Two new programs in French and Francophone Studies will soon be available to students (pending final approval). The undergraduate Major in French and Francophone Studies (FFS) has a more interdisciplinary approach than the Major in French and makes it easier for students to double major. The Combined BA/MA in FFS will allow students to complete both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degrees in five years, preparing them for the job market or further graduate work via a streamlined curriculum.
The major in FFS follows a similar outline to the existing French major, but it allows students to take 12 credit hours in English, nine of which can be taken outside of the department. FRIT has developed a rich group of Affiliated Faculty members who teach courses on Francophone topics in other departments across the university. Students will take an interdisciplinary approach to the field and study the cultures, histories, literatures, arts, and politics of the Francophone world from experts in a variety of disciplines. Like the French major, the FFS major will prepare Ohio State students to be global citizens in an increasingly interconnected world, but with less focus on advanced language acquisition.
Some of our students have suggested that they would like to major in French, but are only able to complete the minor because of the difficulty of fitting two majors into four years. Since 12 credit hours of the major may count towards a GE requirement and/or towards another major, the FFS major will make it easier for students who wish to double major. Fields with which the major works particularly well include Comparative Studies, Film Studies, Geography, History, History of Art, International Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, and Political Science.
The FFS major is also a good option for students who are interested in the Francophone world, but find the linguistic requirements of the French major daunting. The new major will give them increased linguistic proficiency over the minor as well as deepened literacy in the cultures of multiple regions of the world: Europe, Canada, North Africa, West Africa, and the Caribbean. Finally, the new major is a great option for native and semi-native speakers who will find a wider array of courses to choose from if they test out of many of the intermediate-level French courses.
The BA/MA in French and Francophone Studies combines the Bachelor’s and the Master’s degrees (generally 4 and 2 years, respectively) into one streamlined five-year program. Students complete all of the usual requirements for the two degrees but with nine credit hours of coursework counting towards both degrees. Students develop strong language proficiency in French and gain expertise in French and Francophone studies.
This program will prepare students to be strong candidates on the job market or for top-notch Ph.D. and professional degree programs. It will also serve as an excellent foundation for those who wish to go into teaching in the FFS field. Students will be advised by a graduate faculty member throughout the duration of the program.
During their junior (or third) year students completing the French major may apply to the Graduate School to be accepted into the combined degree program. They will submit the same credentials as all Graduate School applicants. By the time students begin the program, they will normally have earned at least 91 undergraduate credit hours and have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA in their French courses. The final stage of the combined BA/MA requires successfully passing the Masters Exam.
Although students enrolled in this program are not allowed to hold teaching appointments according to Graduate School rules, the program will give students access to a variety of scholarships. Students will be eligible for Departmental Scholarships at the undergraduate and graduate levels (FRIT offers a number of study abroad and research scholarships) as well as the Arts and Humanities Graduate Research Small Grants and University Fellowships available to Masters students.
Both of these programs have been created in response to the needs of recent and current students. As academic and professional spheres evolve, students need new educational pathways to gain a strong foundation for success in their careers. The new undergraduate major in FFS and the combined BA/MA in FFS will prepare students for today’s global and competitive world.
