Welcome to the French and Francophone Studies Program!

The French and Francophone Studies program at the University of Tennessee has been growing rapidly over the last few years, both in the quantity and quality of our students. We are especially proud of the high achievement of our undergraduate majors, as evidenced by their top scores in the senior exit exam (Major Field Assessment) required by the University.

Many of our students travel abroad, either during the summer with our program in Paris, or by spending a semester or year at a French-speaking university through the ISEP program.

Our M.A. and Ph.D. level students not only engage in advanced-level study, they also, in their role as graduate teaching assistants, introduce beginning undergraduate students to the joys of language learning.

A degree in French and Francophone Studies, or in French and Francophone Studies with a concentration in Language and World Business, opens the door to many careers, including teaching, international business, translation, and government service. We encourage you to explore our website and to call or email any questions that you might have concerning the study of French and Francophone language, literature, theater, cinema, and culture at the University of Tennessee.

For general questions about the French and Francophone Studies program, contact Professor Les Essif (essif@utk.edu).

For questions about courses at the 100- and 200-levels, contact Professor Sebastien Dubreil (sdubreil@utk.edu).

For questions about courses at the 300- and 400-levels, or for study abroad credit for ISEP, contact Professor Mary McAlpin (mmcalpin@utk.edu).

For questions about the Language and World Business Program in French and Francophone Studies, contact Professor John Romeiser (jromeise@utk.edu).

Why Pursue French and Francophone Studies?
French plays a vital role internationally: it is the official language of over 30 countries, and it is spoken in over 50 countries. After English, it is the most commonly taught second language in the world. Knowledge of French is essential for understanding and succeeding in business, politics, and economics. It is also indispensable for the study of numerous fields such as literature, history, international relations, cinema, and philosophy.

Studying French and Francophone language, culture, cinema, and literature will open doors for you in your education and career. People who study French and Francophone language, culture, cinema, and literature:

are more competitive on the job market
have a solid foundation for graduate study, since many advanced degree programs require working knowledge of another language
are able to converse with the over 200 million speakers of French worldwide
have the satisfaction of knowing one of the most important languages in the world, historically and today

The study of a foreign language is an indispensable part of a liberal arts degree, and foreign language study--and study of French in particular--are on the rise. Pursuing French and Francophone Studies will help you improve your communication and thinking skills and broaden your cultural exposure. You will gain practical knowledge that will advance your career, study abroad, and travel opportunities. Moreover, studying the French language will help you better understand the English language and even American politics: French is a major contributor of loanwords to the English language and French political thought has had an unmistakable and ongoing influence on American political structures.

What can I do with a French and Francophone Studies major?
Just about anything! UTK French and Francophone Studies majors have gone on to many different pursuits after graduation, ranging from graduate study in law, business, and the sciences as well as French language, literature, and culture, and other humanities fields; employment with international companies and government agencies; and a variety of public and private sector jobs in the United States. A good number of our students work as assistants de langue in francophone regions, and many teach French at varied levels here in the United States. Many students who graduate with a major in French and Francophone Studies go on to use the skills they gained in a different discipline.

Areas in which a French and Francophone Studies major will help you be competitive:

government and foreign service
industry and commerce
travel, tourism, and hospitality
interpretation/translation
service and education
arts, media, entertainment

For more on how to put foreign language study to work for you, see the College of Arts & Sciences Advising Center's page at www.utk.edu/advising/guides/22.