Experiences & Opportunities

1. Use French to Explore Bigger Issues.

Many of our majors—and minors—pursue College Honors or other research and creative projects. In their senior year, all French majors complete a significant capstone project. Here are a few of those recent projects:

• "La redéfinition d'une mémoire collective d'un pays: Les États-Unis avant et après le 11 septembre 2001 (Redefining a country's collective memory: the US before and after 9/11)." Emily Finke '16.

• "Nationalité et identité: une comparaison des migrants et leurs homologues (Nationality and identity: a comparison of migrants and their counterparts)." Eden McKissick-Hawley '16.

• "L'existentialisme et la 2e guerre mondiale (Existentialism and the 2nd World War)." Lianna Davis '16.

2. Learn about French culture by studying abroad.

Our students take advantage of close to 100 off-campus study programs. Our students have studied all over the world, including various parts of France. One of our most popular program is Senegal: Language and Culture (CIEE), where you will live and study Senegalese culture and develop skills in French and Wolof, a regional sub-Saharan African language, in one of the most developed and democratic nations in the region. On CIEE's Language and Culture program, you'll immerse yourself fully in the culture by living with a Senegalese family and participating in a fieldwork project.

Our most popular program is the Knox College Besançon Program where students take classes at a world renowned language institution, Le Centre de Linguistique Appliquée and also at various departments in the Université de Franche-Comté. Students live with French host families for a month and then move to student residence for the rest of their stay. This is a full immersion program that truly enhances students’ skills in the French language and culture.