FRENCH

Disciplinary Major or Minor - www.uwgb.edu/french

OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRAM:

The French program provides students with communication skills in both written and spoken French and gives them an understanding of and appreciation for the peoples, literatures, and cultures of France.

Although some students choose to study French primarily for personal growth and intellectual enrichment, graduates in French have found satisfying careers in teaching, international business, translating and interpreting, personnel work, public relations, business management, social work, government service, and other fields. The French major is also an excellent preparation for graduate study. Certainly, proficiency in a foreign language and understanding of World Cultures are essential for peace and prosperity in a mutually interdependent world.

WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS MAJOR :

THINK GLOBALLY. Those who want to develop the skills and understanding essential for developing a global perspective in an increasingly interdependent world, should consider a French major.
THINK FUN. If you are looking for a college experience that is both fun and rewarding, then French is great for you!
MINOR DECISIONS. Students majoring in French will also choose an interdisciplinary minor. Most French students interested in the humanities usually choose Humanistic Studies; students interested in teaching may choose an Education minor; those interested in business often choose Business Administration; and those interested in communication fields or creative fields usually choose a minor in Communication and the Arts.

WHO SHOULD HAVE THIS MINOR :

VALUABLE . The French minor will be extremely valuable to any career where you are dealing with people, especially those from another country. Employers consider those who can speak another language (or who are just knowledgeable of another World Culture) as very valuable!
TOP HITS. Some popular majors that students have chosen to pair with the French minor are (but not limited to) Business, Human Development, Human Biology, Humanistic Studies, and Education.

WHAT’S UNIQUE ABOUT THIS MAJOR AT UWGB:

OPPORTUNITY . Learning a new language is a dynamic endeavor. Our classes are taught by award-winning faculty and are highly interactive, featuring role-playiing, concerts, board games, and group projects. In addition, all students of French are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities faculty provide to travel and study in France.
TOOLS . The UW-Green Bay Language Resource Center has interactive audio-visual equipment, computers, and international television reception to support students' language acquisition and cultural awareness.

SKILLS & ABILITIES GAINED WITH THIS MAJOR:

Students learn excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Students learn to the basics of speaking another language.
Students learn to think critically, develop analytical abilities, and to have flexibility in their learning.
A cultural awareness is gained from studying the modern languages, where students appreciate diversity, become sensitive to cultural issues, and learn historical perspectives of World Cultures.
As well as gaining a global cultural awareness, students expand their horizons by experiencing multicultural perspectives, allowing them to have the ability to interact with World Cultures and people of different backgrounds.

WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THIS MAJOR :

Really anything you want! The possibilities are endless! The three main fields that students have combined French with are Education, Business, and Public Relations. The best thing to do is to first assess your own interests, skills and abilities…it all relates to what exactly do you want to do? Students can also use the French degree to go into Graduate School and Law School.

The following list represents a few of the kinds of career titles for French majors:

Bilingual Educator, Foreign Language Teacher, Interpreters, Literary Researchers/Translators, Multi-Lingual Port Receptionist, Researcher, Scientific Translator or Interpreter, Translators, Flight Attendants, Ticket Agents, Ground Hosts/Hostesses, Bilingual Secretaries, Exchange Program Coordinators, Foreign Correspondents, Freight Forwarders, Foreign Collections, C.I.A. Specialists, Immigration & Customs Inspectors, Intelligence, Foreign Service Officers, FBI Special Agents, International Research Teams, Librarian, Missionaries, Peace Corps Volunteers, Textbook Publishers, Tour Guides, Travel Agents, Tutors

The following list represents a few of the kinds of businesses and institutions that employ French majors:

BUSINESS- Import/Export, Advertising, Banking & Finance, Engineering, Research, Translation
GOVERNMENT- Foreign Service, Translation, Aid Agencies, Overseas Dependents' Schools, Radio, U. S. Armed Forces
EDUCATION- Elementary & Secondary Schools, Colleges & Universities, Commercial & Government-Operated Schools, Overseas Dependents' Schools, Peace Corps Locations
MEDIA- Journalism, Radio & Television, Film, Publishing
TRAVEL- Transportation, Hotels & Motels, Excursions & Tours
SERVICES- Health Professions, Social Work, Library Science, Service Organizations, Law & Law Enforcement, Volunteer Agencies

Want to know more about the nature of the work, working conditions, earnings, training, and job outlook? Then check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook @ http://stats.bls.gov/ocohome.htm

LINKS TO GRAD PROGRAMS:

Graduate School Guide. The comprehensive on-line guide to doctoral, masters, and professional programs. http://www.schoolguides.com
Gradschools.com. The most comprehensive online source of Graduate School Information. http://www.gradschools.com/
Peterson’s.com. The most comprehensive and heavily traveled education resource on the web. http://www.petersons.com/
Or you can try any of the following search engine sites for information on the graduate school program of your choice! http://www.yahoo.com, http://www.infoseek.com, or http://www.snap.com

LINKS TO WEB SITES FOR MORE INFORMATION:

United Nations. The UN has a direct impact on all our lives, everywhere in the world, in ways that are not always so well known. Homepage @ http://www.un.org
Overseas Jobs Express. The best and biggest selection of jobs. Homepage @ http://www.overseasjobs.com/
International Career Employment Center . Open to anyone interested in international employment. Homepage @ http://www.internationaljobs.org/
International Chamber of Commerce. The only representative body that speaks with authority on behalf of enterprises from all sectors in every part of the world. Homepage @ http://www.iccwbo.org/
Institute of International Education. Enables outstanding men and women to study, conduct research, and receive practical training outside their own countries. Homepage @ http://www.iie.org/
Les Dernires Nouvelles D'Alsace. An excellent regional newspaper with international coverage, completely online. open access. http://www.dna.fr/
France-AmŽrique. French-American Magazine. http://www.france-amerique.com/
French Web Links. Compiled by our very own French department at UW-Green Bay. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/french/

LINKS FOR MORE HELP:

Make sure you check out UW-Green Bay’s French Department homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/french or contact Professor E. Nicole Meyer, French Coordinator and Advisor, 465-2098, meyern@uwgb.edu
For course listings and descriptions for French and other disciplines, check out UW-Green Bay’s Programs of Study page @ http://www.uwgb.edu/catalog/undrgrad/programs.htm
More help is available on-campus at the Career Services Office at SS 1600, 465-2163. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/careers
Contact Academic Advising at SS 1600, 465-2362. Homepage @ http://www.uwgb.edu/advising
Another service for UW System students on the Web is UW HELP On-Line. This service provides in-depth information on the programs of the UW System. You can find them at @ http://www.uwhelp.wisconsin.edu

Revised 8/08