The French program at UW–Madison offers students opportunities for cultural and literary learning about the French-speaking world through dynamic, in-class experiences and extracurricular components such as the French Club, Pi Delta Phi (the National French Honor Society), the French House (an immersion residence hall and cultural center), and with French and Francophone cultural events in and around Madison.
Students intending to major in French or complete the French certificate enter the program at the appropriate level depending on their language proficiency. If you have previous experience in the French language, please refer to Testing and Evaluation Services to register for the placement test.
The majority of UW–Madison French major or certificate students complete their requirements through a combination of courses taken on campus and abroad with a UW–Madison-sponsored program.
Students have the option to take a class for Honors at almost all levels. For more information, please see the department website and/or consult the undergraduate advisor.
For courses in French literature in translation, see the Literature in Translation course listing.
How to Get in
| Requirements | Details |
|---|---|
| How to get in | No application required. All students who meet the requirements listed below are eligible to declare. For information on how to declare, visit Advising & Careers. |
| Courses required to get in | None |
| GPA requirements to get in | None |
| Credits required to get in | None |
| Other | None |
Students declared in the French certificate may not be declared in the French major at the same time. French certificate students who want to switch to the French major, must cancel their French certificate.
University Requirements
All undergraduate students must complete both the following Core General Education (Core GenEd) and University Degree and Quality of Work requirements. The requirements below apply to students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution is Summer 2026 or later.
Students whose first term at UW-Madison or whose earliest post-high school college attendance at any institution occurred before Summer 2026 should refer to the archived Guide for the requirements that apply to them.
Core General Education (Core GenEd) Requirements
| Civics & Perspectives | 3 credits of Civics & Perspectives coursework. |
| Communication & Literacy | 6 credits of Communication & Literacy coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingenglishplacement |
| Humanities & Arts | 6 credits of Humanities & Arts coursework. |
| Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning | 6 credits of Mathematics & Quantitative Reasoning coursework. This requirement may be partially satisfied by a qualifying placement test score. For more information see this tiny url: https://go.wisc.edu/qualifyingmathplacement |
| Natural Science & Wellness | Complete both:
|
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 credits of Social & Behavioral Science coursework. |
| Total Credits | 30 credits. |
For more information see the policy.
University Degree and Quality of Work Requirements
All undergraduate degree recipients must complete the following minimum requirements. Requirements for some programs will exceed these requirements; see program requirements for additional information.
| Total Degree | 120 degree credits. |
| Residency | Complete 30 credits in residence. A course is considered “in residence” if it is taken when in undergraduate degree-seeking status and:
|
| Quality of Work | Achieve at least the minimum grade point average specified by the school, college, and/or academic program. |
| Math | Demonstrate minimal mathematics competence by: |
| English Language | If required to take the UW-Madison English as a Second Language Assessment Test (MSN-ESLAT), demonstrate minimal English language competence by:
|
| Language | Complete one:
|
| Major Declaration | Declare and complete the requirements for at least one major. |
College of Letters & Science Degree Requirements: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Letters & Science must complete all of the requirements below. Some courses satisfy more than one L&S degree requirement (visit College of Letters & Science: Requirements for details).
This major can be paired with either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements
| Communication | Complete both:
|
| Quantitative Reasoning | Complete both:
|
| Ethnic Studies | one 3+ credit course with the Ethnic Studies designation |
| Language | Complete either:
|
| L&S Breadth: Humanities | Complete 12 credits with the Humanities or Literature designation, which must include at least 6 credits with the Literature designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Social Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Social Science designation. |
| L&S Breadth: Natural Sciences | Complete 12 credits with the Natural Science, Biological Science, or Physical Science designations, which must include both:
|
| Liberal Arts and Science (LAS) Coursework | at least 108 credits |
| Depth of Intermediate/Advanced work | at least 60 credits at the Intermediate or Advanced level |
| Major | Declare and complete at least one major. |
| Total Credits | at least 120 credits |
| UW-Madison Experience |
|
| Quality of Work |
|
Non–L&S students pursuing an L&S major
Non–L&S students who have permission from their School/College to pursue an additional major within L&S only need to fulfill the major requirements. They do not need to complete the L&S Degree Requirements above.
Requirements for the Major
Students pursuing a French major must complete 27 credits beyond FRENCH 204 or FRENCH 205. Only one course taught in English can count towards the French Major.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| Complete three courses from: | 9 | |
| Intermediate Language and Culture | ||
| Literature, Comics, and Film in French | ||
| Medieval and Early Modern French Literature 1 | ||
or FRENCH 322 | Modern French and Francophone Literature | |
or FRENCH 347 | Knights, Priests and Peasants: France 800-1789 | |
or FRENCH 348 | Modernity Studies | |
or FRENCH 361 | Study Abroad: French/Francophone Literature | |
or FRENCH 362 | Study Abroad: French/Francophone Civilization | |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Complete additional courses to reach 27 total credits from: | 18 | |
| French Literary and Interdisciplinary Studies | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Francophone Topics | ||
| Ethnic Studies in the French/Francophone World(s) | ||
| Exploring Paris | ||
| Exploring Montreal and Quebec | ||
| Rebellious Women from the Global South | ||
| Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Practical French Conversation | ||
| Practical French Conversation | ||
| Advanced Composition and Speaking | ||
| Advanced Writing Workshop | ||
| Professional Communication and Culture in the Francophone World | ||
| Contemporary Issues in Business, Government and NGOs | ||
| Study Abroad: Advanced French Language 1 | ||
| Medieval and Early Modern French Literature | ||
| Modern French and Francophone Literature | ||
| Visual Culture in French/Francophone Studies | ||
| French Fashion and Literature from the Middle Ages to Today | ||
| Knights, Priests and Peasants: France 800-1789 | ||
| Modernity Studies | ||
| Study Abroad: French/Francophone Literature 1 | ||
| Study Abroad: French/Francophone Civilization 1 | ||
| Study Abroad: French Topics 1 | ||
| Readings in Medieval and Renaissance Literature | ||
| Readings in Early Modern Literature | ||
| African/Francophone Film | ||
| French/Francophone Literary Studies Across the Centuries | ||
| French/Francophone Cultural Studies Across the Centuries | ||
| Literature and Medicine in French-Speaking Cultures | ||
| French/Francophone Film | ||
| Aspects of Contemporary French Literature | ||
| Critical Approaches to Literature and Culture: French and Francophone Perspectives | ||
| Introduction to Phonetics | ||
| Topics in Literature and Culture | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis | ||
| Senior Honors Thesis | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Thesis | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Directed Study | ||
| Topics in French Literature and Culture | ||
| Masterpieces of French Literature and Culture | ||
| Literature in Translation: Nineteenth-Century French Masterpieces | ||
| What is Life? Biological Life in Literature and Culture | ||
| Topics in French Literature and Culture | ||
| Total Credits | 27 | |
Limit on Courses Taught in English
Students may count a maximum of one course taught in English toward the French major.
Courses Taught in English
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FRENCH 211 | French Literary and Interdisciplinary Studies | 3-4 |
| FRENCH/AFRICAN 216 | Modern and Contemporary Francophone Topics | 3 |
| FRENCH 248 | Ethnic Studies in the French/Francophone World(s) | 3 |
| FRENCH 280 | Exploring Paris | 3 |
| FRENCH 281 | Exploring Montreal and Quebec | 3 |
| FRENCH/GEN&WS 285 | Rebellious Women from the Global South | 3-4 |
| FRENCH 288 | Doctors without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) | 3 |
| FRENCH 345 | French Fashion and Literature from the Middle Ages to Today | 3 |
| FRENCH/AFRICAN 440 | African/Francophone Film | 3 |
| LITTRANS 103 | Topics in French Literature and Culture | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 209 | Masterpieces of French Literature and Culture | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 249 | Literature in Translation: Nineteenth-Century French Masterpieces | 3 |
| LITTRANS 302 | What is Life? Biological Life in Literature and Culture | 3-4 |
| LITTRANS 303 | Topics in French Literature and Culture | 3-4 |
Residence and Quality of Work
- 2.000 GPA in all FRENCH and major courses
- 2.000 GPA on at least 15 credits of upper-level work in the major, taken in residence: (French 300 and higher are considered upper-level in the major)
- 15 credits in FRENCH taken on campus at UW–Madison
- French Majors are not required to take a 400 level or higher course, though it's strongly encouraged.
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with a French undergraduate advisor.
Honors in the Major Requirements
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major (above) and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.500 GPA for all FRENCH courses and all courses counting in the major
- Complete at least 8 credits, taken for Honors, beyond FRENCH 2712
- Complete a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in FRENCH 681 and FRENCH 682, for a total of 6 credits3
Footnotes
- 1
FRENCH 316, FRENCH 361, FRENCH 362 and FRENCH 420 are only available to students participating in a study abroad program.
- 2
Study abroad in France or in another French-speaking country is highly recommended, and the 8 credits taken for Honors can be fulfilled through French courses taken abroad at the appropriate level.
- 3
In certain circumstances (particularly when the student is an Honors candidate in two or more departments), two courses in literature or cultural studies numbered 500-699 may be substituted for the Senior Honors Thesis.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate that they understand and can analyze literary and non-literary texts in French representing a broad spectrum of topics, time periods, and geographical regions (interpretive communication).
- Express themselves effectively in spoken and written French to inform, persuade, and narrate for different audiences of listeners, viewers, or readers (presentational communication).
- Express themselves effectively in spoken and written French to share information, reactions, and opinions related to a broad spectrum of topics and texts (interpersonal communication).
- Recognize and explain cultural artifacts, practices, and perspectives of the French-speaking world including how these cultural elements relate to literary and non-literary texts in French (cultural knowledge).
- Demonstrate a good degree of understanding of lexical, grammatical, syntactic, and stylistic features of the French language (linguistic knowledge).
- Demonstrate awareness of difference and diversity by comparing and contrasting culturally situated beliefs, behaviors, and norms of the French-speaking world with those found in their own culture (cross-cultural awareness).
- Engage in a sustained fashion with the French language, its users, and cultural artifacts in and beyond the classroom, e.g., in their own community, virtual communities, and study abroad (engagement with the French language and culture).
Four-Year Plan
This Four-Year Plan is only one way a student may complete an L&S degree with this major. Many factors can affect student degree planning, including placement scores, credit for transferred courses, credits earned by examination, and individual scholarly interests. In addition, many students have commitments (e.g., athletics, honors, research, student organizations, study abroad, work and volunteer experiences) that necessitate they adjust their plans accordingly. Informed students engage in their own unique Wisconsin Experience by consulting their academic advisors, Guide, DARS, and Course Search & Enroll for assistance making and adjusting their plan.
| Freshman | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FRENCH 203 | 4 | FRENCH 204 | 4 |
| Communication A | 3 | Social Science Breadth | 4 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Biological Science Breadth | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning A | 3 | Ethnic Studies | 3 |
| Electives | 3 | ||
| 16 | 14 | ||
| Sophomore | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FRENCH 228 | 3 | FRENCH 281 | 3 |
| Quantitative Reasoning B | 4 | FRENCH 311 | 3 |
| Social Science Breadth | 3 | Communication B | 4 |
| Electives | 3 | Physical Science Breadth | 3 |
| INTER-LS 210 | 1 | Social Science Breadth | 3 |
| 14 | 16 | ||
| Junior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FRENCH 271 | 3 | FRENCH 321 | 3 |
| FRENCH/INTL BUS 313 | 3 | FRENCH 348 | 3 |
| Science Breadth | 3 | Science Breadth | 3 |
| Electives | 6 | Electives | 6 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Senior | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| FRENCH 322 | 3 | FRENCH 465 | 3 |
| FRENCH 590 | 3 | FRENCH 347 | 3 |
| Electives | 9 | Electives | 9 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Total Credits 120 | |||
Advising and Careers
Declare or Cancel This Major
Please follow the process described on the French & Italian webpage.
For information about academic advising including language proficiency, language placement, and retrocredits, please visit our website or schedule an appointment with the undergraduate advisor.
Study Abroad
Learning in Letters & Science emphasizes discovery, growth, understanding different perspectives, and challenging yourself, which makes studying abroad an excellent fit for many L&S students: studyabroad.wisc.edu
As a university with global influence, we have more than 300 study abroad programs in over 80 countries. These vary in length, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and level of independence. There are many programs to complement every major and any year of college (including the final semester)—and all meet UW–Madison’s high academic standards. Students admitted into Letters & Science can even choose a short program in the summer before they start college or their whole first year: studyabroad.wisc.edu/launch. Talk with your academic advisor about how studying abroad might fit with your academic plan.
SuccessWorks
SuccessWorks at the College of Letters & Science helps you turn the academic skills learned in your classes into a fulfilling life, guiding you every step of the way to securing jobs, internships, or admission to graduate school.
Through one-on-one career advising, events, and resources, you can explore career options, build valuable internship and research experience, and connect with supportive alumni and employers who open doors of opportunity.
- What you can do with your major (Major Skills & Outcomes Sheets)
- Make a career advising appointment
- Learn about internships and internship funding
- Try “Jobs, Internships, & How to Get Them,” an interactive guide in Canvas for enrolled UW–Madison students
Resources and Scholarships
French House
La Maison Française, a francophone (French-speaking) residence hall and cultural center, is managed by the Department of French and Italian under the direction of Anne Theobald, PhD. Residence is open to UW–Madison students with the equivalent of a fourth-semester level of French. At least two native French graduate students reside in the house, aiding in conversation and facilitating the use of French. Most residents are Americans: prospective teachers of French, French majors, and students in other disciplines who want to speak French on a daily basis. Applications should be made well in advance.
The French House is open to the public for Wednesday dinner and Friday lunch during the academic year.
Clubs and Activities
The French Club is a registered student organization run by students involved in the French program and open to any and all UW–Madison community members who have an interest in French language and culture. Club members are encouraged to organize and participate in cultural events on campus and in the community. Undergraduates are welcome at scholarly talks and department events on an array of subjects (see department website and the French House website for event details).
Pi Delta Phi is for college and university undergraduate and graduate students. Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1906, Pi Delta Phi is the oldest national academic honor society for a foreign language in the United States. The aims of the Society are to recognize outstanding scholarship in the French language and Francophone literatures, to increase the knowledge and appreciation of Americans for the cultural contributions of the French-speaking world, and to encourage and to stimulate French and francophone cultural activities. There are currently more than 400 chapters and over 75,000 members across the United States. The Pi Delta Phi chapter at UW–Madison, Rho Zeta, was founded by Mandi Schoville, MFS and Anne Theobald, PhD in spring 2023 with the first cohort initiated in spring 2024. Students participate in activities and chapter events throughout the academic year. In order to be eligible for undergraduate nomination, UW–Madison undergraduate students must be sophomores, must have completed at least one semester of a 300-level or higher course in French, have a current minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 and minimum French subject GPA of 3.300. A completed membership form and one-time dues for a lifetime membership are required for admission, for which students receive the Pi Delta Phi pin, certificate, and one set of graduation honor cords in blue, white, and red.