More than 220 million people on five continents speak French, making it the second most widely learned foreign language after English. If you’re interested in the visual arts, travel, or the global job market, studying French and French culture may be for you.
Benefits
French is a primary language in parts of Western Europe, North and West Africa, the Caribbean, and Quebec. French is also an official language used in many international organizations including the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
If you’re interested in international relief work, international business, or international political affairs, French is an ideal language for you to study at Seattle Pacific University.
Career opportunities
- Art History
- Diplomacy
- Foreign service
- Health care
- Interpretation / translation
- Localization
- Missions
- NGO work
- Teaching
- Travel industry
Course and degree requirements
The major and minor in French and Francophone Studies both offer an opportunity to study not only the French language, but also the broader Francophone world: nations, regions, and people who use French as their primary language for business, government, or education.
This major is a good option if you are considering a double major, pairing this major with Art History, English, Global Development Studies, Theology, Nursing, Business, History, Linguistics and Cultural Studies, Political Science, or Communication.
The French and Francophone Studies major also includes a Study Abroad requirement, a senior paper, and, prior to graduation, an oral proficiency interview conducted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Entering the Major or Minor
You may enter the major or minor during your first quarter at SPU. Entrance after your first quarter requires only good academic standing (2.0 or higher SPU cumulative GPA). Consult the undergraduate catalog
for complete information on how and when to enter and what you must do to complete the program.