Learning Abroad in French

“Majoring or minoring in French Studies means opening yourself up to the rich diversity of the French-speaking world. Studying abroad offers the unique opportunity to discover that world by finding yourself in it.”

Bruno Chaouat, Department of French and Italian

Department Recommendations

Review the following suggestions from the Department of French and Italian before beginning your study abroad research.

Seek cultural immersion

• Look for programs that offer significant cultural integration. Deep involvement in the host culture leads to personal growth and builds cross-cultural skills.
• You are encouraged to consider programs that get you into classes with host-country students at a host university and programs that get you out of the classroom and into the community.
• Seek a program that houses you with a family or host-country roommate, or look for systematic experiences outside the classroom such as internships, community engagement or research opportunities, or the option to take some courses in a host-country university.
• Be realistic; not all students are ready for the same amount of cultural immersion.

Improve second language skills

• Select a program that allows you to continue your language development through coursework and cultural activities.
• Plan your language course sequence carefully so that you can continue with your language program upon your return.
• Ideally, students should have completed at least one year of French in order to maximize their cultural integration. Students with more than two years of French have a wide range of program options.

Work on your French major or minor

The Director of Undergraduate Studies will screen overseas coursework and help you fit appropriate courses into your major or minor requirements.

• Look for junior- and senior-level (3xxx to 5xxx-level) courses.
• Look for courses that investigate the literature or culture of the country in which you are studying.
• Use an Academic Planning Form for Study Abroad (available at the Learning Abroad Center) to structure and document your consultation with your major adviser. List more courses on the form than you will actually take. A particular course or schedule may not be available on-site, and it will be useful to have prior feedback on additional courses from the adviser particular to your language. If your course choices change, notify your adviser via email.
• For tentative pre-approval of a course abroad, provide a syllabus to the Director of Undergraduate Studies in French for review at least a month before departure. Remember that it is important to schedule a meeting in May (or earlier) rather than attempt a last minute meeting in August.
• For exact course substitution, remember to bring syllabi, reading lists, and other course materials back with you from your study abroad program. The Director of Undergraduate Studies will use them to determine exact course equivalencies.
• Students who select the Language & Culture in Southern France program will have a group academic planning meeting at the pre-departure orientation, and therefore should not schedule an individual appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Studies in French. At the group meeting, you will learn how the program’s courses can fulfill your French major or minor requirements, as well as have the opportunity to ask academically-focused questions. Bring your completed Academic Planning from to this meeting, where it will be signed by the Director of Undergraduate Studies.

Fulfill Liberal Education requirements

Plan early to apply study abroad credits to the University’s Liberal Education requirements. Decide early which requirements you want to satisfy through courses taken abroad so you don’t fulfill them on campus. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's U Credit Abroad Search for classes that have already been evaluated or submit courses online to be evaluated for liberal education requirements.

What are the best times to study abroad?

French Studies majors and minors may study abroad at any time during their academic career. Before graduation, French studies majors must have completed at least four upper-division major courses in the French department at the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities. For French minors, two upper-division UMTC French department courses are required. The remaining requirements may be completed abroad.

The French program prefers that you wait until you have the equivalent of two years of French language study before studying abroad, but this can be flexible depending on your situation and program choice. Students choosing the Language & Culture in Southern France summer program need not have prior French language study.

The French program does not recommend studying abroad during your final semester of your senior year. If you choose to do so (and you have not completed the CLA senior project in another major), you will need to have completed French 4109 or 4110: Senior Project in French Studies prior to departure for your study abroad experience.

College/Department Scholarships for UofM Students

CLA students can apply for CLA Study Abroad Scholarships in addition to other Learning Abroad Center scholarships.

Programs