Whether you are interested in launching a career in the global market or preparing to explore graduate school options, an Upper-Division Certificate in French studies will serve as the foundation for jobs in education, business, government, and other organizations serving French-speaking communities worldwide.

In the One-Language option with French concentration (“major in French”) (42 credits), students participate with students of other languages in a common core of three courses that stress linguistic and cultural analysis. Therefore, aside from acquiring proficiency in the French language and knowledge of the cultures of France and the French-speaking world ( the Cajuns of Louisiana, the Caribbean, Canada, and West Africa), students also learn about the fascinating dynamics of languages and cultures in general.

The MLLI faculty, which includes a unique combination of specialists in linguistics, sociology, cultural and literary studies, and pedagogy, has been a pioneer in developing an interdisciplinary curriculum. Most university language programs focus almost exclusively on language and literature. Not UMBC:

French courses address an exciting variety of cultural, sociological, and literary themes. UMBC French students learn about the histories, cultures, and social problems of the societies in which French is spoken. Classes in advanced French courses are small and offer the opportunity for individual interaction with professors.