Yvon LeBras, Chair
3134 JFSB, (801) 422-2542
College of Humanities Advisement Center
1175 JFSB, (801) 422-4789
Admission to Degree Program
All degree programs in the Department of French and Italian are
open enrollment. However, special limitations apply for teaching
majors.
The Discipline
The study of French or Italian language and literature sharpens
analytical and communicative skills. Students develop proficiency
in listening, reading, writing, and speaking, and they learn to use
literature as a means to discover and broaden their understanding
of culturally specific as well as universal issues and values.
Career Opportunities
Italian and French are valuable research and communication tools
for students in music, art, history, European studies, international
relations, library science, and comparative literature. Many have
chosen a major or minor in Italian or French in addition to a
second major or minor in an area such as accounting or business
management, or as preparation for professional programs in
public administration, business administration, organizational
behavior, dentistry, law, or medicine.
Many of our students have opted for a career in government
service, working with an embassy, the State Department, the CIA,
and other government agencies.
Other students have gone into travel and tourism, working
with tour agencies, airlines, major hotel chains, or resort
communities.
The computer industry also provides employment
opportunity for our graduates. Many computer companies have
expanded into foreign markets and hire people who can translate
computer and software instruction and sales publications in a
foreign language.
Graduation Requirements
To receive a BYU bachelor’s degree a student must complete, in
addition to all requirements for a specific major, the following
university requirements:
- The university core, consisting of requirements in general and
religious education. (See the University Core section of this
catalog for details. For a complete listing of courses that meet
university core requirements, see the current class schedule.)
- A minimum of 30 credit hours in residence
- A minimum of 120 credit hours
- A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0
Undergraduate Programs and Degrees
BA French
BA French Teaching
BA Italian
Minors
French
French Teaching
Italian
Students should see their college advisement center for help or
information concerning the undergraduate programs.
Graduate Programs and Degrees
MA French Studies
MA Language Acquisition (French)
For more information see the BYU
2005–2006 Graduate Catalog.
General Information
The Department of French and Italian strongly recommends that
StDev 317, a 1-credit-hour course, be taken at the end of the
sophomore year or the beginning of the junior year. Because
liberal arts degrees provide preparation in a variety of useful
fields rather than a single career track, this course is
recommended to help liberal arts students focus on specific
educational and occupational goals and to identify the career
options or educational opportunities available to them. The course
will introduce them to the resources needed for accessing
information about graduate schools, internships, careers, and
career development. Students will learn basic employment
strategies, including the steps necessary for obtaining
employment related to their own specialty.
Internships Abroad. The Department of French and Italian in
association with the French Embassy's Cultural Services offers
spring/summer internships in France in a variety of positions:
businesses, corporations, industry, hospitals, research laboratories,
national and local governments, cultural organizations, nonprofit
agencies and nongovernmental organizations, hotels and tourism,
etc. Job placements are made according to the student's language
proficiency, previous work experience, field of study, and personal
interest. Students may enroll for Fren 399R (Academic Internship:
French Language Field Experience), 211R, 311R, or 411 (French
conversation), or other courses such as Fren 490R (Individual
Study in French). The internship proves invaluable in
strengthening language skills.
Oral Proficiency Interview. All French-teaching majors and
minors and all Italian majors are required to enroll in Fren 491 or
Ital 491 and have an oral proficiency interview (OPI) before taking
Fren 378. (French majors are encouraged to do so as well.) The
results of the OPI are recorded on the student’s transcript. The
minimum rating of Advanced is required of all teaching majors and
minors. Appointments for the interviews are made through the
department secretary.
When it is necessary to strengthen oral proficiency, students
are offered various opportunities: conversation, the Foreign
Language Student Residence, Study Abroad programs, summer
internships abroad, and support materials in the Humanities
Learning Resource Center, such as tapes, videos, and satellite
broadcasts.
Instruction. All courses are taught in the target language unless
indicated otherwise in this catalog.
