French
FRENCH FACULTY
Yolande Jenny
Associate Professor
Ph.D., Duke University
Fields of Specialization: Voltaire and Rousseau, 19th Century French Novel, French Swiss Women Writers
- Office: Humanities 483
- Phone : (218) 726-8245
- E-Mail: yjenny@d.umn.edu
Milan Kovacovic
Associate Professor
Doctorate of Arts, Claremont Graduate University
Fields of Specialization: French Culture and Society, Classical French Literature, French Cinema
- Office: Humanities 487
- Phone : (218) 726-6128
- E-Mail: mkovacov@d.umn.edu
- Homepage: Coming soon
FRENCH STUDIES COURSES
- For a description of the French Studies concentration in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program, visit the UMD Catalog and select Majors/CLA and then Interdisciplinary Studies, or go directly to Interdisciplinary Studies. For a description of the French minor, visit the UMD Catalog and select Freestanding Minors/CLA.
- Visit the Course Description page to see a description of each French course.
- Click on the Course Guide to see available classes for each semester.
ENROLLING IN THE RIGHT COURSE
- Language
- Students with 3 years of high school French should enroll in the Fall semester in French 1201 Intermediate French I.
- Students with 4-5 years of high school French should enroll in the Fall semester in French 2301 Advanced French.
- Students with 2 years of recent high school French should enroll in the Spring semester in French 1102 Beginning French II.
- Students who have not studied French should enroll in the Fall semester in French 1101 Beginning French I.
- If you have doubts about your placement, please contact one of the French faculty.
- Native speakers of French should also consult with one of the French faculty about proper placement.
- French 3302 Advanced Composition and Conversation may be taken at any point beyond French 2301.
- Credit by Exam
- Students who begin their work in French 1202 or French 2301 and who earn an A or a B will receive credit for the courses they have skipped, BEGINNING WITH French 1201. To receive this credit, students will need to pay to Administration a credit-by-exam fee ($50/credit, as of Fall 2007) and fill out the appropriate forms. Please ask your French instructor how to do this.
- Students who begin their work in French 1202 or French 2301 and who earn an A or a B will receive credit for the courses they have skipped, BEGINNING WITH French 1201. To receive this credit, students will need to pay to Administration a credit-by-exam fee ($50/credit, as of Fall 2007) and fill out the appropriate forms. Please ask your French instructor how to do this.
FRENCH MAJOR / MINOR
- See major description (College of Liberal Arts). (French Studies Concentration, in Interdisciplinary Studies Program)
- See minor description (College of Liberal Arts).
- See teaching major description (College of Education and Human Service Professions).
- Student Portfolios : Important information concerning the B.A.A degree.
- Oral Proficiency Exam
- An Oral Proficiency Exam in French, with notation on transcript, is required for all teaching majors and is available to all minors and students in the French Studies Concentration. Usually it is recommended that students take this exam at the end of French 2301, or immediately following study abroad. Students should consult with Professor Kovacovic to have this exam scheduled.
OPPORTUNITIES
- Study/Work Abroad
- Students may wish -- and are encouraged -- to study abroad during the summer, during an academic semester, or for an entire year.
- Students may enroll in study abroad courses (for zero tuition) while they are away. This allows students to maintain their UMD enrollment and to use their financial aid.
- Please check files in the Dept. of Foreign Languages and Literatures (H 452) and with Prof. Kovacovic (H 487, mkovacov@d.umn.edu) to learn about specific programs.
- Please visit the International Education website for additional information.
- After completing the Intermediate French sequence (French 1201-1202), students are eligible to apply for paid English Teaching Assistantships in the French school system.
- Alpha Mu Gamma
- Alpha Mu Gamma is the National Honor Society for all foreign languages. Students in this organization traditionally view films, host special events around campus, and have dinners with faculty. See the Alpha Mu Gamma Web Page.
- Departmental Honors
- Students who have achieved a grade point average of 3.30 in all French Studies concentration courses may be invited by faculty to submit a sample of their work, in order to be considered for departmental honors and to receive a degree with distinction. Please contact the department for further information.
- Scholarships
- Scholarships are available to students through competition, for study abroad. Scholarships available in 2007-08, included: The Stephanie Imholte Hagelberg Scholarship, for students of German, Spanish and French; the Marinelli Scholarship, for students of Spanish and French; and scholarships in honor of high school language teacher Ms. Frances A. Knobloch, for students of Spanish, French and German. Scholarships are announced each Fall.
- Upper division students are encouraged to participate as tutors for the lower division courses.
- Participation in UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program) is encouraged so that students can work jointly on research topics of mutual interest with a faculty member.
- Career Opportunities
- Our students who have minored or concentrated in French enjoy a large variety of career options. Please see the Department for further information.


