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French is offered as a degree-level subject in a wide range of programmes in U.C.C. Further information on each of these programmes is available in the University Calendar and in the Prospectus. Discover more by exploring this site and you can also download our prospectus in PDF format.
Members of the Department of French will be glad to visit schools to speak about the study of French, to answer questions and to offer advice. If you would like to meet us, please do not hesitate to make contact with us (email: french@ucc.ie).
Yes, as a rule. Formally speaking, you are required to have reached at least matriculation standard (the equivalent of a pass in the Leaving Certificate examination, or equivalent) if you wish to choose French as one of your subjects in U.C.C. To be admitted to the B.A. in Language and Cultural Studies, the B.A. in European Studies, the B.C.L. in Law and French, and the B.Comm. European (French), you must have reached at least the standard of a C1 in Higher Level French in the Leaving Certificate (or equivalent). This is the level we recommend to all those intending to take French as a degree-level subject.
You will study both French language and a number of different aspects of French culture, including literature, thought and society. In French language, you will work on a wider range of language skills. You will read more widely in French and acquire specialized skills in the reading, analysis and discussion of texts.
In each year, language modules integrate the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Written language courses in the first and second year include work on comprehension, grammar and vocabulary. Essay-writing is an important feature of language-teaching and language-learning in all years. Translation forms part of the language programme in the second and the final year. Oral classes are taught by native speakers of French. Specialized language modules are provided for students of the B.C.L. in Law and French and the B.Comm. European, and, in the second year, for all students who spend the third year of their degree programme abroad.
Yes. You will study literary texts in all years. In the first year, most of these are contemporary works. In the second and final year, much of your work on literature takes place in the context of seminars which provide you with plenty of opportunities for discussion and exchange of views.
Curiosity, imagination and a taste for reading are the some of the main qualities you will need to draw on as a student of literature. The teaching you will receive will help you to develop your capacity and skills in the reading and discussion of texts. Studying literary texts is of interest in itself. It will also help you to develop your knowledge and understanding of French culture, of reading and interpretation, and of intellectual discussion and debate.
Yes. Core scheduled (or content-based) teaching extends from the first to the final year over the study of literature, thought and the structure and varieties of contemporary French; in addition, specialized scheduled courses are provided from students of B.C.L. in Law and French and the B.Comm. European. Specialized areas of French are introduced from the second year onwards in the form of courses organized as five distinct strands: Literary studies; Linguistics; French thought and the history of ideas; Cultural studies; French society and institutions. In B.A. degrees, you may choose modules from within these strands in the second and final year.
French is used as the medium of written language teaching in the first and second year. You will also have a weekly one-hour class on spoken French in each year. Lectures and seminars are generally given in English. It is planned to introduce teaching through the medium of French in certain specialized courses in the second and final year.
Yes. The University provides a Languages for All programme which incorporates courses in a wide range of languages at levels from beginner to advanced. If no provision exists for language courses in your degree programme, you may nonetheless study languages either in public courses or on a self-access basis, using language laboratory and other facilities. The University's Language Centre (located on the ground floor of the O'Rahilly Building) is responsible for all of these courses (email: info@langcent.ucc.ie).
All of the degree programmes which include French as a subject will
enable you to bring your language and interpretative skills, together
with your knowledge of French, to a high level. The B.A. Joint
Honours (CK101) is the most flexible degree. You take four
subjects in the first year and choose your degree subjects from
amongst these four at the beginning of the second year. This degree
allows you to study French in combination with most of the other
subjects in the Faculty of Arts. There are several other CAO entries
which include French. These include two further degrees in the
Faculty of Arts: the B.A. in
Language and Cultural Studies (French) (CK107) and the B.A. in
European Studies (CK105). Both of these are four-year degrees,
incorporating a year of study in a French-speaking university. The
B.A. in Language and Cultural Studies has something of the same
flexible structure as the B.A. Joint Honours, in that it allows you
to combine French with a wide range of other subjects. The B.A. in
European Studies is a programmatic degree, in which you follow
dedicated modules n each year allowing you to specialize in aspects
of European integretation and European development, as well as
studying French to an advanced level.
The B.C.L. in
Law and French (CK302) and the B.Comm.
European (French) (CK205) are specialized degrees. The objective
of each degree is to provide a dual formation, in French, on the one
hand, and in law and business disciplines, on the other. Each degree
contains a number of modules linking each of the strands of learning
and these degrees also incorporate a year abroad.
The year abroad is a year of study in a European university. It provides the opportunity both to use and extend your knowledge of the language in a native-speaker environment and to experience study in another European country. University College Cork has a wide range of partnerships with universities in each country of the European Union and these partnerships provide the context for student exchanges. If your degree includes a year abroad, you will spend that time as a student in the European Union ERASMUS programme registered in a French or Belgian university. Your year of study, which involves following approved courses in the partner university, forms a fully recognized part of your degree programme in U.C.C.
A degree which includes French opens a wide range of possibilities to you, in which you will be able to draw on your skills in the use of language, in communication, and in interpretation and argument, as well as your knowledge of France and of Europe. Graduates in French work in the public service, in teaching (at all levels), public administration, broadcasting and the arts. Careers in the private sector include banking, marketing and communications. Work abroad is increasingly available as a career option in contexts where you can use your knowledge both of English and of French.
You may decide that, in order to extend or develop your knowledge, or to enhance your career options, you wish to follow a postgraduate course. A range of postgraduate courses are provided by the Department of French. Postgraduate opportunities are widely available throughout the University which will provide you with scope to develop new areas of knowledge (see the postgraduate section of the University Calendar.
There are a number of useful sources of information to which you can refer. These include the University prospectus for students thinking of entering U.C.C., which can be obtained from the Admissions Office. You should take the opportunity to visit the University on the Open Day, which takes place in October (the next open day is expected to be held on 13 October 2001).
This site includes full information on programmes in French.
You can also write to the Department of French with any questions you may have (by post to Head of Department, Department of French, University College Cork, Cork; by e-mail to french@ucc.ie).
[ Home | U.C.C. | Department of French | Programmes | Postgraduate | Research | 2008--09 | Subject resources | Teaching materials | Search ]