27 courses with the subject FREN, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
FREN 101Elementary French6
This course introduces the basic structures of the French language and everyday vocabulary in the context of common cultural situations. Students are exposed to all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Offered: Fall 2025 Liberal Arts Requirements: No Exploration requirements of FREN 101.
Not open to students whose previous French language experience exceeds the
FREN 102Elementary French6
Building on the material covered in French 101, this course introduces complex sentences and additional verb tenses. Students apply the tools of narration in context through the reading of short literary and cultural texts. The focus of the course is on all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Offered: Winter 2026 Liberal Arts Requirements: No Exploration or better or received a score of 102 on the Carleton French Placement exam. Tags: CL: 100 level Faculty: Chérif Keïta · Sarah Anthony
Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 101 with a grade of C-
FREN 103Intermediate French6
This course continues the study of complex sentence structures and reviews basic patterns in greater depth, partly through the discussion of authentic short stories and cultural topics. Throughout the course, students practice all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking). Taught five days a week in French. Offered: Fall 2025, Spring 2026 Liberal Arts Requirements: No Exploration or better or received a score of 103 on the Carleton French Placement exam. Tags: CL: 100 level Faculty: Chérif Keïta · Stephanie Cox · Sarah Anthony · Katharine Hargrave
Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 102 with a grade of C-
FREN 204Intermediate French
Through readings, discussions, analysis of media, and other activities, this course increases students’ skill and confidence in French. Continuing the emphasis on all modes of communication begun in French 101- 103, French 204 focuses on Francophone cultures, contemporary issues, and an iconic text in French. Taught three days a week in French. Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026 Credits: 6
FREN 206Francophone Emotions: Science and Culture6
Through texts, images, and films coming from different continents, this class will present how various French-speaking communities describe and represent emotions such as love, fear, or anger. Focused on oral and written expression this class aims to strengthen students’ linguistic skills while introducing them to the key themes of French and Francophone studies: colonialism, gender, class, art, and intellectual production. Most importantly, this class will highlight how the sciences and the humanities are interdependent and closely connected. Offered: Winter 2026 Liberal Arts Requirements: IS, International Studies LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or received a score of 205 on the Carleton French Placement exam. . Tags: CCST Encounters CL: 200 level FFST Literature and Culture EUST
Keep up your French while learning about current issues in France, as well as world issues from a French perspective. Requirements include reading specific sections of leading French newspapers, (Le Monde, Libération, etc.) on the internet, and then meeting once a week to exchange ideas over coffee with a small group of students. Sophomore Priority section is available Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026 Grading: S/CR/NC Liberal Arts Requirements: HI, Humanistic Inquiry IS, International Studies or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or received a score of 205 on the Carleton French Placement exam. . Tags: CL: 200 level Faculty: Éva Pósfay · Sandra Rousseau
Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C-
FREN 231Paris: The Eras Tour6
American-born entertainer, civil rights activist, and spy for the French Resistance, Josephine Baker famously sang, "I have two loves, my country and Paris." What attracts people to Paris and does the reality live up to the fantasy? Explore the evolution of Paris from the Gallo-Roman period to the present through art, literature, music, and film. Learn about its visitors and residents, from individuals buried in the Catacombs to a Jewish student at the Sorbonne during the Nazi occupation, and analyze how lived experiences are shaped by the politics, culture, and infrastructure of the cities we call home. Conducted in French. Offered: Winter 2026 Liberal Arts Requirements: IS, International Studies LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis better. Tags: CCST Encounters CL: 200 level EUST Country Specific FFST Literature and
Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with grade C- or
FREN 236Francophone Cinema and the African Experience
Born as a response to the colonial gaze (ethnographic films, in particular) and ideological discourse, African cinema has been a determined effort to capture and affirm an African personality and consciousness. Focusing on film production from Francophone Africa and its diaspora over the past few
FREN 240Imagining North Africa: Arabs, Berbers, and Beurs
How have North African identities been represented in literature and film? How has the sustained presence of French language, and culture in the region shaped how North African authors and directors envision their relationship with their land, their languages, and their identities? This class is an introduction to literature and film from the Francophone Maghreb. Through careful and thoughtful analysis of canonical and contemporary sources, students will question how North African identities have evolved with and against French racial categories, and most importantly how they have transformed the aesthetics and politics of Francophone cultural productions. Offered: Spring 2026 Credits: 6 Liberal Arts Requirements: IS, International Studies LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or received a score of 205 on the Carleton French Placement exam. . Tags: CL: 200 level FFST Literature and Culture MEST Supporting Group 2 Faculty: Sandra Rousseau
FREN 254French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: French Art in Context6
Home of some of the finest and best known museums in the world, Paris has long been recognized as a center for artistic activity. Students will have the opportunity to study art from various periods on site, including Impressionism, Expressionism, and Surrealism. In-class lectures and discussions will be complemented by guided visits to the unparalleled collections of the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Centre Pompidou, local art galleries, and other appropriate destinations. Special attention will be paid to the program theme. Offered: Spring 2026 Liberal Arts Requirements: IS, International Studies LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 or higher level course with a grade of C- or better. Tags: CL: 200 level EUST Country Specific FFST History and Art History Faculty: Éva Pósfay
Acceptance in the Carleton OCS French and Francophone Studies in Paris
FREN 255French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Islam in France: Historical6
Approaches and Current Debates In this course, students will explore the historical, cultural, social, and religious traces of Islam as they have been woven over time into the modern fabric of French society. Through images drawn from film, photography, television, and museum displays, they will discover the important role this cultural contact zone has played in the French experience. The course will take advantage of the resources of the city of Paris and will include excursions to museums as well as cultural and religious centers. Offered: Spring 2026 Liberal Arts Requirements: LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis Program and student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 or higher level course with a grade of C- or better. Tags: CCST Encounters CL: 200 level FFST Social Science EUST Transnational
Acceptance in the Carleton OCS French and Francophone Studies in Paris
FREN 259French and Francophone Studies in Paris Program: Hybrid Paris
Through literature, cultural texts, and experiential learning in the city, this course will explore the development of both the "Frenchness" and the hybridity that constitute contemporary Paris. Immigrant cultures, notably North African, will also be highlighted. Plays, music, and visits to cultural sites will
Eloquence has been described as being able to say what is necessary and not say what is not. The idea of “speaking well” has changed over time and continues to evolve in French society. Can one speak well with an accent, with grammatical mistakes, with slang, or with curse words? How has France fabricated its language as a sacred treasure, and how has this vision excluded native and non-native French speakers? The history of eloquence will be complemented by its practice as students learn to master different registers of French language and learn to argue effectively. Not offered in 2025-26 Liberal Arts Requirements: IS, International Studies LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis or better or received a score of 4 or better on the French Language and Culture AP exam or received a score of 6 or better on the French: Language B IB exam or received a score of 205 on the Carleton French Placement exam. . Tags: CL: 200 level
Student has completed any of the following course(s): FREN 204 with a grade of C-
FREN 302Creative Writing in French
This course will give students the opportunity to refine their knowledge of French by practicing the art of creative writing. Guided by short readings in a variety of genres, students will engage in workshop-based activities, including class discussion, creative writing exercises (some using visual media or music), and constructive peer review. No previous experience in creative writing necessary. Offered: Winter 2026 Grading: S/CR/NC Credits: 6 Liberal Arts Requirements: ARP, Arts Practice IS, International Studies course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better. Tags: CL: 300 level FFST Literature and Culture Faculty: Éva Pósfay
Blaise Pascal wrote, “[t]he only thing that consoles us from our miseries is our diversion. And yet, it is the greatest of our miseries.” In other words, amusement is a way of avoiding one’s own unhappiness. Is the role of entertainment to escape reality? If so, what role do politics play in shaping the cultural scene? Read the queer fairy tales of Madame de Murat, listen to French podcasts currently topping charts, and discuss theatrical performances in Charleston’s French Quarter as you examine the interaction between politics and play from the Middle Ages to the present day. Conducted in French. Offered: Spring 2026 Liberal Arts Requirements: LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better. Tags: CCST Encounters CL: 300 level FFST Literature and Culture FREN Pertinent Faculty: Katharine Hargrave
FREN 336Francophone Cinema and the African Experience6
Born as a response to the colonial gaze (ethnographic films, in particular) and ideological discourse, African cinema has been a determined effort to capture and affirm an African personality and consciousness. Focusing on film production from Francophone Africa and its diaspora over the past few decades, this course will address themes such as slavery, colonialism, and national identity, as well as the immigrant experience in France and in Quebec. It will provide an introduction to African symbolisms, world-views, and narrative techniques. Offered at both the 200 and 300 levels; coursework will be adjusted accordingly. Offered: Fall 2025 Liberal Arts Requirements: IS, International Studies LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis course excluding FREN 204 and Independent Studies with a grade of C- or better. Tags: CAMS Extra Departmental CCST Encounters CL: 300 level FFST Literature and Culture AFST Literary Artistic Analysis Faculty: Chérif Keïta
In the Francophone world comics are known as the ninth art, a popular, legitimate–albeit contested–art form. What then differentiates this art form from others? How do comics create meaning? How do they tell stories? What stories do they tell? In this class we will develop a multilayered approach to comics by analyzing the form and content of texts, but also by questioning the place of comics in French, Algerian, and Québecois societies. Readings will include iconic texts (Asterix, Tintin), alternative comics (by Fabcaro, Louerrad, Ziadé), theoretical pieces on bandes dessinées, and conversations with working artists. Offered: Fall 2025 Liberal Arts Requirements: IS, International Studies LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis
During their senior year, students expand and deepen an essay in French from one of their advanced courses in the major. Normally, but not always, the director for this project will be the professor from that course. This essay may be completed during any term, but must be finished by the end of winter term. In the spring term, students deliver an oral presentation (in English) summarizing their work. Seniors may choose either of the following: 1) A substantial individual essay, or 2) An individual essay that complements work done in a second major (subject to approval by the Department). Further details are available on the Department’s website. Offered: Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026 Grading: S/NC Faculty: Sandra Rousseau
