French Program
Learn more about the French programs offered at NMU! Included are study abroad options and our Fast Track French program.
Study language and French culture, history, politics, and more, on campus or while studying abroad!
The Bachelor’s in French is an interdisciplinary major that encompasses the richness of the French and Francophone world and offers an intellectually diverse program that includes literature, culture, film, art, and philosophy.
French courses fulfill a number of General Education requirements. A student can earn a second major in French with only 36 credits, which is a useful addition to any major at NMU. Double majoring in French provides a solid portfolio for national and international careers as well as for graduate studies.
Activities brought to you through Academic Service Learning by students of the French program:
- The French Table meets weekly when classes are in session. For the specific time and location, please contact Dr. Nell Kupper at nkupper@nmu.edu.
- French Camp for Young Learners provided elementary school children with some basic knowledge of the French language and culture.
- French Mentoring Program for beginners in French at NMU
- Languages and Culture Exhibit: Language and culture exhibits at the UP Children's Museum.
Superior Edge - All classes in the Department of Languages, Literatures and International Studies can be applied toward Superior Edge.
Teach English in France
The Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) provides an opportunity for a paid internship in France. TAPIF is one of Villa Albertine’s longest-running and most sought-after programs. Each year, the program places around 1,200 Americans into French public schools to work as English language teaching assistants for 12 hours a week.
French Club
The goal of French Club is to promote and study the French language, learn about French-speaking cultures and traditions, and unify the campus and the greater Marquette Community around the French Language and culture.
Très Chic French Fan Gear
Stock up on French-related merch through the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF). Available to everyone!
Language Resource Center
The NMU French Program provides a wide, curated selection of award-winning French and Francophone films to be viewed in the warm and pleasant atmosphere of the Language Resource Center. Several people can view a selected film together with multiple headsets that plug into the same player. The language lab is open during specified hours (corresponding with the tutoring hours) for the duration of the fall and winter semester classes. Please check these hours by following the link below. For any other questions, please contact Dr. Nell Kupper at nkupper@nmu.edu.
My favorite moments as an LLIS student were all the mornings I would spend with one of my best friends, preparing for our early morning French classes. We'd get a cute breakfast, often with French pastries or meals to "inspire us" as we studied or did homework together. You can build a lot of bonds working hard trying to comprehend French.
I took a French Literature of the 20th Century course that introduced me to a lot of philosophy and new ways of thinking. It wasn't just books, but cultural and philosophical context wedged in to break apart previous worldviews while opening a fissure up for new ones to flood in. Not only was I introduced to the ways French culture shape literature and thinking, but a wider understanding of society in general.
Karl Mohr ‘25
French major
Coursework
The French Program at NMU emphasizes aptitude in cultural diversity, communication, critical thinking, reading, and writing, thus providing students with marketable and practical skills regardless of career path. Students learn to gauge nuanced cultural differences and to communicate effectively with people of different backgrounds, making them ready to navigate today’s diverse professional environments. Students develop critical thinking and abstract challenges with creativity and confidence.
The Fast-Track French program involves taking FR 200 Fast-Track French. This class prepares students for FR 202 and contains French as a second language and an academic service learning component. All credits can be earned toward a French minor or major. FR 200 in the freshman year leads to a minor in French by sophomore year and a major by junior year.
Programs Offered
- French Major
- French PK-12 Education Major
- French Minor
- Advanced Study in French Certification
- Intermediate Study in French Certification
- Basic Study in French Certification
French Major: Standard Track
Core
- FR201 Intermediate French I (4 cr.)
- FR202 Intermediate French II (4 cr.)
- FR300 Reading and Writing (4 cr.)
- FR400 Advanced French Composition and Grammar (4 cr.)
- LG499 Grad Assessment for Language Majors
Electives (20 cr.)
- 102 & 300 or 400 level
French Major: Fast Track
Core
- FR200 Fast-Track French (4 cr.)
- FR201 Intermediate French Advanced Placement Credit (4 cr.)*
- FR202 Intermediate French II (4 cr.)
- FR300 Reading and Writing (4 cr.)
- FR400 Advanced French Composition and Grammar (4 cr.)
- LG499 Grad Assesment for Language Majors
Electives (16 cr.)
- 300 or 400 level
*Completion of FR202 with a “C” or better provides advanced placement credit for FR201
Additional Considerations
Many French majors also double major. Some popular major pairings include Biology and Environmental Studies (especially for students who wish to complete field work in the Caribbean or French-speaking Africa), English (especially for students interested in graduate school or who want to study literature in the original language), and International Studies (especially for students who plan to study abroad in a French-speaking country), just to name a few.
French is a global language, the second most frequently taught language in the world, next to English. Along with English, French is the official working language for a number of agencies.
Potential Careers
- Banking
- Engineering
- Environmental Preservation
- Fiber Optics
- Finance
- Genetics
- Government
- Hotel Management and Hospitality
- International Trade
- Medicine (Alzheimer’s, Doctors Without Borders)
- Nanotechnology (Minatec Center in Grenoble)
- Nuclear Energy
- Optoelectronics
- Reconstructive Surgery
- Tourism
- Video Gaming (Activision, Blizzard, and Ubisoft)
- Voice Compression
- Jobs that don’t even exist yet! A French major shows that you are adaptable, curious, and open to new ideas.
Skills and Competencies
The multinational tech firm Google surveyed its workforce, and many of the top characteristics of Google employees are skills acquired in the French language, literature, and culture classrooms. Those abilities include:
- Being a good coach
- Communicating and listening well
- Possessing insights into others (including others’ different values and points of view)
- Having empathy and being supportive
- Being a good critical thinker
- Being a problem solver
- Being able to make connections across complex ideas
Language Certifications
Interested in learning French, but unsure about committing to a major or minor? Consider a language certification! Certifications are listed on a student's transcript and complement any major or minor. Each certification requires only 8 credits (2 language courses!), earning a "C" or better at a 100 (basic), 200 (intermediate), or 300 (advanced) level. Plus, earn a Credly badge for each certificate completion!
Basic, intermediate, and advanced certificates are offered for French.