Getting Started

College: HFA

Information below is meant to guide first year students in getting started with this major and choosing appropriate courses. More advanced students interested in this major would also likely start with proposed foundation/pre-requisite courses. Please refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn about the full major requirements.

How to Explore/Get Started in the Major

Students with no prior knowledge of French should take French 110 or French 126.

Students who have taken the French AP exam or the SAT Subject Test in French should check which, if any, advanced credits they were granted by UMass.

All other students should take the online UMass French Placement Test. Please consult the French Placement Guidelines and/or the Undergraduate Program Advisor for further information.

Suggested General Education Courses

All Undergraduates are required to satisfy the General Education Requirements. Guidelines for students are available at https://www.umass.edu/gened. Students should choose a wide variety of Gen Ed courses, providing breadth of experience.

The French and Francophone Studies Program offers the following General Education Courses:

French 280 – Love and Sex in French Culture (AL)
French 289 – Paris Through the Centuries (HS)
French 350 – French Film (AT)
French 353 – African Film (AT, DG)
French 386 – Origins to 1945 (HS)

Pre-requisites for the Major

Proficiency in French at the low intermediate level (FRENCHST 230 or the equivalent) is required to declare the major.

How to Declare/Change into the Major

For current & admitted students: This major is unrestricted, which means any student may declare the major. Unrestricted majors may still have an entry process such as meeting with an advisor or attending an informational meeting.

All interested students should see the Undergraduate Program Director, Professor Eva Valenta, as soon as possible to declare the major and learn about the options available to them in planning their program.

Summary of Requirements for the Major

Minimum total number of credits required: 36

Students must demonstrate proficiency at the intermediate level by achieving a grade of “B+” in FRENCHST 240. Students who do not do this must complete FRENCHST 250.

A maximum of six credits of courses at the intermediate level (240, 246, 250) may be counted towards the thirty-six credits required for the major. All other courses must be at the 300-level or above with a specific distribution of courses in language, literature and culture. Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

NOTE: Students planning to teach French at the secondary level should contact the French Teacher Education Director and apply formally through the Educator Licensing Office at the College of Education in Furcolo Hall. The application should be submitted as early as possible in order to plan the program, which includes both the French major and the necessary courses in Education.

Refer to the Major page located in the left menu bar to learn more.

Is there a minor?
Yes – A minor is available! Refer to the Minor page located in the left menu bar to learn more. Interested students should see the Undergraduate Program Director, Professor Eva Valenta, to discuss their options.

For further information, contact:
Professor Eva Valenta
319 Herter; 413-545-6703
evalenta@frital.umass.edu