Bachelor of Arts [B.A] [French] From Oglethorpe University

The bachelor in French at Oglethorpe University - International Study Centre is informed by “the five C’s”: communication, culture, connections, comparisons, and communities.

As a French student, not only will you acquire fluency in one of the world’s most beautiful languages, you’ll also develop a deep understanding of Francophone politics, history, and art. You’ll explore the complex and interesting cultures that make up the French-speaking world: spanning the globe from Belgium and Switzerland, to the Francophone nations found in Africa and the Caribbean, to French-Canadian Québec. (And of course, France!)

The curriculum includes courses on:

• French conversation and composition
• French lyric and literary prose
• French language, literature, and culture
• Electives such as Franco-American relations in trade and culture; great French actresses and their film roles; and the 19th century French realist novel

Another unique aspect of Oglethorpe’s curriculum: a course that explores the French and Spanish crossroads in the Caribbean and Africa, delving into the relationships between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Martinique and Cuba, Equatorial Guinea and Senegal, and other pairings. The course brings together literary, cultural, and social exploration with service learning – students conduct interviews with people from these nations, while broadening their understanding of the literature. The course is taught in English, making it more accessible to the OU community as a whole.

Life After Oglethorpe

You’ve traveled abroad (with your dog-eared French dictionary by your side). You’ve completed your coursework and earned your degree. Where will you go next?

• As a French graduate, you can draw on your diverse knowledge, your interdisciplinary background, and your skills in communication and critical thinking to find work in a wide variety of fields. Think museums, libraries, nonprofit organizations, the corporate world, and more. Many French graduates also go on to teach French, or become educators in another field.

• Build on your degree in French by pursuing a graduate degree in French language, literature, or cultural studies, international studies, business, or law, to further expand your career opportunities and level up your resume.

• Previous OU French grads are furthering their educations, studying for a Ph.D. in Religious Studies at Emory University; or earning a Master in Literary Translation Studies at the University of Rochester. Others are rocking their multilingual abilities, teaching English in French lycées through a program offered by the French government. One graduate is working at a theme park in France. Still others are working in finance, health care, and the arts.

• Many French students also choose to complete a double major during their time at Oglethorpe, further expanding their career options with a complimentary focus on business, literature, art history, and more.