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French Language and Literature (in Universities) Schools and Programs in The United States

Study French Language and Literature (in Universities) in The United States

  • Grove City College

    Grove City, The United States

    Grove City College, created in 1876 is a leading college in America. The teaching method is centered majorly on Christian life and on improving students’ academic and moral life. The college is one of the most popular liberal arts colleges, and contains advanced…

  • Stetson University

    DeLand, The United States

    Stetson University is an independent institution of higher learning, established in 1883, operating four colleges and schools across the I-4 corridor in Central Florida. The primary undergraduate campus is located in DeLand, Florida, USA. The Center for International…

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French Language and Literature (in Universities) Studies in The United States

A university degree in French in the United States combines advanced language training with the study of literature, film, history and culture from France and the wider French-speaking world, including Quebec, the Caribbean and Africa. Most departments now use names such as "French and Francophone Studies", "French and Italian" or "Romance Studies". The University of Washington's French and Italian Studies department, for example, presents courses on the political and social evolution of France, on language and cultural identity and on human and machine translation. SpainExchange lists 100 colleges and universities in the United States that teach French language and literature.

How the degree is organised

Undergraduates usually study French as a major or a minor within a bachelor's degree, which takes about four years of full-time study. Each university sets its own credit requirements, and students take many courses outside their major, so French is often combined with a second major such as international relations, economics or another language. New students usually take a placement test to start at the right level. Study abroad is a common part of the degree: the University of Washington, for instance, runs programmes in Nantes, Paris and Quebec City.

The two main graduate degrees are the master's degree and the doctorate, and both combine coursework and research. At the University of Colorado Boulder, the MA in French takes two years of coursework followed by written and oral exams, and the PhD, ending with a dissertation, takes five years. PhD students there are typically offered a teaching appointment that helps fund their studies. Some departments also run research centres, such as Duke University's Center for French and Francophone Studies, and teach related languages such as Haitian Creole.

Admission and costs

Teaching in French courses is largely in French, but all other classes are in English, and U.S. universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Each university sets its own entry requirements. For a full degree, international students need a student visa: once accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the international student office issues the Form I-20 used in the visa application. Students who already speak French well can usually start at an advanced level after placement.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), average tuition and fees at 4-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions (the in-state rate) and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions, so check what each university charges non-residents. Graduate students in French are often funded through teaching appointments, so ask each department about funding when you apply.

Where to study French

French is taught across the country. Philadelphia has three schools in this directory, including Temple University and Saint Joseph's University; Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Denver, Berkeley, Madison, Baltimore and Dayton have two each. Examples include large public universities such as the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Washington, the University of Texas at Austin and UCLA; private research universities such as Yale, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, the University of Chicago and Vanderbilt; and liberal arts colleges such as Wellesley College, Dartmouth College, Hope College and Spelman College. Outside the degree system, Concordia Language Villages, based in Moorhead, Minnesota, has run its French immersion village, Lac du Bois, since 1962.

Recognition and careers

A bachelor's or master's degree in French is an academic qualification. Check that the university is accredited: EducationUSA notes that a school certified by SEVP may not hold national or regional accreditation. Teaching French in U.S. public schools requires a state teaching licence, which has separate rules in each state.

Graduates work in teaching, translation and interpreting, international business, diplomacy, publishing, tourism and technology; the University of Washington reports alumni careers in tech, teaching and marketing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), interpreters and translators typically need at least a bachelor's degree and must be proficient in English and at least one other language. BLS projects employment in this field to grow 2% from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 6,000 openings a year. A PhD leads mainly to university teaching and research.

Frequently asked questions

Can I major in French if I am a beginner?

Yes, at many universities. New students take a placement test and start at the level that fits them; beginners need more courses to complete the major.

How long does a PhD in French take?

About five years at many universities. At the University of Colorado Boulder, the PhD, including the dissertation, takes five years, and students are usually offered teaching appointments.

Is study abroad part of a French degree?

It is common. Many departments run their own programmes; the University of Washington, for example, has programmes in Nantes, Paris and Quebec City.