DEPARTMENT
OF FRENCH STUDIES
DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF ARTS
IN FRENCH REQUIREMENTS
The
course of study for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in French Studies takes four
years. The minimum requirements for the degree are 124 semester hours. A candidate
must complete his general education requirements as prescribed by the University
of Liberia. He is required to earn 36 semester hours in his major. 18 semester
hours in his minor, and six semester hours in elective. He also must earn 6 semester
hours in English and 6 semester hours in Philosophy during his last two years
at the University. In addition, he is required to write a thesis on a topic to
be chosen and approved at the beginning of the first semester of his senior year.
There are opportunities in the department for French majors and minors to spend
some time at the University of a French-speaking African country.
Students
wishing to major in French should inform the Chairman of the Department of French
Studies at the end of their Freshman year.
Course
Description
French
003 Preparatory French
This
is a preparatory course for those who have never studied French before or who
have had a poor background in French. The course is mainly oral and constitutes
the first step in introducing students to basic French. Emphasis is placed on
developing listening, speaking and reading skills through the use of audio-visual/audio-oral
aids. Written exercises are introduced only as a means of promoting spoken French.
French
101 Introductory French I
(Pre-requisite: French 003 or Placement Test)
This
course is the first of all credit-bearing courses in French. It is a basic French
course which lays emphasis on developing listening, reading, and speaking skills
through the presentation of situations relevant to everyday life and oral exercises.
Written exercises are gradually introduced to help students relate spoken French
to the written word.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
102 Introductory French II
(Pre-requisite: French 101 or Placement Test)
This
course is a continuation of French 102. It reinforces the skills acquired in French
101 and provides additional material In terms of grammar and vocabulary. The emphasis,
again, is on developing speaking, reading and writing skills through the study
of themes relevant to every day life.
Credit: 3 credits/semester
French
105/106: French Grammar and Composition I & II
(Pre-requisite: Placement
Test)
This
first year Honors course is designed for Freshmen who have a respectable command
of the French language. It rapidly reinforces already acquired skills, provides
instruction in correct French usage and introduces students to- methods and techniques
of writing short compositions.
Credit:
4 credits/semester Total: 8 credits
French
201 Intermediate French I
(Pre-requisite: French 102 or Placement Test)
This
course is a continuation of French 102. It highlights the major difficulties in
basic French grammar and ensures that students have a respectable command of spoken
and written French.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
202 Intermediate French II
(Pre-requisite: French 201)
This
course, the last in a series, lays a firm foundation in the language for those
students who may wish to take higher level courses in French. It enlarges oral
skills and gives a degree of competence in written expression through exposure
to texts of medium complexity.
Credit:
French
203/204 Intermediate Conversation I & II
(Pre-requisite: French 202)
This
course is aimed at developing oral Skills through the study of a wide selection
of passages, newspaper articles, etc. The nature and content of the texts and
topics are meant to develop the vocabulary of the students who are expected to
participate in group discussions. This course gives firm competence in oral expression
and enables the student to express himself/herself freely in public. This is a
required course for French minors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester Total: 6 credits
French
205/206 Grammar and Composition I & II
(Pre-requisite: French 106
or 202)
This is a required course for French majors and minors. It lays emphasis on the
acquisition of a good command of French grammar through reinforcement of already
acquired skills, the study of new areas of grammar, vocabulary building and exposure
to texts of medium complexity. Furthermore, students are Introduced to techniques
of summary and essay writing. As much as possible, essays will be on topics relevant
to the local milieu.
Credit:
4 credits/semester Total: B credits
French
212 Main Trends In French Literature
This
is a required course for French majors and minors. It is essentially a survey
of French literature from its origin to the present. The course lays emphasis
on the works of major writers which reflect the literary pre-occupations of each
period. It also highlights those social and political developments in the French
society, which influenced and shaped literary production. Special attention will
be given to the Pre.-classical and the Classical Periods In so far as they constitute
points of departure and relate to subsequent literary periods and movements; namely,
the Age of Enlightenment, Pre-romanticism, Romanticism, Realism, Naturalism, Symbolism,
Surrealism and Existentialism.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
301/302 French Civilization And Grammar I and II
This
is an introductory course In French Civilization. It concentrates on the reading
of excerpts of works related to French civilization, the French way of life and
problems facing the French people as a nation. Knowledge of essential parts of
French grammar and vocabulary is deepened through the reading and explanation
of texts. This is a required course for French majors and minors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester Total: 6 credits
French
303/304 French Phonetics
Pre-requisite: French 205)
This
is a detailed study of French Phonetics. It includes a comprehensive survey of
the French Phonetic system - consonants, vowels, semi; vowels, etc. - designed
to improve the listening and speaking ability of students. Problems of phonetic
interference are examined. Required for French Majors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester Total: 6 credits
French
305/306 French Grammar I & II
(Pre-requisite: French 205, 301 &
302)
This
course provides the student with a detailed study of French grammar and the French
language today. It first presents a general view of French grammar and examines
principal word formation patterns in French. It also devotes attention to a structural
description of contemporary French and introduces students to modern trends in
language analysis (transformational, generative grammar, etc.). Required for Fretnch
Majors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester Total: 6 credits
French
317 African Drama Written In French
This
course is a critical study of selected African and West Indian plays written in
French. Emphasis is placed on the structive and themes of Negro-African drama
as well as the historical, political and social contexts in which drama was written,
beginning with the negritude movement to the post-independence era. Major dramatists
to be studied include Cesaire, Oyono-Mbia and Dadie.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
318 African Poetry Written In French
This
course is a concentrated study of the poetry of major African poets such as Senghor,
David Diop and Tchicaya U. Tamsi. It traces the development of modern African
poetry written in French from the negritude movement to the present. Special attention
is given to attempts by poets to link written African poetry to its traditional
roots through the adaptation and use of techniques associated with oral African
literature. Comparisons with Liberian poets are made.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
401 French Civilization
This
course provides a comprehensive study of the essential elements of French civilization.
The approach is historical and it follow the progress of French civilization from
the gothic period to the present. Emphasis is placed on major historical and political
developments and their influence on art and culture.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
402 Civilization of the French-speaking World
This
is a survey of the civilization of the French-speaking world through the study
of selected texts. Emphasis is placed on the similarities that bind these countries
together as well as peculiarities which underscore national identity. Special
attention will be given to linguistic differences that point to divergent historical
and cultural experiences,
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
403 French Literature of the 18th Century
(Pre-requisite: French 212)
The
course is designed to introduce students to the essential features of French Literature
of the 18th Century: the Age of Enlightenment. It highlights the gradual movement
away from the age of classicism to one of philosophical ideas and pre-romanlicism.
Attention is given to the development of philosophical and political thought and
its influence on literature. Major writers whose selected works are studied include
Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot and Chenier. Required for French majors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
404 French Literature of the 19th Century
(Prerequisite: French 212 and
403)
The
course is designed to acquaint students with, and explain the complexities of
the literary scene in 19th Century France. It quickly provides an overview of
the literary movements that predominate in the period o Romanticism, Realism/Naturalism
and Symbolism. Emphasis, however, is placed on Romantic poetry and drama. Major
writers whose selected works are studied include, Chateaubriand, Lamartine, Vigny,
Mussel and Victor Hugo. Required for French majors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
405/406 Advanced Language Course (Translation)
(Pre-requisite: Senior
Standing)
This
course provides an opportunity for students to become proficient in translation
and perfect their written French. It offers theoretical instruction as well as
practical training in the art of translation. Students are introduced to various
registers - literary, social-political, economic and scientific and are made aware
of specific problems of translation. This second part of the course (French 406)
is more practical; the class is conducted as a continuous workshop where students
are exposed to conference situations. A wide range of reading material including
magazines, and newspapers is required. This is a required course for French majors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester Total: 6 credits
French
412 French Literature of the 20th Century
(Pre-requisite: French 212)
This
course presents a critical study of contemporary French Literature. It examines
and explains the change in content form and sensibility of French Literature of
our own century. The course covers areas such as surrealism and its manifestation
in poetry and the expression of pre-existentialist and existentialist thought
in the novel and drama. Some attention is also given to the emergence of the new
novel. Authors to be studied include Gide, Malraux, Sartre Camus and Robbe-Grillet.
Required for French majors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
417/418 African Literature In French
(Pre-requisite: Senior Standing)
The
purpose of this course is two-fold: (a) To provide a critical study of the evolution
and recent trends in African Literature with special reference to the Novel: (b)
To offer to the student a comparative study of anglophone and francophone novels
in Africa (418). Some emphasis is placed on the historical, political and social
developments which influenced the content and form of literary works from Francophone
Africa. Attention is given to the quest for new techniques which lend authenticity
to these works. The second semester course (418) examines the varied experiences
of Francophone and Anglophone writers and the influence of these experiences on
literature. The comparative study is essentially on content, form and style. A
wide selection of novels, including those of Liberian authors, will be required
for background reading. Required for French majors.
Credit:
3 credits/semester Total: 6 credits
French
421/422 Civilization of French-speaking Africa
This
course is devoted to the study of the historical -social ant political development
of French-speaking Africa. It provides a survey o the common experiences of Francophone
Africa under French Colonial rule from the time of the creation of the French
Empire,, the French Union to the era of the French community and independence.
It also examines some of the independence and post-independence organization such
as the Mali Federation, Cornell de ('Entente, OCAM, etc. It pro- vides an insight
into the multiple effects of those experiences on contemporary Francophone Africa.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
French
431 Senior Thesis
(Pre-requisite: Senior Standing)
This
course is a requirement for French majors only. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity
for the French major to research an area in language and/or literature and present
his/tier original findings and conclusions in a coherently written document to
the department. The student is required to work under the supervision of a faculty
member.
Credit:
3 credits/semester
