The French Studies program offers students a thorough training in the language and culture of the more than 100 million people who live in France and the other Francophone areas of the world. In the process, students become aware of vital and influential traditions in Francophone literature and the arts that span more than a thousand years and a language of importance for politics, international diplomacy, science, technology, medicine, and business.

Class Offerings: Fall 2002

The institutions within the South Dakota Regential System are committed to preparing students to function in a multicultural world. French Studies recognizes the need to provide today's students with a much broader education in French than that afforded by traditional programs that focus primarily on the language and literature. As a consequence, the French Studies program at USD offers courses in French Film, Francophone Culture, and Business French as well as in translation and literature. For the same reason, French Studies includes in its scope the French-speaking world as a whole. Although it emphasizes France, the program also provides an introduction to the other French-speaking countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America.As such, the French Studies program offers graduates a wide variety of educational and employment possibilities. It prepares them for careers in government service, in print and electronic journalism, and in language-related professions such as translating and interpreting. It also enables them to enter the teaching profession and to pursue advanced study in French at the masters and doctoral levels. With supplemental work in areas such as political science, law, or management, graduates of the program could embark on careers in international affairs, law, and business.The most important resource available to students of French at USD is the Language Lab, 310 Slagle Hall. In it, students will find the entire video tape program of French in Action, which is used in first- and second-year courses, as well as a television monitor they can use for video tapes or for watching foreign broadcasts via satellite. There are also a number of computers available for student use. These come equipped with a French-language word processor (Système D), grammar and vocabulary software, Netscape Navigator for browsing the Internet, and access to USD's backbone for sending and reading e-mail. Finally, there are a variety of dictionaries available for student use.Students enrolled in French at USD may qualify for one of two scholarships. The Constance Hampl Scholarship was established thanks to the bequest of one of the Department's most dedicated teachers. It is given annually to outstanding French majors with at least two semesters of work in the Department. Recipients must have at least a 3.0 grade point average in French and a 3.0 average overall and must enroll in at least one French course during the semester for which the award is given. This award may also be used while participating in the USD exchange program with the Université d'Orléans in Orléans, France. The Alexander P. Hartman Scholarship is named after a professor and former chair of Modern Languages who retired after thirty-nine years at USD. Annual awards are made to French and Spanish majors who have demonstrated an interest in advanced levels of study in either language.