ChairLeighton Steele, BA (UBC), Maitrise en littérature française, PhD (Manitoba), Associate Professor
French may be taken as a major with honours, as a major or combined major in a degree program of 20 units, as a concentration, minor or as an elective at any level consistent with advanced standing and/or permission of the Modern Languages Department.
Admission RequirementsReview sections 2.1.4 Admission Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements.
Certificates of Proficiency in French
Major (20 Units)
Major in French With a Year in France
Major in French With a Year in Quebec
Combined Major (20 Units)
Honours Degree (20 Units)
Concentration (4.0 Units)
Minor (3.0 Units)
Certificates of Proficiency in FrenchThe Department of Modern Languages also offers two Certificates of Proficiency for students who are not specializing in French but wish to attain a high level of oral and written competence in the language.
Major (20 Units) Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.
Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10 units in FREN above the 1000 level as follows:
❏ FREN 2203, 2204, 2214, 2215, 3314, 3315
❏ complete a French literature course at the 3000 level or above
❏ 4.0 units must be at the 3000 level or above
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units of FREN
❏ a minor (normally in English, German, Spanish, or linguistics) consisting of 3.0 units as specified by
the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the major):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit)
❏ at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses
included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.
Special Studies
Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.
Major CertificateStudents who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) degree may apply to do a major certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the major degree listed above.
Major in French With a Year in France
Eligibility
Students must have completed 5.0 to 10 units at Mount Saint Vincent University, must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and must have completed FREN 2203/2204 and FREN 2214/2215. They must be approved by the department and must have their parents’ permission or be of legal age.
Application
Apply to the Department of Modern Languages before the end of December of the year preceding departure for France.
Cost
Consult the department co-ordinator.
Documentation
Documentation necessary to secure French student visa authorization is provided only to students who complete the pre-departure orientation sessions.
The Program
- Prerequisites: FREN 2203, 2204, 2214, 2215: normally, only students in the Bachelor of Arts major program are eligible.
- Year in France (September to June): normally after completion of 10 units of coursework at Mount Saint Vincent University. Offered in conjunction with Dalhousie University at accredited Host Université de Dijon in France.
- Authorized External Course forms must be pre-approved prior to study abroad, determining the amount and level of academic credit that will be transferred from the Host University and/or Dalhousie University.
Academic credit (up to 5.0 units) achieved while studying abroad is considered to be external credit for the purpose of meeting Minimum Institutional Credit Requirement for Mount Saint Vincent University.
Students must complete all remaining requirements for attainment of Major in French upon return from study abroad.
Major in French With a Year in Quebec (Mount Saint Vincent University - Université du Québec à Rimouski exchange program)Eligibility
Students must have completed 5.0 to 10 units at Mount Saint Vincent University, must be in good academic standing (i.e. a 2.0 GPA) and must have completed FREN 2203/2204 and FREN 2214/2215. They must be approved by the department and must have their parents’ permission or be of legal age.
Application
Apply to the Department of Modern Languages before the end of December of the year preceding departure.
Cost
Consult the department co-ordinator. Some grants are available.
The Program
- Prerequisites: FREN 2203, 2204, 2214, 2215: normally, only students in the Bachelor of Arts major program are eligible.
- Year in Quebec (September to April): normally after 10 units. Students take nine specified 0.5 units at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, fulfilling the U.Q.A.R. requirements. While in Quebec, they are also required to keep a cultural diary which may be evaluated by the Mount Saint Vincent University department. Upon returning, by August 30, students submit a 1500-word essay in French to the Mount Saint Vincent University Department of Modern Languages, for evaluation.
Up to 5.0 units of credit in French are granted by Mount Saint Vincent University for successful completion of the above.
Level Equivalencies
Equivalencies will be given at the 3000 level as follows:
- 1.0 unit for: the essay and eight or nine half courses with a B- average;
- 2.0 units for: the essay and eight or nine half courses with a B average;
- 3.0 units for: the essay and eight or nine half courses with a B+ average;
- 4.0 units for: the essay and eight or nine half courses with an A average.
Upon returning to Mount Saint Vincent University, students must complete the balance of required advanced-level units in French, including FREN 3314/3315 and at least 1.0 unit at the 3000/4000 level which will normally be in literature.
Combined Major (20 Units)The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.
Students must successfully complete 20 units. In order to complete a combined major in French, the following requirements must be met:
❏ a minimum of 6.0 units and a maximum of 8.0 in the French combined major as follows:
❏ FREN 2203, 2204, 2214, 2215, 3314, 3315
❏ 1.0 unit of French Literature or Civilization selected from FREN 3307 3310, 3312, 3313, 3317,
3397, 3398, 4403, 4404, 4408, 4409
❏ 2.0 additional units of FREN
❏ a second combined major specified by another program
(Biology, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, History,
Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Women’s Studies)
❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 6.0 units of each combined major
❏ at least 5.0 units of the 12 units required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(inclusive of the major):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit)
❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20 units must be at the 2000 level or above
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses
included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives
Honours Degree (20 Units)Students intending to take an honours degree in French must apply to the Department of Modern Languages, normally no later than the end of the second year (or before 10 units have been completed).
Students must write an honours essay in French on a topic approved by the Department of Modern Languages, and must submit it by mid-March and present it in an Honours colloquium during the year of graduation.
Students must successfully complete 20 units with the following requirements:
❏ a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 12 units in FREN above the 1000 level as follows:
❏ 6.0 units must be at the 3000 level or above
❏ FREN 4498
❏ spend at least one semester (four months) in a French-speaking environment
❏ a minor (normally in English, German, Spanish, or linguistics) consisting of 3.0 units as specified by
the department. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units
❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies)
(exclusive of the honours subject):
❏ Core A - Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
❏ Core B - Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
❏ Core C - Humanities (1.0 unit)
❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10 units of the required FREN honours courses
❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis
❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken
❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses
included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.
Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 10 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.
Concentration (4.0 units)To obtain a concentration in French, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ FREN 2203, 2204, 2214, and 2215
❏ 2.0 additional units of FREN at the 2000 level or above,
1.0 unit of which must be at the 3000 level or above
Professional Concentration in French (3.0 units)Public Relations, Tourism and Hospitality Management and Business Administration students have the opportunity to pursue a concentration in French. Students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ 3.0 units of French language courses (excluding FREN 1101 and 1102)
Minor (3.0 units)To obtain a minor in French, students must fulfill the following requirements:
❏ 3.0 units of FREN
Placement TestThe French placement test is recommended for all new students in French, in particular for those who are not sure which course(s) would be appropriate to their needs. French faculty will be available to give advice. Students transferring from other universities should consult the Modern Languages Department.
The Department of Modern Languages does not accept Challenge for Credit.