Undergraduate Courses
For the most up to date information see the Course Catalog.
FRE 101: Elementary French I
A systematic study of the basics of the French language. Equal emphasis is placed on developing reading, comprehension, speaking and writing skills. For students with no previous study of French or fewer than two years in high school.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement. Cr. 3-4.
FRE 102: Elementary French II
Continued study of the basics of the French language with equal emphasis on developing reading, comprehension, speaking and writing skills. For students with no previous study of French or fewer than two years in high school.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE 101 or equivalent. Cr. 3-4.
FRE 117: Accelerated French I
An intensive, systematic study of the French language at the beginning level that provides the equivalent of two semesters of beginning French (FRE 101 and 102). For students with no previous study of French or fewer than two years in high school.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives Requirement.
Cr: 6.
FRE 201: Intermediate French I
An integrated approach. Reading texts of a literary and/or cultural nature, and audio-visual materials will be employed to strengthen reading, writing and especially speaking and comprehension skills. Includes a systematic but gradual review of the essentials of French grammar.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE 102 or equivalent. Cr. 3-4.
FRE 202: Intermediate French II
A continuation of FRE 201. Designed to strengthen reading, writing, speaking and comprehension skills.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE 201 or equivalent. Cr. 3-4.
FRE 218: Accelerated French II
A continuation of FRE 117 – Accelerated French I. A multi-media, intensive study of French language and culture that develops speaking, reading, writing, and listening skills. Equivalent to two semesters of intermediate French (FRE 201 and 202).
Prerequisite: FRE102 or FRE117 or permission
FRE 305: French Conversation and Composition I
Systematic training in the correct usage of spoken and written French through a broad range of conversational situations and writing topics.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and Writing Intensive requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE202 or FRE218 or any 300 level course or above
FRE 306: French Conversation and Composition II
Continued training in the correct usage of spoken and written French.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and Writing Intensive requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE202 or FRE218 or any 300 level course or above
FRE 307: French for Business
For students of business, international affairs or related careers. Focuses on the development of vocabulary and the improvement of oral proficiency in business and social settings applied to various francophone settings. Applies technology to education by basing itself on a video textbook and requiring regular use of the Internet as a source of reading and information.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE202 or FRE218 or any 300 level course or above
FRE 309: Readings in French Literature
Practice in reading French. Also prepares students for literature and civilization courses at the 400 level. Discussion in French.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE202 or FRE218 or any 300 level course or above
FRE 310: Readings in Francophone Literature
Practice in reading and discussion in French with an emphasis on the French-speaking world beyond France.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE202 or FRE218 or any 300 level course or above
FRE 315: Advanced French Conversation
Oral practice for the advanced language student. Course work revolves around the discussion of cultural and intellectual issues, as well as current political and social events, with a view toward increasing idiomatic and abstract vocabulary.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: any 300 level course or above or permission
FRE 320 French Pronunciation
A formal study of the French sound system with considerable practice in phonetic transcription. Practical and remedial work in pronunciation.
Prerequisite: FRE202 or FRE218 or any 300 level course or above
FRE 350: Multidisciplinary Readings in French
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement. Prerequisite: permission.
May be repeated for credit. Cr. 1.
FRE 397: French (May Term)
Total Immersion Program. May be repeated for credit.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirement.
Prerequisite: FRE 202 or permission of instructor. Cr. 3.
FRE 400: Advanced French Grammar
An exposition of grammatical and syntactical principles through conceptual presentations along with demonstrations and practice through exercises. Designed to enhance French language competency. (Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements).
Prerequisite: FRE 305 or FRE 306 or permission. Cr. 3
FRE 401: Translation and Comparative Stylistics
An exposition of the principles of translation and comparative stylistics with practice via exercises and the translation of texts in both English and French.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and Writing Intensive requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 400 or permission. Cr. 3
FRE 407: 19th Century French Literature
Readings of major 19th century figures, including Chateaubriand, Hugo, Flaubert, Zola, Balzac, Stendhal, Sand, and Baudelaire, with particular attention to social and philosophical themes as well as concepts of language.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission. Cr. 3.
FRE 408: Twentieth Century French Literature
Readings in the novel, poetry or drama (content varies.)
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission. May be repeated for credit, with permission of instructor. Cr. 3.
FRE 413: Advanced Composition and Stylistics
An exposition of the fundamentals of French stylistics with practice of these principles via compositions and exercises. Designed to enhance competence in written idiomatic French.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and Writing Intensive requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 400 or permission. Cr. 3.
FRE 430: French Film Survey
A survey of French cinema from its origins to the present, with an emphasis on understanding film as a narrative form.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives and Artistic and Creative Expression Requirements.
Prerequisites & Notes: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission. Cr. 3
FRE 442: French Language of North America
A historical, linguistic and socio-linguistic approach to the study of the Franco-Quebec and the Franco-American languages. Emphasis on the morphology, syntax, vocabulary and phonetic system in order to understand the present status of the languages. Research in the areas of the spoken and written language. (Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements).
Prerequisite: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission. Cr. 3.
FRE 463: Québec Poetry
A survey of Québec poetry from the 19th century to the present, focusing on language, theme, socio-historical and political context, ideology, and Québec identity.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission. Cr. 3.
FRE 464: Québec Theater
A survey of Québec poetry from the 19th century to the present, focusing on language, theme, socio-historical and political context, ideology, and Québec identity.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission . Cr. 3.
FRE 465: The North American French Novel
An examination of the North American francophone novel in Acadia, Québec, and New England. Authors studied can include Maillet, Daigle, Hémon, Ringuet, Roy, Blais, Hebert and Proulx.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission . Cr. 3.
FRE 490: Advanced Topics in French
Advanced Topics in French and French-Canadian literature or linguistics may include: contemporary cinema, surrealism, contemporary French thought, modern French critical theory, linguistics, sociolinguistics, semiotics, symbolism, literature of commitment, images of women, women writers. Topics vary. May be repeated for credit.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements.
Prerequisite: FRE 309 or FRE 310 or any 400 level course or permission. Cr. 1-3.
FRE 495: Senior Project in French
Capstone Experience in which majors in French and International Affairs with a concentration in French, or in Cultures, Languages and the Humanities, apply language skills and knowledge gained from all prior language study. Students work closely with a faculty advisor on an approved project and give a public presentation of the project in French. When taken as a stand-alone course, the coursework will reflect the work of three credit hours, regardless of number of credits taken. When taken in conjunction with another French course at the 400 level, the course will carry no credit and will be graded Pass/Fail only.
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives, Western Cultural Tradition and Capstone Experience Requirements.
Prerequisites: Senior standing and permission. Cr. 0-3
FRE 498: Independent Projects II
Satisfies the General Education Cultural Diversity and International Perspectives requirements. Cr 1-3.
Graduate Courses
Note: All 500-level courses require graduate standing.
FRE 500: History of the French Language
Study of the evolution of standard and regional French from the earliest times to the present. Cr 3.
FRE 505: Seminar in French
Classicism Aspects, groups, and genres in literature of the 17th century. Special emphasis on Corneille, Descartes, Pascal, Racine and Moliere. Cr 3.
FRE 506: Seminar in Literature of the Eighteenth Century
Individual writers, genres, or themes. Special emphasis on Montesquieu, Prevost, Voltaire, Rousseau and Diderot. Cr 3.
FRE 507: Seminar in Literature of the Nineteenth Century
Individual writers, genres, or themes. Special emphasis on Hugo, Stendhal, Balzac, Flaubert, Zola, and Baudelaire. Cr 3.
FRE 508: Seminar in the Novel
Trends and periods in development of the novel and narrative form. Content varies from year to year. May be repeated for credit. Cr 3.
FRE 509: Seminar in Poetry
Movements in French poetry. The periods, groups and trends studied vary year to year. Course may be repeated for credit. Cr 3.
FRE 510: Seminar in the Theatre
Content varies year to year. Course may be repeated for credit. Cr 3.
FRE 520: French Linguistics
French phonology and morphology or syntax from the generative transformational viewpoint.
Prerequisite: INT 410 or FRE 420/320 or permission. Cr 3.
FRE 530: French Film Survey
A survey of French cinema from its origins to the present, with an emphasis on understanding film as a narrative form.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing. Cr 3.
FRE 542: Seminar in North American French Language
A linguistic and sociolinguistic study of selected features of Franco-American French and its source dialects, Quebec and Acadian French. Research focus on examination of data gathered in New England and/or development of curriculum for elementary, middle or high school French courses. Cr 3.
FRE 597: Projects in French I
Cr 3.
FRE 598: Projects in French II
Cr 3.
FRE 699: Graduate Thesis
Graduate thesis or research conducted under the supervision of student’s advisor.
Prerequisites & Notes
A “Responsible Conduct of Research” course approved by the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Graduate School (www.umaine.edu/graduate/responsible-conduct-research) is required before or concurrently with completion of 3rd XXX 699 credit. Permission
Cr Arr.