Explore your interests in French and Francophone Studies at Lawrence.

Academic advising at Lawrence seeks to empower each student to craft and pursue a transformative liberal arts experience that prepares them for impactful and personally fulfilling lives. Faculty advisors support students in planning and achieving their educational goals, facilitate connections to campus resources and communities, and guide students to make informed decisions as they pursue their academic interests and aspirations. 

Course Planning for New and Exploring Students

French-interested students should begin the language sequence in their first year (French 101, 102, and 200-level). Wondering which French course to start with?

  • If you have never taken or learned French before, you should enroll in FREN 101: Beginning French I.
  • If you have already taken some French, you must first take the online placement test. This placement test will give you an indication of which course you should take. Please take this test only once. 
  • If you test into "202+" you have a choice of taking either FREN 202: Intermediate French III (a review of intermediate reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills) or a 300-level course (introductory literature, film, culture courses). 

AP/IB Credit and Advanced Placement

Students must score a 4 or 5 on the AP French Language and Culture exam in order to receive AP credit at Lawrence. Lawrence offers 6 units of credit for each higher-level International Baccalaureate (IB) exam with scores of 5 or higher. Students with AP or IB credit in French will earn 6 units of FREN electives and may take the online placement test for entry into a 200-level FREN course. AP or IB credit in French will fulfill the language competency general education requirement. 

Declare a Major/Minor

All students are expected to declare a major before the end of sophomore year. Ideally, sophomore students will declare a major (and switch to an advisor in the major) before advance registration advising begins in spring term.

DECLARE A MAJOR/MINOR

Major Advising

All students will transition to a major advisor upon declaration. The major advisor will help students plan their coursework to satisfy requirements for the major, select courses in other areas to complement the major or satisfy personal interests, and prepare for their Senior Experience. Prospective French and Francophone Studies majors can consult with any of the following faculty about serving as a major advisor:

Add a Major Advisor

Need help identifying an advisor in the major? Students can contact advising@lawrence.edu for assistance with advisor matching.

Add a Major Advisor

Minor Advising

Students do not need an official advisor for the French minor. Instead, French minors are encouraged to consult with the department chair or other French faculty for advice on course selection and satisfying minor requirements.

Additional Student Resources

If you still have questions about advising support related to the French program, we invite you to contact the department chair. 

Contact the French Department Chair
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