Major in French and Francophone Studies

After achieving linguistic proficiency, majors develop a nuanced critical understanding of French and Francophone cultures and literatures; they acquire the tools to analyze and interpret texts and cultural phenomena; and they continue to refine their linguistic knowledge through the exploration of a rich variety of content areas. Eligible majors in French and Francophone Studies also have the opportunity to write a Senior Honors Thesis, which serves as a capstone for their studies and allows them to consolidate and further expand their research and writing skills.

Students select appropriate courses in consultation with their department advisors and the Director of Undergraduate Studies, in accordance with their particular areas of interest and their wider academic and career goals. 

Required Courses

Note: Effective Fall 2023, all main campus courses have been renumbered using a new 4-digit numbering system.

https://schedule.georgetown.edu/course-renumbering-crosswalk/f/#fren

For all students entering in Fall 2025 or after:

33 credits in French, as follows:

Unless lower placement requires additional language study, the French major consists of:

• 6 credits of Advanced French: either 2011 (6 credits) or 2001 (3 credits) + 2002 (3 credits)
• 3 credits FREN 2551: Composition and Style
• 3 credits FREN 3350: Gateway: Text, Image, Culture
• 21 credits from seven (7) Upper-Division Electives including at least one from the pre-1800 Literature group, one from the post-1800 Literature group, one from the Culture and Civilization group, and one from the post-advanced Language group (including courses in Linguistics, History/Development of the Language, Performance, and French for Professional Purposes).

Please note that for students entering in Fall 2025 or after:

• AP credits count toward the major.
• At least 6 of the 10 required courses have to be taken at Georgetown.
• FREN 2761 and 2762 do not count toward the major.
• A minimum of 4 of the 6 upper-division electives must be at the 4000 level. At least two of these 4000 level courses must be taken at Georgetown. 

For all students who entered prior to Fall 2025:

10 French Courses

Unless lower placement requires additional language study, the French major consists of:

• 2 Intensive Advanced (FREN 2011 & FREN 2012)
• 1 Gateway to Culture/Literature (FREN 3350 or FREN 3351)
• 7 Upper-Division Electives including at least one from the pre-1800 Literature group, one from the post-1800 Literature group, one from the Culture and Civilization group, and one from the post-advanced Language group (including courses in Linguistics, History/Development of the Language, Performance, and French for Professional Purposes).

Please note that for students who entered prior to Fall 2025:

• AP credits count toward the major.
• At least 6 of the 10 required courses have to be taken at Georgetown.
• FREN 2761, and 2762 do not count toward the major. FREN 2551 may count toward the major if the student also completed FREN 3350 and seven (7) upper-level electives.
• A minimum of 4 of the 6 upper-division electives must be at the 4000 level. At least two of these 4000 level courses must be taken at Georgetown. 

Overseas Studies

French majors are normally required to study in a French or Francophone university during their undergraduate year in the context of a one-semester, full-academic year, or intensive summer program. Georgetown offers excellent programs in France and Francophone countries–many of which require direct matriculation and must meet the overseas studies standards and guidelines established by the Office of Global Education. The Department of French and Francophone Studies also sponsors a six-week dual-track summer study program in Tours-Paris. See the Summer Study Abroad section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for more information.

Please click here to see our Guidelines for Credit Transfer from Study Abroad.