French and Francophone Studies

Professor Rachlin (on leave fall 2024)
Associate Professors Curulla, Everett, and Lemoine
Assistant Professor Vettier

he French and Francophone Studies department is part of the Intercollegiate Program in French at CMC, Pitzer and Scripps, Students from these three schools may take any course at any level at CMC, Pitzer or Scripps without permission from the instructor. Students may also take courses at Pomona. However, majors and minors in Francophone Studies must keep in mind that at least half of their course work must be taken at the Intercollegiate Program in French (CMC, Pitzer, and Scripps College).

Placement Test

All students wishing to enroll in French language courses must take the Language Placement Test. The test is offered online and can be taken during the summer before fall registration and at anytime during the academic year. Only those students who have had no more than one semester of high school French are exempt from taking this test and may enroll in French 1 (Introductory French) directly. Placement test results are valid for one year; thereafter it must be retaken. Students who place into French 44 may satisfy the language requirement by passing a French Proficiency Exam administered by the faculty of the Intercollegiate French program. Passing the French Proficiency Exam will allow students to enroll in Upper Division French courses. All other students will satisfy the language requirement by passing French 33 or equivalent.

Students are strongly encouraged to fulfill the language requirement in an uninterrupted sequence. In all cases, however, the language requirement must be completed by the end of the first semester of the senior year.

Study Abroad in France (Montpellier, Nantes, Paris, Strasbourg), Belgium, Madagascar or Senegal

Study Abroad is considered an integral part of the French and Francophone Studies curriculum at Scripps, and all students of French are strongly encouraged to complement their Claremont curriculum with at least a semester stay in France, Belgium, Senegal, or Madagascar. All coursework taught in French completed abroad in the latter programs satisfies the requirements for the major or minor in French and Francophone Studies, except for most language courses. We will accept only one studio art course as well. Students must also complete at least French 44 prior to going abroad. We strongly recommend however, that students also take French 100 which will prepare them more fully to take courses in French abroad. It is also strongly recommended that students intending to go abroad take a French course every semester prior to leaving, regardless of their incoming level. Thus, first-year students entering the French curriculum at the 44 level will have completed all major/minor requirements upon their return.

Currently, students may study abroad on the following approved semester programs:

Paris: Middlebury College Program
Paris: Sarah Lawrence College Program
Paris: Hamilton College Program
Paris: IFE Paris Field Study and Internship Program
Montpellier: University of Minnesota Integrated Studies
Nantes: Institute for International Education of Students (IES)
Strasbourg: IFE Strasbourg Field Study and Internship Program
Brussels, Belgium: IFE Brussels Field and Internship Study Program
Fort Dauphin, Madagascar: School for International Training (SIT) Biodiversity Program

Pending faculty approval

Co-Curricular Activities

Scripps has a French Corridor in the residence halls where students speak French with the residing native French assistant and with each other. The members of the corridor form the core of the French Club, which organizes activities for students of French throughout the year, including a weekly film series. Any student of The Claremont Colleges is welcome to join the French Club by signing up with the French assistants at Scripps or CMC. In addition, weekly French language tables meet in the Malott Commons (SC), Collins (CMC).

Learning Outcomes of the Program in French Studies

Department Goals and/or Objectives

Goals are broad statements that describe what the program wants to accomplish

1. Speak and understand French at the advanced level, as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
2. Read and write in French at the Advanced level (ACTFL).
3. Demonstrate an understanding of important issues, past and present, associated with French and Francophone cultures and societies.
4. Discuss in French, both orally and in writing, literary and visual texts or cultural artifacts of the French speaking world.
5. Identify, evaluate and incorporate appropriate sources in research papers, presentations and senior theses.
6. Write an advanced research senior thesis in French (or in English for dual majors) that articulates a clear and convincing argument about texts or cultural artifacts of the target culture.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes describe specific knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes students should demonstrate

SLO1: Speak and understand French at the advanced level, as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
SLO2: Read and write in French at the Advanced level (ACTFL).
SLO3: Students can synthesize knowledge in Francophone cultural influences.
SLO4: Discuss in French, both orally and in writing, literary and visual texts or cultural artifacts of the French speaking world.
SLO5: Identify, evaluate and incorporate appropriate sources in their research papers, presentations and senior theses.
SLO6: Write an advanced research senior thesis in French that articulates a clear and convincing argument about texts or cultural artifacts of the target culture.