French

Bienvenue. Welcome to the French-speaking world.

Learning French unlocks the linguistic, historical, and cultural knowledge of France and Francophone societies, from Canada and the Caribbean to Africa and the South Pacific.

Why Study French?

• Enrich your TCU experience by knowing French. You will significantly elevate your marketability in the global job market in fields such as business, fashion, merchandising, international law, medicine, education, aeronautics, hospitality and more. 
• Join the over 300 million people around the world who speak French, which is the official language in 29 countries.
• Develop your global and intercultural competence by learning about diverse cultures, religions, races, histories and innovations of the French and Francophone world and interacting respectfully with individuals’ differences.
• Build meaningful, collaborative relationships with colleagues from French and Francophone backgrounds, learning how to work, negotiate and communicate efficiently within diverse settings in French.
• Gain the critical thinking, research and reading skills to engage perspective taking and perspective seeking. You will learn to recognize, engage and deconstruct implications of texts and films to challenge assumptions and develop new knowledges in French.
• Benefit from unique research opportunities in French tailored to your interests that will allow you to develop a highly personalized research program supported by French faculty.

Program Overview

At the heart of TCU’s French Studies program is a commitment to global engagement through language, literature, history and culture. Our Modern Language Studies (French specialization) majors and minors explore not only the richness of the French language but also the vibrant cultures and histories of French-speaking and Francophone regions across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, North America, Oceania and Asia.

But we offer more than just intercultural knowledge. Our program empowers students to think critically, develop emotional intelligence, argue persuasively, and communicate effectively in both written and spoken French. Through immersive learning and personalized mentorship with internationally acclaimed faculty, students gain the global fluency and intellectual agility needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

TCU offers a unique student housing option called the Language House with programs in French, German, Italian and Chinese, where students can live together and speak the target language daily with each other and international exchange students. This immersive experience helps students gain fluency and comprehension more quickly than is normally possible in the classroom setting. Our top French students are also invited to TCU’s Xi Theta chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honor Society.

Whether you’re passionate about international affairs, literature, history, education, or business, a background in French and Francophone Studies opens doors far beyond the classroom. An academic profile in French from TCU allows you to soar new skies that you never imagined, and we are here to help you succeed.

We also offer many opportunities outside of class for you to expand your language skills:

• Join the community of French learners and speakers on campus by living in the French Language House residential learning program.
• Residents experience an immersion environment in French to enhance their proficiency and develop their intercultural competence through cultural activities, events, and workshops, guided by a native or near-native speaker living in the residence.
• Expand your knowledge and language proficiency at events and activities sponsored by the student-led French club, Ensemble en français.
• Explore French cinema by attending the Tournées French Film Festival.
• Learn French in small classes taught by award-winning faculty who are native or near-native speakers of French. Receive individualized support from peers through the Department of Modern Language Studies’ peer tutoring program.
• Investigate the possibilities for internships and study abroad programs, including exploration of France and the Francophone world.
• Conduct research in French with faculty who will prepare students to explore archives and to seek publication opportunities.

Where Graduates Go

A degree in Modern Language Studies with a French specialization makes you highly marketable with multilingual French abilities and exceptional communicative abilities. In French, you will know how to share and respond to ideas with careful consideration of diverse contexts, perspectives and audiences. Alumni of our French program have maintained an exceptional post-graduation placement rate, including acceptance to medical school, law school, graduate school, K-12 educational settings and more. Most recent graduates achieving a Modern Language Studies French degree from TCU have pursued graduate degrees and internships in business and merchandising in Paris, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Our students have numerous opportunities to conduct cutting-edge research with program faculty, allowing them to grow as culturally attuned, critical thinkers and industry leaders in French and English.