French, B.A.

Universal Curriculum Requirements

To be awarded a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences, students are required to complete universal curriculum requirements in addition to the program requirements provided below. The school universal curriculum requirements can be found on the school Degree Programs page .

Placement

Placement of first-year students presenting admissions credit in French is normally based on standardized test scores or on the placement test that can be taken online: https://french.as.virginia.edu/placement-french. Students with an AP language score of 3 have fulfilled the College language requirement and are placed in FREN 3031. Students with an AP language score of 4 or 5 receive three credits for FREN 3031 and should enroll in FREN 3032.

Requirements for Bachelor of Arts in French

The French major consists of 30 credit hours of courses with a minimum grade of “C” in the FREN sequence at and above the level of FREN 3020, with further provisions:

1. Both courses below are required, unless the students receive exemption from the Director of Undergratuate Program

• FREN 3031 - Finding Your Voice in French Credits: 3
• FREN 3032 - Text, Image, Culture Credits: 3

• 2. At least 9 of the 30 credit hours must be at the level of FREN 4000 or above.

Credit for Study Abroad

With approval by the director of undergraduate studies, up to twelve credits toward the major (or six credits toward the minor) may be earned in an approved program abroad. Summer in Lyon and J-Term abroad provided direct UVA credit, not transfer credit. 

B.A.-M.A. Program

The B.A./M.A. program allows motivated undergraduate French majors to enhance their understanding of French and Francophone culture and society, equip themselves with superior fluency in the language, and obtain the M.A. degree with one additional year of study beyond the B.A. For more information please consult the director of graduate studies.

Distinguished Majors Program in French

The DMP is available to French majors presenting a university cumulative Grade point average of at least 3.400 and departmental GPA of 3.500 in courses at the 3000-level or above. Students typically apply for admission in the spring of their third year.

They take one advanced major course for honors credit, and they pursue an independent project and write an honors thesis under the direction of a faculty advisor (FREN 4998 and 4999). The faculty advisor and the Director of Undergraduate Programs determine the degree of distinction earned by the DMP student.

Additional Information

For more information, contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of French, 358 New Cabell Hall, P.O. Box 400770, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4770; (434) 924-7158; https://french.as.virginia.edu.