FRENCH | FRENCH EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF ARTS
Gain a new perspective through language and culture.
At Mercyhurst, we believe in helping our students build skills in communication, critical thinking, and navigating cultural diversity, which is exactly what a French or French Education major will do. While mastering your command of a language spoken by more than 270 million people on four continents, you’ll build expertise in French literature, culture and society while experiencing the world from a different point of view. The French Education major prepares students to be language teachers in K-12 classrooms by combining these skills with the coursework necessary to earn a teaching certificate in Pennsylvania. As the only university to certify French Education students in the Erie region, our graduates are sought-after by school districts nationwide.
Language education majors may also add a certification in English as a Second Language to their program, to enhance their employment options, with only three additional courses.
Fast Facts
Studying a foreign language is excellent preparation for careers in many different fields, such as business, education, government or international relations, as well as graduate school.
We strongly encourage our French majors to study abroad, whether it is through our own university or one of the programs affiliated with Mercyhurst. The Vivetta G. Petronio Memorial Scholarship is available to help with the costs; more information can be found below.
One of our highest honors is induction into Phi Sigma Iota, the international honors society for the study of foreign languages and cultures. Students are nominated in their junior or senior year and inducted at an annual spring dinner.
The Bachelor of Arts in French pairs well with many other degree programs for a double major.
Students may pursue a minor in this area by taking seven courses, a minimum of four in Arabic language, and the rest in related coursework in religious studies, political science, history, archaeology, etc., and must maintain a 2.5 in the minor.
Mercyhurst University's Asian studies minor program (formerly East-West studies) is an interdisciplinary, interdepartmental minor in Eastern cultures. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA overall to remain in this minor. In addition, Mercyhurst students must take at least three courses in Asian language and five related courses in either Asian cultures, Japanese literature, Buddhism, Hinduism, Asian politics, world geography or modern Eastern history.
Mercyhurst students who are interested in pursuing a minor in language, may choose to minor in Chinese, French or Spanish. These minor programs offered through Mercyhurst University's World Languages and Cultures Department offer students courses in language, literature and culture in the student's respective field of study. In addition, Mercyhurst students will have the opportunity to delve into the history of the culture they choose to study.
Students minoring in a Chinese, French or Spanish program must take eight core courses and two upper level courses. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA in the minor.
Mercyhurst students who are interested in pursuing a minor in language, may choose to minor in Russian studies. This minor program offered through Mercyhurst University's World Languages and Cultures Department offers students courses in Russian language, literature and culture. In addition, Mercyhurst students will have the opportunity to delve into Russian history.
Students minoring in Russian studies must take eight core courses and two upper level Russian language courses. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA in the minor.
Whether you’re planning to work in school districts in the U.S. or travel and work overseas, the ability to effectively teach students the English language will open employment opportunities across the board. Students in the Teaching English-Language Learners minor will learn not only the methods for teaching English as an additional language, but also the language acquisition theories, socio-cultural influences, and program development strategies that make for more culturally sensitive and effective instructors (and leaders) of English language education. The minor includes six core courses, one elective, and more than 60 hours of practicum experience working with trained education professionals in preK-12 and adult education.
Learning Outcomes
Speak and understand French at the Intermediate High level or better as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
- Read and write in French at the Intermediate High level or better as detailed in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines.
- Demonstrate cultural proficiency in cultures that use French.
- Discuss in both spoken and written French literary and visual texts or cultural artifacts of the target culture.
- Conduct and produce research in French.
- Demonstrate understanding of second-language acquisition and the history of foreign-language pedagogy (education majors only).
- Demonstrate the ability to apply understanding in practice teaching situations and to analyze and critique the teaching of others (education majors only).
Course Spotlight
FREN 135: African and Caribbean Literature
This course presents in English translation a survey of literature from the French-speaking regions of the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa. We will be examining these works in their social and/or historical context, gain insight into the cultural heritage and artistic values of these regions, and gain an appreciation of the considerable and dynamic contributions of Africa and the Caribbean to literature in French and to global literature as a whole.
FREN 230: French for Business
In this course students will master the vocabulary necessary for business and commercial contexts (interviews, meetings, phone calls) and will develop the skills to understand and compose business documents in French (résumé/CVs, business letters and emails, etc.). In addition, students will gain an appreciation of the culture of business in the French-speaking world.
FREN 315: French Cinema
This course focuses on the rich cultural heritage of the “Seventh Art” in France, from the invention of cinema by the Lumière brothers in the 19th century to the work of directors of the 21st century, and discussing the historical periods and artistic movements that have influenced French film.
STUDY ABROAD
Mercyhurst World Language students apply their global competencies and language skills first-hand through study abroad. Our students have traveled throughout South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East as they make meaningful, lasting connections and experience the unique music, food, sights, and cultural traditions in their countries of study.
FULBRIGHT PROGRAM
Mercyhurst participates in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program for Russian, Arabic, and Mandarin. Each year, this program brings young professionals to the U.S. to share their linguistic and cultural expertise by teaching courses, offering conversation groups, and enriching our students' understanding of their area of study.
HONOR SOCIETY
Phi Sigma Iota is an international honor society for the study of foreign languages and cultures, and is one of the highest honors one can achieve in the field. Language majors and minors are nominated in their junior or senior year based on their GPA, a faculty recommendation, and completion of a 300-level language course (or equivalent).
The Vivetta G. Petronio Scholarship Fund was created at The Pittsburgh Foundation by Gail Gerono in honor of honor of Vivetta G. Petronio, a French professor at Mercyhurst University who had a positive impact on Gail’s college experience and her life. In honor of Professor Petronio, this fund will provide scholarships for full-time students enrolled at Mercyhurst University who are studying abroad in France in their sophomore, junior or senior year.
The following eligibility criteria apply:
- Attend Mercyhurst University as a full-time student as a rising sophomore, junior or senior.
- Plans to study abroad in a French-speaking country (other than Canada) and immerse themselves in the language through a university-sanctioned program. The program may be for university credit, an internship, self-directed/self-designed language immersion, etc. Programs may be for any length of time (four-week minimum) during the up-and-coming academic year and must be billed through the university
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Answer four short essay questions.
- Submit your Student Aid Report (SAR). If you have not already received your SAR, you can do so by applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Submit one letter of recommendation from a French professor.
- Submit your unofficial college transcripts.
One to two scholarships, average award of $4,000, will be offered annually. Scholarships are not renewable; students may only receive this scholarship once.
Final selection of the scholarship winners will be decided (subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of The Pittsburgh Foundation) by a Scholarship Advisory Committee. No member of the Advisory Committee, or his or her immediate family, is eligible for scholarship assistance during his or her tenure on the Advisory Committee.
Interested students should contact Dr. Douglas Boudreau, Chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures.
Mercyhurst participates in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program for Russian, Arabic, and Mandarin. Each year, this program brings young professionals to the U.S. to share their linguistic and cultural expertise by teaching courses, offering conversation groups, and enriching our students' understanding of their area of study.
Phi Sigma Iota, international honors society for the study of foreign languages and cultures, is one of the highest honors one can achieve in the field. Language majors and minors are nominated in their junior or senior year based on:
- the completion of a 300 level language course (or equivalent)
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- recommendation of the language faculty
Induction is held each spring at the annual dinner.
All majors must maintain an overall 2.5 GPA and at least a 2.75 GPA in world language major courses. World language education majors must also meet all the requirements of the education program. All majors and minors, as well as those students seeking teaching certification, are expected to maintain a portfolio, which will be important for assessment at Sophomore Review, before a student is permitted to student teach, and prior to graduation. An outline of requirements for the portfolio, which includes written and oral work, can be obtained from the student's language adviser or from the department director.
As stated above, Mercyhurst students must also successfully pass the Sophomore Review process before formal admittance into the French/Spanish Education major is granted. In order to receive your degree and certification in French/Spanish Education, Mercyhurst students must meet all of the requirements outlined by the Department of Education's section of the university's catalog. Please refer to all standards, policies and admission/retention criteria as specified for all education majors seeking a degree from Mercyhurst University and certification by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
All language majors sit for the Oral Proficiency Interview in their senior year. The OPI is an independent evaluation of a student’s language proficiency level by an outside evaluator. Students can use the OPI rating, which is recognized internationally, on their resumes and employment or graduate school applications.
Resources
Contact Us
Alice Edwards, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of World Languages and Cultures
Office: Preston 206
Phone: 814-824-2548
Email: aedwards@mercyhurst.edu
