Acquire fluency in French and become familiar with contemporary approaches to the language, literature and culture.
As a French major or minor, you will rigorously study French and Francophone language, literature and culture in class discussions that stress the use of French in real-life situations with practical vocabulary, an inductive approach to grammar and hands-on activities.
Your courses will be interdisciplinary, exploring history, film, visual arts, philosophy, political theory, feminism, psychoanalysis, cultural and film studies, and the latest in popular culture. You may spend a semester abroad in France, Cameroon, Senegal or Morocco.
You will graduate as an effective French speaker and writer and a critical reader of the great works of French literature, including Molière, Proust, Beckett and Sartre.
What You’ll Study
- Advanced grammar and composition
- An introductory course in literary analysis
- Courses on aspects of French culture
- Courses in Francophone literature across the centuries
- Senior thesis or senior paper with oral presentation
Learning at Pomona
WW2/Liberty in French Films
Charlotte Cheah ’23 conducted an independent research project on French films, allowing her to delve into new topics while benefiting from the breadth and depth of experience of the professors.
The French Department exemplifies what makes Pomona’s liberal arts education so distinctive. Just as I found unexpected depth and community in chemistry, I found in French a space where intellectual curiosity was met with equal enthusiasm from faculty and peers alike. The department is small and close-knit in the best way—professors remember your interests, build on previous conversations, and push you to make connections across disciplines that you wouldn't find in a more siloed academic environment.