Undergraduate Program in French & Italian
French-Italian Studies
The major in French-Italian studies allows students to combine work in both areas, including language study, literature, culture, and film.
General Requirements and Information for all Majors and Minors
When to Declare
You must formally declare a major within the department before completing the majority of your major course elective requirements.
Grading
A minimum grade of C- is required for all major or minor courses taken as of Fall Semester 1999 (for courses taken previously, the minimum is C), and an overall minimum GPA of 2.00 (C) is required to graduate with the major. Major and minor courses cannot be taken pass/fail (S/N), with the exception of only those study abroad courses referred to as 'integrated' courses.
Equivalency Credit
To receive equivalency credit towards the major or minor for coursework done outside the U of M, you must submit a formal petition to the department.
Courses Taught in English
Courses taught in English are not applicable to the major or minor, with the exception of elective courses for the Italian major or minor and required courses for the combined French-Italian studies major.
Making Regular Advising Appointments
As a French-Italian studies major, you are encouraged to bring a current transcript and meet with your French-Italian studies advisor once a semester for a progress check and advice on coursework.
Graduating: Filing a Program Clearance Form
All majors and minors must file an official Program Clearance Form in the appropriate college advising office in order to graduate with a major or minor in French or Italian. You should file it at the college level as soon as you have a specific plan of the courses you will take complete your major or minor.
Preparatory Requirements
- Fren 1001-1004 (Beginning and Intermediate French)
- Ital 1001-1004 (Beginning and Intermediate Italian)
Degree Requirements for the French-Italian Studies Major
- Fren 3015 (French Composition and Communication)
- Ital 3015 (Italian Grammar and Communication)
- Fren 3101 (Introduction to French Literature)
- Three Italian 3xxx or 5xxx literature or culture courses
- Two French 3xxx or 5xxx literature, culture, or linguistics courses
- Two FrIt (French and Italian) courses
- Fren 4101 (Senior Seminar) or appropriate Italian course
Individualized Degree Programs
You may consider creating an individually designed major incorporating components of several major areas through the Individually Designed Interdepartmental Major Program (IDIM) or the Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) Program. For further information, consult with an advisor in the Individualized Degree Programs office (345 Fraser Hall, 612-624-8006, idp@class.cla.umn.edu).
Transfer Credit
If you wish to use credit earned at another institution in the United States or internationally (including study abroad programs) toward your major or minor, you must complete procedures at both college and department levels.
At the college level, you must make arrangements for the credits to appear on a U of M transcript. The Office of the Registrar manages the process for credit transferred from other U.S. institutions; the Office of Admissions is responsible for credit transferred from international institutions. If you studied abroad while enrolled at the U of M, the Learning Abroad Office coordinates procedures for all types of credit.
At the department level, you must petition for courses taken outside the U of M to be used as the equivalent of major or minor requirements. You are encouraged to meet with the director of undergraduate studies in the early stages of planning to take courses outside the U of M in order to maximize the likelihood of meeting language or major/minor requirements.
Study Abroad
We encourage all majors and minors to study abroad in a French- or Italian-speaking area. For program information, visit the Learning Abroad Office. We sponsor study abroad programs in Montpellier, France and in Bologna and Florence, Italy. These programs dovetail with departmental requirements. Appropriate courses may be preapproved for the major or minor.