in History, Minor in International Studies

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Estelle Graham '23
B.A. in French; B.A. in English