B.A. in French

Overview

From Africa to America, the French language is spoken in more than two dozen countries on five continents, making it one of the most common languages in the world. The ability to communicate in French is an important asset in global business, diplomatic institutions, scientific communities, and international aid organizations. French is used and shaped by a diverse range of cultures, not only in Europe but throughout the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, each contributing to the rich linguistic diversity of the language.

Why French at URI?

Pioneering New Approaches to Language

When you graduate, you want to be confident in your ability to speak and understand French. At URI, our department places a high value on helping you become proficient, and our faculty have developed unique new ways for you to study your chosen field—in French. You will be able to use these skills to talk about highly specialized areas of knowledge in your field. We encourage all our majors to double major, and design a curriculum that is compatible with your field of interest.

A smart, friendly community

With over 130 majors, URI has one of the largest French programs in the country. Our students achieve success thanks to the highly personalized attention they receive from our outstanding French faculty. Everyone knows the best way to master a language is to spend some time immersed in its culture and people, so we offer lots of great opportunities to speak French abroad and right here on campus. You’ll connect with your peers and get to know your professors through regular French conversation opportunities and cultural events.

• Weekly French conversation hours
• French language movie nights
• French conversation buddies

French Summer Immersion Program right here in Rhode Island for French teachers from around New England.

Careers

Our graduates are employed in a range of fields in North America and Europe, and are offered admission (often with full financial support) to some of the most prestigious graduate programs in the world. As a French major, you will be well suited to a variety of different careers when you graduate. Some of the industries/areas that have a high demand for French majors include: