Introduction to the Major
The French major opens the door to understanding the language and cultural production of France and the French-speaking world. Majors advance their oral and written competency in French through studies of linguistics, translation, film, and literature. Courses in the French department emphasize the ties between language and the arts on the one hand and history, politics, race, and gender on the other. Students of French bring the insights developed through contact with this famously rich culture to a critical appreciation of their own.
“The analytical and critical thinking skills I acquired studying French have helped me across varied workplaces and different countries.”
- Maria Jelvis, French alumna
Who Studies French
The French major interests students desiring a general humanistic education based on the language and literature of the French-speaking world; students planning to teach French at the elementary or secondary level; students who intend to pursue graduate work in preparation for teaching and research at the college level; and students preparing for careers in law, business, public health, public policy, or government service.
Amplify Your Major
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Immerse yourself in French language with UC Study Abroad in France and Senegal or Berkeley Summer Abroad in Paris.
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Build skills in a Berkeley Global Internship in Paris.
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Complement your studies with a secondary field like Linguistics, Global Studies, Political Science, Political Economy, Art History, English, Molecular and Cell Biology, or Media Studies.
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Find out about France for the Pre-Med.
First Year
Explore Your Major
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Read placement guidelines and enroll in a French language course.
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Ask about French courses for first-year students.
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Meet with your major and college advisor to discuss your academic plans.
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Review major and college requirements.
Connect and Build Community
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Get French tutoring through the French department tutoring program.
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Get 1:1 mentoring from graduate students with Berkeley Connect.
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Find conversation exchange groups at the Student Learning Center.
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Explore the Berkeley Language Center.
Discover Your Passions
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Discover new interests in a Freshman Seminar or student-run DeCal course.
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Visit the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarships.
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Explore the scholarly and leisure reading materials at the Library of French Thought.
Engage Locally and Globally
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Attend the Calapalooza student activities fair and get involved with a student organization.
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Find service opportunities through the Public Service Center.
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Explore study, internship, and research abroad options in France with Berkeley Study Abroad.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
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Visit Berkeley Career Engagement and the Career Counseling Library.
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Develop a plan for getting career ready.
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Set up a Handshake account and sign up for CareerMail.
- Create or update your resume and LinkedIn profile.
Second Year
Explore Your Major
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Complete the lower division prerequisite French language sequence.
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Enroll in the prerequisite course FRENCH 102: Writing Skills in French and meet with the major advisor to declare the major.
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Review major guidelines for study abroad.
Connect and Build Community
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Join a French cultural student organization such as Le Cercle Francais of Berkeley.
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Get to know professors and graduate student instructors during their office hours.
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Enroll in FRENCH 197 to become a French tutor.
- Attend guest lectures in the department.
Discover Your Passions
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Take a Sophomore Seminar, Big Ideas Course or Discovery Course.
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Assist faculty in their research through URAP.
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Check out the URAP in European Studies.
Engage Locally and Globally
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Immerse yourself in French language, culture, and history with Berkeley Summer Abroad in Paris.
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Contribute to a community organization with an American Cultures Engaged Scholarship course.
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Look into study abroad scholarships and the French department Flight Fund.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
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Discuss career options and goals with a Career Educator.
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Shadow alumni during a winter externship.
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Learn about graduate and professional school. See Step-by-Step for planning help.
- Think about doing an internship and attend an internship fair.
Third Year
Explore Your Major
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Review your degree progress with your major and college advisor.
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Focus on upper division requirements.
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Review study abroad courses that satisfy French major requirements.
- Ask your major advisor about the French honors program.
Connect and Build Community
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Volunteer as a student officer in Le Cercle Francais of Berkeley.
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Represent the French department at Cal Day.
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Explore the French Studies Program.
Discover Your Passions
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Find out about the Mousseau Prize for Undergraduate Work in French.
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Planning a senior thesis or project? Apply to the Haas Scholars Program or SURF.
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Curious about entrepreneurship? Enroll in HUM120: Entrepreneurship for All.
Engage Locally and Globally
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Immerse yourself in France and Senegal through UC Study Abroad.
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Get international work experience with a Berkeley Global Internship in Paris.
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Find out about France for the Pre-Med.
- Get research and work experience in French with the Institute for Field Experiences.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
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Learn about career fields and conduct informational interviews.
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Ask about French department “Professional Pathways” events.
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Discuss graduate school options with advisors and professors.
- Attend career and graduate school fairs.
Fourth Year
Explore Your Major
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Do a degree check to ensure you are on track to graduate.
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Complete any “bucket list” courses.
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Finish remaining major, college, and campus requirements.
- Complement your major with a certificate, course thread, or summer minor.
Connect and Build Community
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Practice your language skills while helping others learn in the SLC Language Exchange Program.
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Get support for your thesis project in the Townsend Honors Thesis Workshop.
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Connect with alumni groups such as French Alumni at Berkeley and build your network as you prepare to graduate.
Discover Your Passions
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Teach your own DeCal course.
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Undertake an optional honors thesis or independent study.
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Keep pursuing your interests through a fellowship or gap year after graduation.
Engage Locally and Globally
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Hone your leadership skills with the Peter E. Haas Public Service Leaders program.
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Explore service opportunities after graduation, such as Peace Corps, Teach for America, or U.S. Department of State.
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Consider teaching abroad with the Teaching Assistant Program in France.
Reflect and Plan Your Future
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Ask professors and graduate student instructors for recommendation letters.
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Apply to jobs, graduate school, and other opportunities.
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Join the French Department LinkedIn network to connect with French alumni.
Jobs and Employers
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Advancement Assoc., French Intl. School
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Annual Fund Supervisor, L.A. Opera
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Communications Specialist, UN Women
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Computational Linguist, MITRE
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Content Manager, Air France
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Executive Briefing Manager, Oracle
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Interpreter, Cordon Bleu, Paris
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Invest. Banking Analyst, Goldman Sachs
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Lawyer
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Marketing Specialist
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Philanthropy Specialist, Mercy Foundation
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Physician
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Planning Assoc., City of Los Angeles
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Public Health Professional
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PR Coordinator, Yerba Buena Center
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Research Asst., MD Anderson Cancer Ctr.
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Software Engineer, Amazon, Yelp
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Teaching Assistant, Teaching Asst. Pgm. France
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Technical Recruiter, Bloomberg
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Translator, United Nations
Graduate Programs
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Business, Masters
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Art History, PhD
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French, Masters and/or PhD
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Intl. Public Management, Masters
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Law, JD
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Linguistics, PhD
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Medicine, MD
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Public Health, Masters
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Public Policy, Masters
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Secondary Educ. & Teaching, Masters
Examples gathered from the July 2019 French Department LinkedIn network and the First Destination Survey of recent Berkeley graduates.
Connect With Us
Cal Day
Come to Berkeley’s annual Open House in April for information sessions, campus tours, special talks, and more. Attend a sample French class and lecture by French faculty, and talk to students who share your enthusiasm for French.
Golden Bear Orientation
Join your peers in the campus-wide UC Berkeley orientation program for all new students. Ask the French Academic Adviser about your first/next step in French.
Events
Attend department events with students, staff, and faculty. Visit french.berkeley.edu for news and updates or email frendept@berkeley.edu and ask to receive department email announcements.
Advising
Students can drop in to 4118 Dwinelle Hall to speak with the French Undergraduate Academic Advisor or email questions to frendept@berkeley.edu. You can also schedule an appointment to meet with the advisor or call (510) 982-6181.
Advising Drop-In Hours
Tuesday - Thursday, 9am-12pm, 1-4pm
How to Use this Map
Use this map to help plan and guide your experience at UC Berkeley, including academic, co-curricular, and discovery opportunities. Everyone’s Berkeley experience is different and activities in this map are suggestions. Always consult with your advisors whenever possible for new opportunities and updates.
