Catalog Home College of Liberal Arts and Sciences French and Italian

French and Italian

The department introduces students to the cultures of France, the Francophone world, Italy, and parts of the Middle East, providing an understanding of those countries' historical and contemporary importance. It also facilitates development of proficiency in the French, Italian, and Arabic languages and fosters critical appreciation of French, Francophone, Italian, and Arabic literature and civilization.

Undergraduate Programs

The department offers a Bachelor of Arts and a minor in French and in Italian. It also offers a variety of electives for nonmajors and provides flexible means to complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program foreign language requirement and to satisfy individual needs and interests.

Students majoring in French or Italian may combine their studies with courses in education to prepare for jobs in high school teaching. They may go on to graduate study in areas such as French, Italian, comparative literature, and other interdisciplinary areas as preparation for college-level teaching. Or they may combine other skills and studies with their major in French or Italian to prepare for challenging career opportunities in international government, business, finance, travel, communications, and other fields where the knowledge of a foreign language is essential.

Bachelor of Arts in French

The Bachelor of Arts in French requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 31-35 s.h. of work for the major. Students complete a set of four foundation courses (10 s.h.) plus the requirements for one of four tracks (21-25 s.h.): the French and Arabic track; the language track; the literature and culture track; or the teaching track. Students also must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program.

FOUNDATION COURSES 

Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in all major course work, including all University of Iowa course work in the major. Majors must maintain portfolios documenting their progress toward attaining the objectives of the French major.

Transfer course work is acceptable, and students are encouraged to participate in study abroad, but the last two courses in the major ordinarily must be completed at The University of Iowa. Transfer work for application to the major is evaluated on an individual basis by the faculty in charge of study abroad.

Upon declaring the major (or later, but before the senior year), students choose an emphasis in one of the following four tracks.

French and Arabic Track

The French and Arabic track is designed for students interested in combining study of the French and Arabic languages with history, politics, and religions of Middle Eastern cultures and with a major in another area, such as comparative studies, political science, geography, or history.

Requirements for the French and Arabic track include the following seven or eight courses (25 s.h.) in addition to the 10 s.h. of foundation course work in French.

Three courses in French language, or literature and culture, taught in French, of which at least one course must be numbered above 009:150
Two or three courses in Arabic language beyond first year (must total 10 s.h.)
Two courses on Middle Eastern cultures (prefix 009), taught in French or English, or approved courses from other departments  

Language Track

The language track is designed for students with an interest in language and translation. Students work in specific areas such as international business, comparative stylistics, and translation.

Requirements for the language track include the following seven courses (21 s.h.) in addition to the 10 s.h. of foundation course work in French. 

All language track students take 009:115 Business French and 009:197 Techniques of Translation. Of the remaining five courses, only one may be taught in English under the French department prefix (009). This restriction does not apply to courses taught in English with an additional semester hour in French. Students must complete at least two courses numbered above 009:150, including the required course 009:197 Techniques of Translation.

Courses in French stylistics and textual analysis, another language, economics, political science, and/or business administration are recommended as adjunct electives.

Literature and Culture Track

The literature and culture track is designed for students who are interested in combining study of French and Francophone literatures and cultures with a major in another area, such as cinema, communication studies, comparative literature, history, international studies, political science, or journalism.

Requirements for the literature and culture track include the following seven courses (21 s.h.) in addition to the 10 s.h. of foundation course work in French. 

Only one of these courses may be taught in English under the French department prefix (009). This restriction does not apply to courses taught in English with an additional semester hour in French. At least two courses must be numbered above 009:150.

Teaching Track

French majors interested in obtaining licensure to teach in elementary and/or secondary schools must successfully complete the requirements for a major in French in the teaching track and must be admitted to the College of Education's foreign language Teacher Education Program (TEP). Several courses in the College of Education are required, as is one semester of student teaching. Contact the Department of Teaching and Learning for details.

Requirements for the teaching track include the following seven courses (21 s.h.) in addition to the 10 s.h. of foundation course work in French. 

Only one of these courses may be taught in English under the French department prefix (009). This restriction does not apply to courses taught in English with an additional semester hour in French. At least two courses must be numbered above 009:150.

Students who plan to use a French minor to teach at the elementary and/or secondary level must contact the College of Education concerning requirements. See College of Education in the Catalog.

Bachelor of Arts in Italian

The B.A. in Italian requires a minimum of 120 s.h., including 31 s.h. of work for the major. Students must complete the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences General Education Program. Requirements for the major are as follows. 

B.A. with Teacher Licensure

French majors seeking licensure to teach in elementary and/or secondary schools should choose the French teaching track. See "Teaching Track" under "Bachelor of Arts in French" above.

Italian majors interested in licensure to teach in elementary and/or secondary schools must successfully complete the requirements for a major in Italian, including an additional 2 s.h. in either 018:013 Everyday Italian I or 018:014 Everyday Italian II, and must be admitted to the College of Education's foreign language Teacher Education Program. Several courses in the College of Education are required, as is one semester of student teaching. Contact the Department of Teaching and Learning for details.

Students who plan to use an Italian minor to teach at the elementary and/or secondary level must contact the College of Education concerning requirements. See College of Education in the Catalog.

Four-Year Graduation Plan

The following checkpoints list the minimum requirements students must complete by certain semesters in order to stay on the University's Four-Year Graduation Plan.

B.A. in French

Before the third semester begins: competence in first-year French and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: second-year Intermediate French II (009:012) and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the seventh semester begins: two semesters of third-year French (009:111 Introduction to Reading and Writing in Literature and 009:112 French Grammar), one or two other courses in the major, and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: 009:106 Oral Expression in French II and three more courses in the major; for students in the French language track, 009:115 Business French and 009:197 Techniques of Translation

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

B.A. in Italian

Before the third semester begins: competence in first-year Italian and at least one-quarter of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the fifth semester begins: competence in second-year Intermediate Italian II (018:012) and at least one-half of the semester hours required for graduation.

Before the seventh semester begins: four courses in the major numbered above 018:103 and at least three-quarters of the semester hours required for graduation

Before the eighth semester begins: a total of at least five courses in the major numbered above 018:103

During the eighth semester: enrollment in all remaining course work in the major, all remaining General Education courses, and a sufficient number of semester hours to graduate

Honors

The department participates in the University of Iowa Honors Program. To gain admission to honors in French or Italian, a student must have a University of Iowa g.p.a. of at least 3.33 and a department g.p.a. of at least 3.50, and must be a member of the University of Iowa Honors Program. Students register for 009:198 Honors Research and Thesis (in French)/018:198 Honors Research and Thesis (in Italian), and one honors-designated course numbered above 009:160 (in French) or 018:103 (in Italian). Students must complete an honors thesis or equivalent (for example, translation, comparative stylistics, cultural studies, or research paper) in French or Italian and must present their work to a faculty committee.

Minor in French

The minor in French requires a minimum of 15 s.h., including 12 s.h. in advanced courses; 9 s.h. of the 12 s.h. in advanced courses must be taken at The University of Iowa. For the minor, courses numbered 009:105 and above are considered advanced. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Credit from the University of Iowa Summer Program in Lyon is counted as University of Iowa credit; 6 s.h. earned in other programs abroad may be applied to the minor. Courses taught in English do not count toward the minor in French.

Minor in Italian

The minor in Italian requires a minimum of 15 s.h., including 12 s.h. in courses numbered 018:105 and above taken at The University of Iowa. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 2.00 in the minor. Course work in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. Students must take 018:132 Images of Modern Italy for 4 s.h. in order to count it toward the minor. All courses for the minor must be taught in Italian.

Language for Nonmajors

Nonmajors who wish to study French and who have a background in the language should take the French Foreign Language Placement Test, offered online through Evaluation and Examination Service. The test helps determine the level at which a student should begin French language study at The University of Iowa.

Students without a background in French should begin with 009:001 Elementary French I.

Students who wish to fulfill the General Education Program foreign language requirement with French can choose from the following sequences.

009:001 Elementary French I, 009:002 Elementary French II, 009:011 Intermediate French I, 009:012 Intermediate French II
009:010 First-Year French Review, 009:011 Intermediate French I, 009:012 Intermediate French II

Nonmajors who wish to study Italian and who have a background in the language should consult with the department before the beginning of classes to determine the level at which they should begin Italian language study at The University of Iowa.

Students without a background in Italian should begin with 018:001 Elementary Italian.

Students who wish to fulfill the General Education Program foreign language requirement with Italian should complete the following course sequence: 018:001 Elementary Italian, 018:002 Elementary Italian II, 018:011 Intermediate Italian, and 018:012 Intermediate Italian II. Students with strong language-learning abilities or background in another romance language can choose the sequence 018:103 Intensive Elementary Italian, 018:011 Intermediate Italian, and 018:012 Intermediate Italian II.

The Department of French and Italian is the administrative home for Arabic language and literature courses. It offers elementary and intermediate Arabic as well as conversational Arabic, for which intermediate Arabic is prerequisite. See "Courses" at the end of this Catalog section.

Students without a background in Arabic should begin with 195:101 Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I.

Students who wish to fulfill the General Education Program foreign language requirement with Arabic should complete the following course sequence: 195:101 Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I, 195:102 Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II, 195:111 Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic I, and 195:112 Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic II.

Study Abroad

Summer Program in France

The department sponsors the University of Iowa Summer Program in Lyon, France. Eligibility for the program requires a good basic knowledge of French (two years of college-level preparation is recommended), but students need not be French majors. Centered in Lyon, the six-week program combines formal class work in language skills, courses in the culture and civilization of France, and visits to points of cultural and historical interest. Students may earn 8-9 s.h. in the program.

Summer Program in Quebec

The department participates in the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC) Summer French Program in Quebec at the Université de Laval. The CIC is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to foster cooperative educational opportunities among the Big Ten universities and the University of Chicago. Affiliated with the Cours d'eté pour non-francophones of the Université de Laval, the program is designed to offer qualified students the opportunity to increase their command of French in a French-speaking environment and to introduce them to the heritage and cultural traditions of a unique and vital segment of North American culture. To participate in the program, students must have taken at least two semesters of French.

Foreign Language House

The French and Italian department maintains close connections with the Maison Française in the International Crossroads Community at Mayflower Residence Hall. Residents initiate cultural and educational programs with the participation of the faculty and other students, providing a unique opportunity to combine living with language learning.

Graduate Programs

The department offers the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy in French.

The faculty's expertise allows for courses in the traditionally recognized historical periods of French literature, various literary genres, and critical theories as well as the francophone literatures of Canada, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean. The department has particular strengths in interdisciplinary studies, notably in the areas of comparative arts, film studies, history, and second language acquisition.

Emphasis on language proficiency, composition, and stylistics remains integral to the M.A. program. Along with the literature-centered M.A., the department offers an M.A. in French education.

For more detailed information on graduate degrees in French, contact the Department of French and Italian or visit its web site. The department also publishes the Guide for Graduate Students and Assistants.

Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in French requires a minimum of 30 s.h. of graduate credit and is offered with or without thesis.

Thesis students may earn up to 6 s.h. of the required 30 s.h. for thesis work. They must take a written and oral examination on their areas of study and must defend their thesis at the time of the comprehensive examination. A thesis prospectus must be accepted one year before the student defends the thesis.

Nonthesis students must pass a written and oral examination. With permission of the director of graduate studies and the department chair, nonthesis students may take up to 6 s.h. of the required 30 s.h. outside the department or transfer up to 6 s.h. of course work taken at another institution.

All M.A. students must complete the following course work. 

M.A. with French Education Emphasis

The Master of Arts with French education emphasis requires a minimum of 38 s.h. of graduate credit in French. The program is intended primarily for prospective secondary school and junior college teachers. Candidates must pass a final written and oral examination.

All M.A. in French education students must complete the following course work. 

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy in French requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit, including credit earned for the M.A. The program is designed to prepare students for research, teaching, and professional service normally required of college and university faculty members.

The Ph.D. takes at least three years of graduate study, including at least one year spent in residence at The University of Iowa. Students must pass a comprehensive examination and make a successful oral defense of their dissertation.

Requirements include the following.

Ph.D. students must possess fifth-semester or equivalent proficiency in a foreign language other than French.

Students working toward the Ph.D. are required to spend at least one year teaching as graduate assistants in the department.

Admission

Applicants to the M.A. program in French must have completed the equivalent of The University of Iowa undergraduate major in French. The M.A. in French is prerequisite to admission to the Ph.D. program in French. Successful completion of the M.A. program, however, does not necessarily qualify a student for doctoral study.

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College; see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog.

Applicants for fall semester whose application materials are received in the department by January 15 have the best chance to be admitted and receive financial aid. They must submit academic transcripts, letters of recommendation from three persons familiar with their past academic work, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test results, a statement of purpose in taking graduate work, and one or more samples of original writing, one of which should be in French, that show their ability to pursue graduate work in French (an honors thesis, term paper, seminar paper, or other course papers).

Financial Support

Teaching and research assistantships are offered through the department, and University fellowships and scholarships are available through the Graduate College. Contact the Department of French and Italian for details.

Teaching assistants in the department must take 009:234 Principles of Teaching and Learning Foreign Languages.

Exchange assistantship agreements with the University of Pau, the University of Picardie (Amiens), and the University of Poitiers provide one year of residence in France for a limited number of graduate students.