Whether starting out in French 101 or sitting next to a native speaker in a 400-level literature course, our students build their proficiency in French while exploring the far corners of French and Francophone literature, culture, geography, film, current events, and professional life. The diversity of our course offerings combines with a diversity of student experience–including both pre- and post-study-abroad students, nontraditional professionals, graduate students from other departments, and class visitors–to create a rich set of possibilities for all those interested in moving farther in this important world language. Au plaisir de vous voir dans nos cours!
- Placement
- French Major
- French Certificate
- Honors in French
- Study or Intern Abroad
- Scholarships
- French Club
- Tutoring and Language Practice
- Post-Graduation and Career Advising
French Placement Assessment (test)
Students with any previous experience or knowledge in the French language must take the French Placement Assessment (test). The Testing Center refers to the French Placement Test as a “test,” however it is essentially an evaluation that determines what French course the student should take. The French Placement Assessment (test) does not award French credit, a French course equivalent, nor does it qualify as a replacement for the language requirement. After taking the French Placement Assessment (test), it can take up to 2 weeks at most to receive the results, but 1 week is the typical turnaround time. Students will not be notified once the French course placement is ready to view, therefore students should continue to check their MyUW until the results are posted. Students can enroll into their French course placement once the results are posted in their MyUW. Students can not enroll above or below the level of their French course placement. This ensures that all students in a French language course are relatively at the same level and learning in a similar atmosphere. Please note that all students in French 101 – 205 will be given a French Survey at the beginning of the semester to reaffirm their language level. Should there be any discrepancies, those will be addressed by the course instructor. Students can also talk with their instructor at the beginning of the semester if there are any concerns.
Students may be eligible to receive retroactive credits, depending on which level of French they place into (see below). Additionally, students who took the AP French Exam and received a score of 3 or higher will be awarded college credit (see below).
Placement in French language courses 101-228 is determined by the UW System French Placement test or in consultation with the Department of French & Italian.
UW SYSTEM FRENCH PLACEMENT SCORES
If you get this placement score, you should register for this course:
RETRO CREDITS
Students enrolled in 102, 203, 204, 228, 271, 311 or 312 are eligible for retro credits. Consult complete retrocredit policy for more information.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) CREDIT POLICY
College credit will be awarded to students who receive a 3, 4, or 5 on their AP French Exam.* More information can be found here.
INTERNATIONALE BACCALAUREAT (IB) CREDIT TABLE
| Exam/Subject | Score | Course | Credits | General Education | L&S Breadth | L&S Level |
| French B | 4-7 | FRENCH X10 | 6 | Advanced |
FOREIGN CREDIT EVALUATION
For questions regarding Foreign Credit Evaluation, contact Mandi Schoville.
The French Major Requirements have been updated to allow students more flexibility, especially those pursuing multiple majors, certificates and/or those who have or will study abroad. The new requirements are provided below and can officially be found in the Guide. Students who declare the French major in the fall 2025 or later will follow the new requirements. Students who were declared in the French major prior to fall 2025 have the option of keeping the pre-existing French major requirements or switching to the updated requirements that went into effect in fall 2025. To switch to the new requirements, simple email the Undergraduate Program Manager and Advisor, Mandi Schoville, and state that you would like to “switch to the new French major requirements.”
New French Major Requirements¹
27 totals credits beyond French 204²
Required Courses (9 credits)
- French 228
- French 271
- Students pick 1 of the following: FR 321 or 322 or 347 or 348 or 361³ or 362³
Elective Courses (18 credits)¹
- Students can choose electives¹ from the master list of French courses provided in the Guide.
¹ Only 1 course taught in English can count towards the French Major.
² Students must complete the French Foundational Courses (101 – 102 – 203 – 204) prior to beginning French major courses. This is done by taking the foundational courses or placing into a level beyond 101 and working up to the major courses. Some students might place directly into a French major course via the placement test or from AP / transfer credit.
³ French 361 and 361 are only available to study abroad participants, in addition to French 316 and 420
Students can apply 6 to 15 credits from a UW study abroad program towards the French Major.
Students should review all the French major requirements provided in the Guide prior to declaring, including the Residence and Quality of Work requirements.
How are the NEW French Major Requirements different?
Students now have the flexibility to build a French major with courses they prefer while keeping the standards we value in a French major. Here are the changes:
- French 228 is now officially required for the major instead of a pre-requisite.
- French 271 is still required.
- Instead of requiring FR 321 and FR 322 and FR 347, students can now pick 1 of these courses to fulfill the 3rd required course. Also in this list is FR 348 and the study abroad only courses, FR 361 and FR 362.
- The requirement of only one course taught in English counting towards the French major remains the same. The courses taught in English can be found in the Guide with the footnote number 1 next to the course.
- A 400 level course is no longer required for the French major, however it is highly recommended to students. The 400 level courses are especially encouraged for students who hope to use their French in a professional career post-graduation.
- Students are no longer required to fulfill specific required courses such as a 300 level language course, a 400 level French/Francophone course, and an additional French / Francophone course. Besides the “required courses,” the remaining courses needed for the French major are electives. The Master List of French courses offered by the department produce a high quality French major no matter which combination of elective courses are chosen.
Outcomes of the French Major
After completion of an undergraduate French major, students will be able to:
Skills
- Demonstrate understanding and ability to analyze literary and non-literary texts in French representing a broad spectrum of topics, time periods, and geographical regions
- Express yourself effectively in spoken and written French to inform, persuade, and narrate for different audiences of listeners, viewers, or readers
- Express yourself effectively in spoken and written French to share information, reactions, and opinions related to a broad spectrum of topics and texts
Knowledge
- Recognize and explain cultural artifacts, practices, and perspectives of the French-speaking world including how these cultural elements relate to literary and non-literary texts in French
- Demonstrate a good degree of understanding of lexical, grammatical, syntactic, and stylistic features of the French language
Dispositions
- Demonstrate awareness of difference and diversity by comparing and contrasting culturally situated beliefs, behaviors, and norms of the French-speaking world with your own
- Engage in a sustained fashion with the French language, its users, and cultural artifacts in and beyond the classroom, e.g., in your own community, virtual communities, and study abroad
French Certificate Requirements¹
15 total credits beyond French 204²
Required Courses (6 credits)
- French 228
- French 271
Advanced Language Course (3 credits)
- Students pick one of the following: FR 311 or 312 or 313 or 314 or 316³ or 350 or 590
Elective Courses (6 credits)³
- Students can choose electives from the master list of French courses provided in the Guide.
¹ Courses taught in English do not count towards the French Certificate.
² Students must complete the French Foundational Courses (101 – 102 – 203 – 204) prior to beginning French certificate courses. This may be done by taking the foundational courses, placing into a level beyond 101 and working up to the certificate courses. Some students might place directly into a French certificate course via the placement test or from AP / transfer credit.
³ French 316 is only available to study abroad participants, in addition to French 361, 362 and 420
Students can apply 3 to 6 credits from a UW study abroad program towards the French Certificate.
Students should review all the French certificate requirements provided in the Guide prior to declaring, including the Residence and Quality of Work requirements.
All French & Italian undergraduate courses are offered with “Honors Optional” enrollment which students can select Yes or No during course registration.
Why honors?
Students take honors courses for different reasons and to better understand honors, students are encouraged to read about the types of honors coursework and the Honors Program in general. If students are curious about taking a course for honors or the Honors Program, they should contact an advisor in honors or the French & Italian academic advisor.
Honors in French & Italian Courses
Students can enroll in “Honors Optional” for a course by selecting Yes during course registration. Students taking a course for honors will be required to do additional work to fulfill the requirements for the honors designation. Students should contact the professor/instructor of the course at the very beginning of the semester to discuss the work expectations for honors in the course.
Honors in the Major
Students may declare Honors in the Major in consultation with the French & Italian academic advisor.
To earn Honors in the Major, students must satisfy both the requirements for the major and the following additional requirements:
- Earn a 3.300 University GPA
- Earn a 3.500 GPA for all FRENCH courses and all courses counting in the major
- Complete at least 8 credits, taken for Honors, beyond FRENCH 2711
- Complete a two-semester Senior Honors Thesis in FRENCH 681 and FRENCH 682, for a total of 6 credits2
1-Study abroad in France or in another French-speaking country is highly recommended, and the 8 credits taken for Honors can be fulfilled through French courses taken abroad at the appropriate level.
2-In certain circumstances (particularly when the student is an Honors candidate in two or more departments), two courses in literature or cultural studies numbered 500-599 or 600-699 may be substituted for the Senior Honors Thesis.
STUDY ABROAD
French Major or Certificate students typically go abroad on one of the following programs:
Read a student story provided by French Major Collin Dewey.
“Study abroad is not meant to replicate your life at home because if it did, you would be losing out on the riches of living and experiencing a new culture, country, and people.”
INTERNSHIPS
According to NACE , “an internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and give employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.” For more information, visit Intern Abroad.
The French Program has several different generous donors that provide funds to support our current undergraduate French major and certificate students. These scholarships and awards have very particular requirements and therefore candidates are nominated by the French faculty for consideration. These nominated students are then reviewed and recipients are finalized in early spring at the French Instructional Committee meeting. Students must be declared by the end of the fall semester in the French major or certificate to be nominated for a scholarship or award. Depending on the funds and availability, the following are potential scholarships and awards:
- Ed Gargan Book Award
- Epstein Scholarship
- Elizabeth Ann Upham Award Fund
- Elizabeth C. Appel Undergraduate Student Support Fund
- French House Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Germaine Mercier Scholarship Fund
- Hugh A. Smith Prize
- Katie Narem Memorial Award
- Lorin A. Uffenbeck French Literary Studies Scholarship Fund
- Lorin A. Uffenbeck Study Abroad Scholarship Fund
- Sara Ann Epstein Scholarship
French Club is an organization that focuses its activities on the French language and Francophone culture. We encourage anyone who is interested in learning about the French language/culture to join. The purpose of French Club is to improve its members’ proficiency in the French language and expand the knowledge and enjoyment of French and Francophone culture. Some of our social events include eating at local French restaurants, watching French movies, and more. French Club also aims to give back to the French community of Madison through volunteering events and raising money for the organization with fundraising events.
All of communication goes through GroupMe, so please join et au plaisir de vous voir!
Language Connect
…is a new student organization designed to bring together students from diverse backgrounds to practice and improve their language skills through regular meetups.
Each member of Language Connect will be paired or grouped based on the languages they speak and want to learn. Meetings will be held in a relaxed setting to chat, support each other’s learning, and build friendships across cultures.
Sign up to be a tutee, or volunteer to be a tutor!
Reach out to Fiona Freeman if you have questions: ffreeman@wisc.edu
French Tutors 
The Department provides a list of French tutors & translators as a service to students and our community. We unfortunately cannot offer any particular references other than the names and information provided on this list. The Department of French & Italian assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the French tutors & translators page, the quality of work, or any eventual financial arrangements or transactions made by/with persons.
Get a French Mentor
The (CAE) Center for Academic Excellence’s Academic Mentoring program is traditionally for CAE students, however non-CAE students can also request a mentor and we have had students do so in the past! To request a French Mentor, students must first meet the criteria:
- Domestic (not studying on a student visa)
- Associated with L&S—this can mean that the student is in the college of letters & science OR they are pursuing an L&S major or certificate (regardless of their home college)
If students meet this criteria, they can complete the Mentor Request Form. Questions should be directed to Amihan Huesmann.
Trying to decide what to do after graduation? Have you considered the TAPIF?
- TAPIF – Teaching Assistant Program in France – Teach English in France and get paid!
The Undergraduate Advisor is a great resource for post-graduation and career advising, especially with using your French major/certificate! Make an appointment with Mandi Schoville to discuss.
Career Advising via the Language Institute
Students are also encouraged to meet with Lydia Odegard, Language Directions Specialist in the Language Institute, to discuss topics such as:
- How to use your language skills outside the classroom
- Job and internships that incorporate language skills
- Marketing your language skills to employers (no matter what your career interests are!)
Events
Lydia hosts events focused on the connection between language abilities and career goals. Explore upcoming events for the spring semester here.
Career Resources
On the UW-Madison Languages site, you can find: