The French Major: Connecting Cultures
French and Francophone cultures have influenced the formation of European, American, African and Caribbean thought and society in crucial ways. The French major situates students at the intersection of these cultures through exploration of their diverse literary, linguistic, social and philosophical traditions. The larger goal of the major is to prepare students to live and work in a global environment in which expert knowledge of other languages and cultures has become an indispensable tool for success. The division of French and Italian offers a major and a minor in French.
The division of French and Italian also offers a joint degree in Foreign Language and International Economics (FLIE) with a focus on Francophone cultures. The FLIE program builds the foundation for a career in international business, international law, foreign relations and diplomacy. For more information about the FLIE-French program visit http://www.uky.edu/AS/FLIE/.
What skills does studying French develop?
- the ability to communicate clearly and correctly in spoken and written French
- effectively present an analysis of literary texts and cultural and linguistic phenomena in written and spoken form
- synthesize and put to use the conceptual issues explored in major coursework
- bilingual and bicultural competence
Undergraduate education requirements
http://www.as.uky.edu/French/undergraduate/index.html
Graduate education requirements
http://www.as.uky.edu/French/graduate/index.html
Career Opportunities
With a firm foundation in the liberal arts tradition, the French major prepares students for employment in a variety of professions in the United States and abroad. Students may pursue careers in education, government, law, social services, the arts, tourism, publishing and non-profit organizations. French majors may also choose to continue their education with an advanced degree in area studies, business, diplomacy or law. Occupations include but are not limited to the following:
- customs/immigration officer
- import/export specialist
- foreign news correspondent
- international relations
- foreign service officer
- government administrator
- museum curator/art gallery director
- refugee/immigrant assistance
- historic preservation
- sales and marketing
- teacher/professor
- translator/interpreter
- tourism and travel
- speech pathologist
- publishing specialist
- writer
- political analyst
- missionary
- non-profit organizations
For more information about careers, go to the following:
Union College, ‘Career Opportunities’
http://www.union.edu/PUBLIC/MOLNDEPT/French/careers.html
Transitions Abroad
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/
VistaWide: World Languages and Cultures
http://www.vistawide.com/careers/language_major.htm
Language Jobs, Language Recruitment- Top Language Jobs
http://www.toplanguagejobs.co.uk/
International Job Opportunities: The Riley Guide
http://www.rileyguide.com/internat.html
For more information about career opportunities, contact career counselor Nicole Keenan at nicole.keenan@uky.edu or (859) 257-4023.