Bachelor of Arts, French Major
The mission of the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) is to strengthen your critical and creative thinking by offering a broad range of social, political, and cultural programs of study. A liberal arts education from Athabasca University is designed to broaden your perspective on local and global affairs, encourage community and social involvement, and prepare you for lifelong learning and occupational diversity.
The Bachelor of Arts (4-year) provides students with a broad, flexible education that allows them to develop, understand, and disseminate knowledge, to think critically, and to build on these abilities. In addition, the four-year degree fully prepares students for most graduate programs. Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) with a Major are expected to have gained sufficient analytical and critical thinking skills to be able to engage in independent research in their chosen major. Athabasca University does not offer an Honours BA.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts (3-year) program who wish to transfer to the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) program must complete a new Undergraduate General Application Form. Previous education will be reassessed and students will be notified of the results.
French Major
As a graduate of Athabasca University's French program, you will attain a sufficient degree of competence in oral and written French to communicate effectively, to analyze texts and to write critical essays. You will have a thorough understanding of the structure of the French language and its application, including pronunciation, grammar, reading skills and vocabulary usage. The courses in the program will provide you with a knowledge of the literature and culture of France, Quebec, and other Francophone areas and an awareness of the stylistic differences between the French and English languages. Upon completion of the program, you will understand how to conduct further research into the subject matter in order to increase your competence in the study of French language and literature.
Planning your program
Our online program plans can assist you in selecting the courses needed to fulfill your program requirements.
Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.
Program requirements
Students complete the program regulations in effect at the time of their enrolment.
Although you may change majors, a major must be selected when you enrol in the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) program.
You are strongly encouraged to register in ENGL 255 early in your program. The English writing skills requirement is waived for students enrolling in the second undergraduate degree.
Program structure
| Total credits in the program | 120 |
| Minimum credits required | |
|---|---|
| At the senior (300 or 400) level (including 18 credits at the 400 level) | 75 |
| In the major (compulsory) * may be higher depending on the specific requirements of the major | 45* |
| Minimum senior-level credits in major (including a minimum of 12 credits at the 400 level) | 30 |
| Arts (Humanities and social sciences) | 96 |
| 18 18 |
| Science | 6 |
| Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University. | 30 |
| Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered. | 24 |
| Minor (optional) | |
| Minimum credits in the minor (including a minimum of 15 credits at the 300 and 400 level) | 30 |
| Students may not apply a course to both the major and the minor. | |
| Maximum credits allowed | |
| In any one discipline | 60 |
| Applied studies | 18 |
| At the preparatory level | 6 |
| At junior level in any one discipline | 15 |
| Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition credits | 9 |
Additional French Major requirements
Requirements in addition to the general program requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (4-year) with Major:
1. 45 credits in French major courses including a minimum of 30 senior (300 or 400) level credits (a minimum of 12, 400-level French credit
2.| 6 junior (200) level credits in French in the following courses: | |
| FREN 200 – First-Year University French I | (3) |
| FREN 201 – First-Year University French II | (3) |
3.
| FREN 362 – Second Year University French | (6) |
4.
| FREN 358 – Initiation à la littérature d’expression française I* | (3) |
* It is recommended that students take FREN 358 before taking other literature courses in the French program as it provides a foundation for the study of French literature. (These 3 credits are part of the 30 senior-level credits required in no. 1.)
5.
| FREN 374 – Littérature québécoise | (6) |
Electives (24 credits, 12 of which must be at the 400 level)
All FREN courses except FREN 100 and FREN 101. These courses will not count towards the major in French but will count towards the total number of credits required for the first undergraduate degree.
Second undergraduate degree
Students are not permitted to obtain a second undergraduate degree in the same field or related field as their first undergraduate degree. Students who have completed a previous undergraduate degree must enter the second undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (4-year) degree and follow these regulations. The English writing skills requirement is waived for students enrolling in the second undergraduate degree.
Helpful links and resources:
Updated July 29, 2024 by Office of the Registrar (calendar@athabascau.ca)