French BA/French Adolescence Education EdM - Academic Experience

In addition to Independent Studies, Research Assistantships, and in select cases the option to take graduate courses for undergraduate credit, there are many opportunities for extracurricular enrichment activities through the department, including a conversation table, lectures, film screenings, and the French club. The Melodia E. Jones Chair in French also supports cultural activities such as films, theatre excursions, lectures and conferences. Information on events and on the French club can be found on the Romance Languages and Literatures department website.

During the 2018-19 academic year, students from all three RLL major programs earned credits through new experiential learning opportunities by tutoring international refugees or young Puerto Rican students displaced by Hurricane Maria. These experiences fostered gains in linguistic mastery as well as in cultural awareness as students discovered the relevance of their own training for civic and social service.

Students are strongly encouraged to study in French-speaking countries, ideally for an academic year or a semester. Study abroad programs sponsored by SUNY campuses, such as those in France, Quebec, Senegal, and Switzerland, are open to UB French students. Credits earned on those programs can transfer to UB. Detailed information is available on the Study Abroad website. Majors and minors may complete up to half their required French courses and can satisfy general education requirements as well, via approved study abroad programs. The Department requires a mandatory pre-departure advisement session with a French faculty advisor to determine what courses will count toward the major, as well as a follow-up advisement session after the student returns. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the department offers scholarships to help students finance their study abroad.

There are many opportunities to participate in out-of-class enrichment activities through the department, including a conversation table, lectures, film screenings and the French club. The Melodia E. Jones Chair in French also supports cultural activities such as films, theatre excursions, lectures, and conferences. Information on events and on the French club can be found on the Romance Languages and Literatures department website.

Membership in the UB chapter of the national French honor society Pi Delta Phi is open to students of high academic attainment.