University of Sydney / Faculty of Arts / Department of French Studies / Undergraduate / Programs

Overview of possible program streams

Language levels

Units of study in the department of French studies are concerned with French language, literature, culture and society, including the many Francophone cultures outside France. Units are language based. They all deal with French language material, and most classes are conducted in French.

The modular structure of the units allows greater flexibility of choice for students who may be taking French studies as a major or who may be taking it as an adjunct to other studies.

The first year units stress practical language acquisition and the development of reading skills as well as an introduction to French life and civilisation.

In later years, students are able to improve their language and cultural skills as well as specialising in one or more of the four thematic strands:

The department offers three language streams in the first year (advanced, intermediate and introductory) and two language streams (advanced and introductory) in subsequent years of study.

Students from all streams can qualify for Honours in French by completing the appropriate sequence of units.

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First year French - which unit should I enrol in?

First year students are placed into three different streams, depending on their existing language level:

  • Introductory French: complete beginners; or less than 2 years of French; or less than 65% in beginners HSC French;
  • Intermediate stream: less than 80% in French continuers; or more than 65% in beginners HSC French;
  • Advanced stream: French extension or more than 80% in continuers HSC French.

Students who do not fall easily into one of the above categories, including advanced and native speakers of French, should contact the coordinators of the relevant units and may be asked to sit for a placement test.

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Introductory stream

For students intending to specialise in French studies and who enter at an Introductory level, a typical program of units (12 credit points in first year, 36 or more credit points in later years to make up the major) would consist of:

First year

Second year

Third year

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Intermediate stream

For students intending to specialise in French studies who enter at intermediate level, a typical program of units (12 or more credit points in first year, and 36 or more credit points in later years) would be as follows:

First year units - intermediate stream only

Second and third year units

Second and third year students will, depending on their level at the end of their first year, follow the pattern of either the Introductory stream or the Advanced stream in their choice of senior units.

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Advanced stream

Please see the following page to find subjects:

Faculty of Arts Subject listing

For students intending to specialise in French studies who enter at advanced level, a typical program of units (12 or more credit points in first year, and 36 or more credit points in later years) would be as follows:

First year units

Second year units

Third year units

  • FRNC3631 Senior French Advanced 7
  • together with 12 or more credit points from third year units listed below under thematic options.
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Fourth year honours

Details of entry to fourth year honours is given here.

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Thematic Options

The following groups of options are offered at senior level under four headings:

  • Linguistics
  • Society and Culture
  • Literature and Cinema
  • Francophone studies.

Please be advised that these units are not all offered in any one year.

Also note that some units have codes starting with '3' but are available to Advanced stream students in their second year. Likewise, units with codes starting with '2' can be taken by students in their second or third years.

Francophone studies

  • FRNC2671 Francophone studies 1
  • FRNC3672 Francophone studies 2

Linguistics

  • FRNC2651 Introduction To Linguistics
  • FRNC3652 Textual Linguistics
  • FRNC3653 French Translation
  • FRNC3654 Deconstructing French Texts
  • FRNC3655 French Sociolinguistics

Literature

  • FRNC2681 French Narrative Cinema
  • FRNC2682 The Legend of the Holy Grail
  • FRNC2683 Communicative Structures in the Novel
  • FRNC3681 Genre de l'Invention du Genre
  • FRNC3682 French Popular Culture
  • FRNC3683 Uses and Interpretation of Literature
  • FRNC3684 L'autobiographie et l'autoportrait
  • FRNC3685 French Renaissance
  • FRNC3686 French Baroque and Classicism
  • FRNC3687 French Enlightenment
  • FRNC3689 French Romanticism
  • FRNC3690 French Political Cinema

Society and culture

  • FRNC2691 Revolution & Social Thought
  • FRNC2692 Second French Revolution
  • FRNC3654 Deconstructing French Texts
  • FRNC3688 Franco-Australian Connections
  • FRNC3693 French Intellectual Movements Since 1945
  • FRNC3694 Sociology of Literature

Special entry units

  • FRNC2666 Research Methods in French Studies
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Major in French Studies

The requirement for all majors in French should include 36 credit points to be taken from senior units of study.

For students undertaking Introductory or Intermediate French, a major should include FRNC2622 or equivalent.

For students undertaking Advanced French, a major should include FRNC3631 or equivalent.

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Combined programs of study

Note that units in French may also form part of a program of studies, such as:

International Comparative Literature Studies

European Studies

Medieval Studies

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