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Program Requirements (French)

2024-2025 Academic Year

Chair
Alexandra Tsedryk, BA, BEd (Minsk State University), MA (Western), PhD (Dalhousie), Associate Professor

French may be taken as a major with honours, as a major or combined major in a degree program of 20.0 units, as a concentration, minor or as an elective at any level consistent with advanced standing and/or permission of the Modern Languages Department.

Admission Requirements

Review sections 2.1.4 Admission Requirements and 2.1.6 Additional Admission Requirements.

Placement Test

The French placement test is recommended for all new students in French, in particular for those who are not sure which course(s) would be appropriate to their needs. French faculty will be available to give advice. Students transferring from other universities should consult the Modern Languages Department. Students interested in writing the Placement Test should contact languagelab@msvu.ca.

The Department of Modern Languages does not accept Challenge for Credit.

Students may count courses from a major, concentration and/or minor towards a second major, concentration and/or minor; however, students must complete a minimum of 50 percent of unique courses toward the second major, concentration and/or minor, unless otherwise stated in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.

Certificates of Proficiency in French

Certificate of Proficiency in French

The program leading to the award of the Certificate of Proficiency in French is designed to provide university students who are not specializing in French with an opportunity to follow a co-ordinated program of French as a second language. All courses for the certificate are degree courses. Thus, students in a degree program which may include French courses can credit these courses both towards their degree and towards the Certificate of Proficiency in French. However, students are not required to enrol for a degree in order to follow the certificate program. To be accepted in the program, candidates must meet university entrance requirements.

Each student entering the certificate program must declare in writing their intention to pursue the certificate to the Department of Modern Languages.

❏ The certificate will be awarded upon completion of a comprehensive examination of the candidate in the skills of oral comprehension, oral expression, reading and writing.

❏ A grade inferior to C- on any one of those skills will mean that the certificate will not be awarded.

❏ In order to sit for the comprehensive examination, each candidate must have completed:

3.0 units of FREN, 2.0 units of which must be at the 2000 level or above
obtain an average GPA of 2.7 for those FREN courses in order to be eligible to sit for the comprehensive examination
a maximum of 1.0 unit may be transferred from another institution for credits towards the Certificate of Proficiency in French. Such a transfer is granted by the Registrar’s Office upon the recommendation of the Department of Modern Languages.

❏ The comprehensive examination for the certificate will be held annually during the April examination period. Application for this examination must be made before January 16 of the same year.

❏ Students must sit for the comprehensive examination within two years of completing the course requirements. Students who fail the comprehensive examination on their first attempt will be allowed to sit again the following year.

❏ The certificate will be awarded by the University through the Senate.

Advanced Certificate of Proficiency in French

The program leading to the award of the Advanced Certificate of Proficiency in French is designed to provide university students who are not specializing in French with an opportunity to follow a co-ordinated program of French as a second language. All courses for the certificate are degree courses. Thus, students in a degree program which may include French courses can credit these courses both towards their degree and towards the Advanced Certificate of Proficiency in French. However, students are not required to enrol for a degree in order to follow the certificate program. To be accepted in the program, candidates must meet university entrance requirements and departmental requirements for admission to FREN 2214. Students who have not attained this standard must first take appropriate means to reach the required level.

Each student entering the certificate program must declare their intention in writing to pursue the certificate to the Department of Modern Languages.

❏ The certificate will be awarded upon completion of a comprehensive examination of the candidate in the skills of oral comprehension, oral expression, reading and writing.

❏ A grade inferior to C- on any one of those skills will mean that the certificate will not be awarded.

❏ In order to sit for the comprehensive examination, each candidate must have completed the following courses:

FREN 2214, 2215, 3314, 3315, 3324 and 3325
obtain a minimum GPA of 2.7 in each of these courses in order to be eligible to sit for the comprehensive examination
A maximum of 1.0 unit, granted at the 2000 level, may be transferred from another program of French, within or outside Mount Saint Vincent University, for credits towards the Advanced Certificate of Proficiency in French. Such a transfer is granted by the Registrar’s Office upon the recommendation of the department of Modern Languages.

❏ The comprehensive examination for the certificate will be held annually during the April examination period. Application for this examination must be made before January 16 of the same year.

❏ The certificate will be awarded by the University through the Senate.

Levels of Proficiency

The level of proficiency reached by the candidate will be recorded in each to the four language skills (oral comprehension, oral expression, reading and writing) as follows:

Level A: a GPA of 3.7 or above—Excellent
Level B: a GPA between 2.7 and 3.3—Good
Level C: a GPA between 1.7 and 2.3—Satisfactory

Students who achieve Level A proficiency in all four language skills will be awarded the Advanced Certificate of Proficiency in French with distinction.

The comprehensive examination can be credited only to the Advanced Certificate of Proficiency in French. It cannot be used to fulfill requirements for any other university course or program.

Pathway to Education for MSVU French Major Students

The Faculty of Education will guarantee entry into the BEd program for students who successfully complete the French major program at MSVU with a GPA of 3.2 or above and fulfil all other requirements for admission to the BEd program. Students may choose this pathway to Education as soon as they declare their major in French. This pathway to Education will involve monitoring/mentoring the students while they complete their major.

Major

Students intending to complete the major degree must declare their intention to do so before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:

❏ a minimum of 8.0 and a maximum of 10.0 units in FREN above the 1000 level as follows:

FREN 2214, 2215, 2253, 2254, 3314, 3315
complete a French literature course at the 3000 level or above
4.0 units must be at the 3000 level or above
a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 8.0 units of FREN

❏ a minor (normally in English or Spanish) consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department offering the minor. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units

❏ students may choose a second 3.0 unit minor in any area that offers a minor

❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (exclusive of the major):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above

❏ Note: No more than 4.0 units from professional areas may be counted toward the degree. Courses included in the Applied Human Nutrition science minor will not be counted as professional electives.

Special Studies: Students may count a maximum of 4.0 units of directed/independent/research studies courses towards the degree, with no more than 2.0 units in any single discipline.

Major Certificate

Students who have graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Arts General Studies degree may apply to do a major certificate. Students must fulfill the requirements for the major degree listed above.

Major in French With a Year in France

Eligibility

Students must have completed 5.0 to 10.0 units at Mount Saint Vincent University, must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and must have completed FREN 2214/2215 and FREN 2253/2254. They must be approved by the department and must have their parents’ permission or be of legal age.

Application

Apply to the Department of Modern Languages before the end of December of the year preceding departure for France.

Cost

Consult the department coordinator.

Documentation

Documentation necessary to secure French student visa authorization is provided only to students who complete the pre-departure orientation sessions.

The Program

Prerequisites: FREN 2214, 2215, 2253, 2254: normally, only students in the Bachelor of Arts major program are eligible.
Year in France (September to June): normally after completion of 10.0 units of coursework at Mount Saint Vincent University.
Letter of Permission forms must be pre-approved prior to study abroad, determining the amount and level of academic credit that will be transferred from the Host University. Any further changes of courses must have departmental approval in order to be credited.

Academic credit (up to 5.0 units) achieved while studying abroad is considered to be external credit for the purpose of meeting Minimum Institutional Credit Requirement for Mount Saint Vincent University.

Students must complete all remaining requirements for attainment of Major in French upon return from study abroad.

Combined Major

The combined major degree is intended for those students who wish to gain in-depth knowledge of two disciplines. Students must declare a major or combined major before registering for their sixth unit of coursework. Students who do not make this declaration within this time frame will not be permitted to register for further coursework.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units. In order to complete a combined major in French, the following requirements must be met:

❏ a minimum of 6.0 units and a maximum of 8.0 units in the French combined major as follows:

FREN 2214, 2215, 2253, 2254, 3314, 3315
1.0 unit of French Literature or Civilization selected from FREN 3307, 3310, 3312, 3313, 3317, 3318, 3319, 3321, 3322, 3397, 3398,
2.0 additional units of FREN

❏ a second combined major specified by another program (Biology, Canadian Studies, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Economics, English, Family Studies, Gerontology, History, Mathematics, Political Studies, Psychology, Sociology/Anthropology, Women’s Studies)

❏ a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 in the required 6.0 units of each combined major

❏ at least 5.0 units of the 12.0 units overall required for the combined majors must be at the 3000 level or above

❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (inclusive of the majors):

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ at least 9.0 units of the total 20.0 units must be at the 2000 level or above

Students wishing to combine an arts major and a science major (e.g. Chemistry and English or Biology and Political Studies):

❏ must meet all of the requirements listed above

and

♦ to complete a BSc (Combined Major) primary science
discipline plus secondary arts discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in science disciplines

♦ to complete a BA (Combined Major) primary arts discipline
plus secondary science discipline

must complete a minimum 12.0 units of the total 20.0 units in arts disciplines

Honours Degree

Students intending to take an honours degree in French must apply in writing to the Department Chair. Applications may be made after the completion of 10.0 units of study.

Students must write an honours essay in French on a topic approved by the Department of Modern Languages, and must submit it by mid-March and present it in an Honours colloquium during the year of graduation.

The Mount also offers a limited enrollment internship option.

Students must successfully complete 20.0 units with the following requirements:

❏ a minimum of 10.0 and a maximum of 12.0 units in FREN above the 1000 level as follows:

FREN 4498
3.5 additional units of FREN must be at the 2000 level or above
6.0 additional units of FREN must be at the 3000 level or above
spend at least one term (four months) in a French-speaking environment

❏ a minor (normally in English or Spanish) consisting of 3.0 units as specified by the department. Students must achieve a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required 3.0 units

❏ 1.0 unit from each core group A, B, and C listed under the Bachelor of Arts (General Studies) (exclusive of the honours subject)

Core A – Sciences & Mathematics (1.0 unit)
Core B – Social Sciences (1.0 unit)
Core C – Humanities (1.0 unit)

❏ obtain a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a grade of at least C- in 10.0 units of the required FREN honours courses

❏ achieve a minimum of B- in the honours thesis

❏ obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken

Note: First-class honours will be awarded to students who maintain a GPA of 3.5 or better in 10.0 units in the honours subject and no grade below B- in all courses counted for the degree beyond the first 5.0 units taken.

Concentration

To obtain a concentration in French, students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ FREN 2214, 2215, 2253 and 2254

❏ 1.0 unit of FREN at the 2000 level or above*

❏ 1.0 unit of which must be at the 3000 level or above

*To attain an acceptable level in French and be able to teach in this language, students are encouraged to complete this requirement at the 3000-level courses.

Professional Concentration in French

Public Relations, Tourism and Hospitality Management and Business Administration students have the opportunity to pursue a concentration in French. Students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ 3.0 units of French language courses (excluding FREN 1101 and 1102)

Minor

To obtain a minor in French, students must fulfill the following requirements:

❏ 3.0 units of FREN

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2024-2025 academic year which runs from September 01, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.