Foundation Program - French (B.A.) (30 credits)
Offered by: Arts - Dean's Office
Degree: Bachelor of Arts
Program credit weight: 30
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts Foundation Year is designed to ensure that students gain a broad foundation for the three-year degree program. It is comprised of 24-30 credits in one of two program options. In the "En français" or French option, students choose up to 18 credits from a variety of courses conducted in French. These credits may be comprised wholly of language courses, wholly of substantive content courses conducted in French, or a combination of the two.
Degree Requirements — B.A. students
To be eligible for a B.A. degree, a student must fulfil all Faculty and program requirements as indicated in Degree Requirements for the Faculty of Arts.
We recommend that students consult an Arts OASIS advisor for degree planning.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please refer to Visual Schedule Builder. A technical issue is causing the "Terms offered" field to incorrectly report "this course is not currently offered" for many courses in the Course Catalogue.
Core Requirement (18 credits)
Based on their proficiency in French, students select 18 credits from the courses below in French Language and Literature and French as a Second Language.
French Language and Literature Courses (FREN)
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FREN 201 | Le français littéraire (français langue seconde). | 3 |
Le français littéraire (français langue seconde). Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Perfectionnement de l'expression écrite au contact d'une variété de textes littéraires et par la rédaction de courts textes d'invention. | ||
| FREN 203 | Analyse de textes (français langue seconde) . | 3 |
Analyse de textes (français langue seconde) . Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Perfectionnement de l’expression écrite : analyse et apprentissage des règles de composition de divers genres de discours (textes argumentatifs, lettres, dialogues, récits, descriptions ou portraits). | ||
| FREN 231 | Linguistique française. | 3 |
Linguistique française. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Bref historique de la linguistique française de F. de Saussure à nos jours. Description linguistique du français moderne (éléments de phonologie, de phonétique normative, de lexicologie, de sémantique évolutive et synchronique, de syntaxe et de morphologie). | ||
| FREN 239 | Stylistique comparée. | 3 |
Stylistique comparée. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Initiation aux principes de la traduction par une étude systématique des contrastes entre les structures linguistiques de l'anglais et du français. Une bonne connaissance des deux langues est nécessaire au départ. | ||
| FREN 245 | Grammaire normative. | 3 |
Grammaire normative. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Révision des principales difficultés de la langue française. | ||
French as a Second Language (FRSL)
Depending on their level of proficiency, students may include a maximum of 12 credits of intensive French language courses. An intensive language course is a 6 credit term course. Students at the introductory level must take at least 6 credits in French in their Freshman/Foundation year but may be permitted to complete the remaining core requirement credits in year U1.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| FRSL 101 | Beginners French 1. | 3 |
Beginners French 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice. | ||
| FRSL 102 | Beginners French 2. | 3 |
Beginners French 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French-speaking environment. Short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice. | ||
| FRSL 103 | Near Beginners French. | 3 |
Near Beginners French. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Refresher course for students who have very little previous French instruction. Instructions in basic vocabulary and grammar applied to oral/written French. Cultural texts, short essay, and practice of basic speech patterns. | ||
| FRSL 104 | Corrective French Pronunciation. | 3 |
Corrective French Pronunciation. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Introduction to French phonetics. Course designed for students who have some previous knowledge of French at a Beginner/Elementary level and need to work on pronunciation, auditory discrimination and oral expression in order to continue developing their French skills. Corrective phonetics. Intensive oral practice. Guided work in language lab. | ||
| FRSL 105 | Intensive Beginners French. | 6 |
Intensive Beginners French. Terms offered: Summer 2025 A comprehensive introduction to basic vocabulary, grammatical structures and speech patterns of written and oral French for students in any degree program having no previous knowledge of French. Learning to communicate at a functional level in a French social milieu, short essays, cultural readings, mandatory lab practice and conversation class. | ||
| FRSL 206 | Elementary French. | 3 |
Elementary French. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This one-term course uses a task-based approach to provide students with authentic materials related to Canadian culture and prepares them for real life communication. Therefore, class time will be mostly dedicated to the completion of communicative tasks which often rely on the use of technology (mobile apps, blogs and other online tools). This course tackles different topics that students can relate to in their personal, social and academic life, and provides a review and further training in elementary language structures to develop their communication skills and digital literacy in French. | ||
| FRSL 207D1 | Elementary French 01. | 3 |
Elementary French 01. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. This two-term course uses a task-based approach to provide students with authentic materials related to Canadian culture and prepares them for real life communication. Therefore, class time will be mostly dedicated to the completion of communicative tasks which often rely on the use of technology (mobile apps, blogs and other online tools). This course tackles different topics that students can relate to in their personal, social and academic life, and provides a review and further training in elementary language structures to develop their communication skills and digital literacy in French. | ||
| FRSL 207D2 | Elementary French 01. | 3 |
Elementary French 01. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See FRSL 207D1 for course description. | ||
| FRSL 208 | Intensive Elementary French. | 6 |
Intensive Elementary French. Terms offered: Summer 2025 This one-term intensive course uses a task-based approach to provide students with authentic materials related to Canadian culture and prepares them for real life communication. Therefore, class time will be mostly dedicated to the completion of communicative tasks which often rely on the use of technology (mobile apps, blogs and other online tools). This course tackles different topics that students can relate to in their personal, social and academic life, and provides a review and further training in elementary language structures to develop their communication skills and digital literacy in French. | ||
| FRSL 211D1 | Oral and Written French 1. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Language lab attendance required. Grammar review, comprehension, vocabulary development, selected readings and group discussions. | ||
| FRSL 211D2 | Oral and Written French 1. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See FRSL 211D1 for course description. | ||
| FRSL 212 | Oral and Written French 1. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Equivalent to the first half of FRSL 211. Only with special permission of the Department. | ||
| FRSL 215 | Oral and Written French 1 - Intensive. | 6 |
Oral and Written French 1 - Intensive. Terms offered: Summer 2025 Language lab attendance required. Grammar review, comprehension, vocabulary development, selected readings and group discussions. | ||
| FRSL 302 | Listening Comprehension and Oral Expression 1. | 3 |
Listening Comprehension and Oral Expression 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Focus on oral discrimination, global comprehension and corrective phonetics. | ||
| FRSL 303 | Listening Comprehension and Oral Expression 2. | 3 |
Listening Comprehension and Oral Expression 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Emphasis will be on the development of oral communication skills, laboratory exercises, vocabulary building, discussions. | ||
| FRSL 321D1 | Oral and Written French 2. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Oral work involving discussion and exposés, cultural and literary readings, grammar review. Methodological component integrated in classwork and developed in frequent workshop sessions. | ||
| FRSL 321D2 | Oral and Written French 2. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See FRSL 321D1 for course description. | ||
| FRSL 322 | Oral and Written French 2. | 3 |
Oral and Written French 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Equivalent to the first half of FRSL 321. Only with special permission of the Department. | ||
| FRSL 325 | Oral and Written French 2 - Intensive. | 6 |
Oral and Written French 2 - Intensive. Terms offered: Summer 2025 The program of FRSL 321 will be covered in one semester. | ||
| FRSL 332 | Intermediate French: Grammar 01. | 3 |
Intermediate French: Grammar 01. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Grammar review, using both a theoretical and a practical approach. Reading materials, in addition to their cultural interest, are selected to illustrate grammatical usage, provide models of writing techniques and aid in vocabulary development. | ||
| FRSL 333 | Intermediate French: Grammar 02. | 3 |
Intermediate French: Grammar 02. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Second part of FRSL 332. | ||
| FRSL 407 | Compréhension et expression orales. | 3 |
Compréhension et expression orales. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Identification des niveaux de langue et prononciation du français familier; amélioration de la compréhension auditive par l'écoute d'une variété de documents audio-visuels du Québec et d'ailleurs. | ||
| FRSL 408 | Français oral: Textes et expressions. | 3 |
Français oral: Textes et expressions. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Suite du cours FRSL 407. Cours de perfectionnement de l'expression orale et écrite: amélioration de la production orale (intonation, débit, spontanéité); enrichissement du vocabulaire idiomatique relié à des fonctions socio-culturelles de la langue par le biais de techniques orales (jeux de rôles, discussions, simulations) et d'un journal. | ||
| FRSL 431D1 | Français fonctionnel avancé. | 3 |
Français fonctionnel avancé. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Destiné aux étudiants de niveau avancé qui veulent approfondir leurs connaissances lexicales, syntaxiques et culturelles afin de pouvoir exprimer avec clarté leurs opinions sur une variété de sujets. Par l'étude de journaux, revues et textes littéraires, les étudiants se familiariseront avec la réalité québécoise contemporaine. | ||
| FRSL 431D2 | Français fonctionnel avancé. | 3 |
Français fonctionnel avancé. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. See FRSL 431D1 for course description. | ||
| FRSL 432 | Français fonctionnel. | 3 |
Français fonctionnel. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Première moitié du programme du cours FRSL 431. Seulement avec la permission spéciale du département. | ||
| FRSL 445 | Français fonctionnel, écrit 1. | 3 |
Français fonctionnel, écrit 1. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Destiné aux étudiants dont le français oral est d'un niveau fonctionnel, mais dont le français écrit est nettement inférieur. Travaux écrits hebdomadaires, analyse de textes divers, exercices et tests en classe. But: corriger l'orthographe, la grammaire et les anglicismes, enrichir le vocabulaire, améliorer l'expression écrite. | ||
| FRSL 446 | Français fonctionnel, écrit 2. | 3 |
Français fonctionnel, écrit 2. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Rédactions de types variés. But: améliorer le style, développer les compétences telles que l'organisation et la présentation d'arguments ou l'identification des registres de langue. | ||
| FRSL 449 | Le français des médias. | 3 |
Le français des médias. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Cours de perfectionnement mettant l'accent sur l'enrichissement de la langue à l'oral comme à l'écrit. Analyse d'émissions de télévision ou de radio et lecture d'articles de journaux ou de revues. Activités variées portant sur des sujets d'actualité (reportages, débats, etc.) qui reflètent la société et la culture du Québec d'aujourd'hui. | ||
| FRSL 455 | Grammaire et création. | 3 |
Grammaire et création. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Perspective analytique et approche inductive et visuelle se combinent pour permettre une meilleure maîtrise du code grammatical. L'étude de textes de niveau soutenu met en relief la richesse des ressources lexicales et stylistiques du français et rend accessible la création littéraire aux étudiants non francophones. | ||
Substantive Content Courses Taught in French
Some subject area courses or "substantive content courses" are taught in French. Some courses may be offered in French and English in alternate years. POLI 226 La vie politique québécoise. listed below is such a course. When taught in French, such courses may be counted toward this program.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| POLI 226 | La vie politique québécoise. | 3 |
La vie politique québécoise. Terms offered: this course is not currently offered. Une introduction à la vie politique québécoise à travers l'étude des institutions, des idéologies et des comportements politiques. Une attention particulière sera accordée à la structure et aux changements dans le système politique québécoise. | ||
Remaining Credits (12 credits)
Students select the remaining credits (normally 12) for their Freshman/Foundation year from a list of approved courses for Arts Freshman/Foundation Year students. This list is found with requirements for the Freshman/Foundation Year - General option on the Arts OASIS website at: http://www.mcgill.ca/oasis/.