Bachelor of Arts in French Degree
Be an international influencer with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in French at the University of Mount Union. Our program empowers you with great high-demand skills in the workforce. Employers are searching for individuals with the ability to speak multiple languages and our program can help you to be an impactful leader in a wide variety of industries.
About the Program
Add a global edge to any degree with a major or minor in French. In this program, you will learn about the language, cultures and histories of the French-speaking world, which is paramount for a successful career. Through a strong in-class curriculum and opportunities for real-world experiential learning, the French major prepares you for meaningful work and success in our global world.
French Quick Facts
- 30-32 credit hours within the French program
- 32 credit hours in the well-rounded Integrative Core
- Study Abroad in one of three locations: Pau or Lyon, France, or Chicoutimi, Quebec
- Double major or minor in other areas of interest
- International internship opportunities both virtual and in-person
- Teach French at the K-12 level with the Ohio Teacher Licensure
Learn more about the Degree in French
Position yourself for a global career with a Bachelor of Arts in French at the University of Mount Union. With a rich curriculum that complements a wide variety of other areas and teaching assistants and professors from the native countries, our programs are perfect to bring first-hand experience and knowledge directly to you.
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Curriculum
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Learning Objectives
Our degree in French prepares you to:- Demonstrate the level of proficiency necessary to enable them to function in an environment where French is used exclusively. Students will demonstrate speaking, listening, reading, and writing in French at the ACTFL Advanced Low Level.
- Learn an understanding of the cultures and civilizations of the principal groups of people who speak French, from a variety of perspectives, including the historical, geographical, sociopolitical, literary, and artistic.
- Grow awareness of the relevance of foreign languages to professions and careers.
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Experiential Learning
International ExperiencesInternational opportunities are unlike any other experience a student has had. Through hands-on and engaging service-learning trips, international internships, and study abroad, you can immerse yourself in the language and culture of different countries. These impactful opportunities help you distinguish yourself as an accomplished and impressive leader after graduation.
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Careers
Careers in FrenchFrench is also an influential language in the world of business. In fact, France is home to more than 2,000 subsidiaries of American companies, and French companies operate more than 600 subsidiaries in the United States. In addition, the Alliance Francaise has identified more than 800,000 jobs in the United States that require French. Major corporations with headquarters or subsidiaries in the United States and France include Du Pont, Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, Apple Computer, Michelin, Renault, Bic, and many more.
Common CareersEducation and teaching
Public relations
Business
Government
Law Medicine
Recent EmployersColfor Manufacturing
Western Southern Life
Foreign Service
“The French program at Mount Union has been wonderful to me over four years. The professors go out of their way to make sure you succeed and have all of the necessary tools. The wide variety of courses offered cover any topic that may interest anyone. I have developed such a strong foundation in the French language and culture to help me succeed in the future.” - Natalie Cerciello '18, French and biochemistry major and member of the U.S. Navy
“At Mount Union, I double-majored in French and Japanese. I enjoyed all the courses I took for both majors. A pro with the French classes was that I improved my French significantly. I used it for the duration of class and even used it outside for my assignments such as presentations. Now, I intend to continue my studies at graduate school as a translator.” Jennifer Luther '18, French and Japanese major
“The French program at Mount is a great experience. The enthusiastic and knowledgeable faculty make learning a joy. Having a teaching assistant every year who is native French speaker is nice as we have easy access to someone our age who can talk about modern France with us. The encouraging professors also led me into a full major in French language, which requires study abroad in a French speaking country. More than anything, the study abroad is one of the most meaningful things I’ve done in my time at Mount. I think everyone should study abroad, even if it’s to an English speaking location, because I personally found it beneficial. One of the strengths of the French program here is definitely that they push people to study abroad which can be so far outside some people’s comfort zone.” - Gaston Marian '18, computer science and French major
“French at Mount is SO MUCH FUN! Both of professors are so nice and knowledgeable in their fields and make the content fun and easy to learn! The French Program is also flexible with other fields, as many students who study French also study other disciplines (music, psychology, Japanese, etc.) Study abroad is also a great experience and a way to immerse oneself and learn another culture while also studying their focus disciplines. Overall, I would say even a minor in the French language is important because not only does being bilingual make you marketable, but it also opens so many doors to personal development, and the French program at UMU makes it so easy.” - Rachel Ferraiuolo '18, French and music performance major and French teacher at Canton Country Day School
“As a sophomore I took French 101 because it was a requirement. I had never taken a single French class before and quickly fell in love with the language and the process of learning it. This love turned into a minor and then a major. Without the new major, I would’ve never been able to experience France and other countries around Europe. It was what lead me to pursue my career at a global scale.” - Logan Campbell '18, French and geology major
“The French department at Mount Union is much more than a collection of classes. It’s hands-on experience! If you want to learn about culture and communication, while still having fun, the French department is the place for you!” - Parker Peterson '18, French and public relations major
“I never intended to take French at Mount Union, I wanted to do the required 2 semesters of a foreign language and be done. I ended up taking French because it was easy to get a seat in the class. I never expected to study abroad and graduate with a French minor. I wouldn’t trade my summer abroad in Lyon, France, for anything. The minor helped set me apart when searching for a job and it was no coincidence I ended up with a great job at a Belgian based company where my branch manager was born in France." - Nick Tkacik '18, French and engineering major and Project Engineer at CMI Industry Americas, Inc.
“Coming in with four years of Spanish class under my belt, I never in a million years anticipated graduating with a French major. Professors gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and spend a semester abroad in Pau. While I was there, I learned so many things about the culture, the language, and even about myself. It was by far one of the best experiences in my life and I highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it. I learned to be adaptable, independent, adventurous, and I developed a true appreciation for how people outside of the United States live. Those are things that I will take with me for the rest of my life and I couldn’t be more thankful for the people, the language, and the opportunities that I have had through the French program. I don’t think I would be as happy with where I am going to live, if it weren’t for these experiences.” - Danielle Trippet '18, French and psychology major
Cassie graduated from Mount Union with a French major and a minor in political science in 2016. She is currently Senior Recruitment Coordinator and her main client in Rolls Royce. Cassie is also running for the Ohio State Legislature, district 50.
Kelly graduated Mount Union in 2011. She has a master’s degree in comparative literature from the Universite de Paris-La Sorbonne and she teaches in a French high school in Lille, France. She is Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in French at the Université de Paris-Diderot, Paris VII.
Sarah graduated from Mount Union in 2015 with a major in French and a licensure. She spent a year and a half in Pau where she studied abroad and met her future husband. Sarah is now living with her French husband Alexis in Ravenna. She is the French teacher at Southeast High School.
Shaigan Bhatti presented at the 2016 SCHOLAR day on her research on Muslim entitled “Uncovering the Veil: A Comparison of Muslim Women in France and in the United States."
“It is an honor to receive the award. It means the world to me to be chosen by the French department as one of their outstanding majors. I would like to thank them for their hard work in helping me become the student I am today. Thank you again very much!” - Ryan Kinietz, Mary Frost French Prize winner
