The French studies program is designed to enable students to develop a high level of communicative competence in the French language, including translation skills, and a critical understanding of fundamental areas of French studies: literature, film, cultural studies, philosophy, politics and social sciences. Students will develop reading, writing and research skills appropriate to their level and the program is intended to facilitate increasingly independent research in French studies.
French can be studied from introductory level up to a level of near-native language competence (French Advanced 4). The French studies program has three entry points, each comprising a first and second semester unit. To ensure that students are placed in the most appropriate level according to their individual profile and the best outcome they can expect to achieve, all students, except beginners, are required to undertake placement testing prior to the start of their first semester of language study. For information on accessing, completing and returning placement tests, see the French Studies Program enrolment information page.
Right of school to determine entry level and approve accelerated enrolment
The French studies program convenor retains the right to determine the proper proficiency level for any particular student. Students are not permitted to accelerate their enrolment without first consulting the program convenor.
Overseas study
Students can replace language units with equivalent language study overseas units. The program includes exchange agreements with the University of Lyon III, the University of Paris III University of Tours, and the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris allowing for semester-length study overseas. It also provides for summer semester study overseas outside the exchange program, especially for students who begin their French studies at entry point 1 or 2. For detailed information see the French Studies Program Study Abroad web page. Students must obtain written approval from the French Studies Program before enrolling. A range of scholarships and internship placements are available from the French government. Grants for study overseas are available through Monash Abroad, to which applications should be addressed.
Availability
French studies is listed in A2000 Bachelor of Arts at Clayton as a minor, major or extended major, A2001 Bachelor of Global Studies at Clayton as a major and A0501 Diploma of Languages at Clayton as a major.
Outcomes
In addition to achieving the broad outcomes of their course, students successfully completing this major will be able to:
- analyse the structure and understand the context of authentic, formal and complex language
- read and translate or interpret a range of French for social and professional use
- draw upon a sophisticated and detailed awareness of a range of important themes and/or sets of texts relating to modern French and Francophone culture in their historical context from a selection of genres
- respond to these texts critically in written and spoken French
- use mostly discipline-specific language and appropriate genre to demonstrate knowledge and understanding within a field from a scholarly perspective and for a specified audience.
Major requirements (48 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited to the majormajor (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-07.html) and at least 18 points must be at level 3. Six units (36 points) of sequential language and culture study must be completed.
Note: Students can replace some of their required units with up to 24 points of language study overseas units or up to 12 points of study overseas summer semester units.
Entry point 1 - Introductory
For students with little or no knowledge of the language.
Students complete:
- Two level 1 gateway unitsgateway units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3071 France on film
- ATS3076 Contemporary French fiction: Rewriting identity
- ATS3077 Whatever happened to truth?: French literature, thought and visual culture
- ATS3976 Histoire(s) de rire: The stakes of literary laughter in France
- Two language units (12 points):
- one unit (6 points) from the remaining capstones or the elective list below.
Entry point 2 - Intermediate
For students who have some prior knowledge of the language.
Students complete:
- Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3071 France on film
- ATS3076 Contemporary French fiction: Rewriting identity
- ATS3077 Whatever happened to truth?: French literature, thought and visual culture
- ATS3976 Histoire(s) de rire: The stakes of literary laughter in France
- Four language units (24 points):
- One unit (6 points) from the remaining capstones or the elective list below.
Entry point 3 - Proficient
For students with higher competence in French.
Students complete:
- Two level 2 cornerstone unitscornerstone units (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (12 points):
- One level 3 capstone unitcapstone unit (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2017handbooks/undergrad/arts-08.html) (6 points) chosen from:
- ATS3071 France on film
- ATS3076 Contemporary French fiction: Rewriting identity
- ATS3077 Whatever happened to truth?: French literature, thought and visual culture
- ATS3976 Histoire(s) de rire: The stakes of literary laughter in France
- Four language units (24 points):
- One unit (6 points) from the remaining capstone units or the elective list below.
Note: Students can replace some of their required units with up to 24 points of language study overseas units or up to 12 points of study overseas summer semester units.
Minor requirements (24 points)
No more than 12 points at level 1 may be credited towards the minor.
Students complete:
- Three units (18 points) from the French language sequence under the major, following the entry point guidelines and taken in order.
- One level 2 or level 3 unit (6 points) from the remaining language sequence units or capstone units from the major or from the elective list below.
Extended major requirements (72 points)
No more than 24 points at level 1 may be credited to the extended major and at least 24 points must be at level 3.
Students are required to undertake a period of overseas study in order to complete an extended major.
Students complete:
- The requirements of the major in French studies (48 points)
- Any combination of the following to a total of 24 points:
- ATS3083 Translating across cultures
- ATS3139 Extended major research unit
- ATS3948 Internship (undergraduate)
- Study Overseas units
Elective list
Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.
- ATS2075 Representing Paris: Literature and visual culture
- ATS2295/ATS3295 Screening contemporary Europe
- ATS3064 Cultural intelligence: Building competencies for global leadership
- ATS3083 Translating across cultures
- ATS3816 The social context of language learning
- ATS3948 Internship (undergraduate)
Intending honours students
Students intending to enter honours in this area of study must have completed a major in the discipline, with a minimum of 24 points of study at level 3 to be eligible.
Diplomas
- A0501 Diploma of Languages
Bachelors
Single degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the following single degrees:*
- A2000 Bachelor of Arts
- A2001 Bachelor of Global Studies
Students in other single bachelor's degrees may be eligible to complete the minor or major by using 24 or 48 points of their free electives.
Double degrees
Successful completion of the minor or major can be counted towards meeting the requirements for the Bachelor of Arts component in the following double degrees:*
- A2005 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Art
- A2004 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
- B2019 Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Arts
- B2012 Bachelor of Business Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
- B2020 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts
- B2006 Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Global Studies
- B2024 Bachelor of Commerce Specialist and Bachelor of Arts
- D3002 Bachelor of Education (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- E3002 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- C2002 Bachelor of Information Technology and Bachelor of Arts
- L3003 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts
- L3009 Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Global Studies
- S2006 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts
- S2003 Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Global Studies