French

Chairwoman and Associate Professor: SHERRI ROSE
 

The study of French contributes to the education of the student in the following ways: (1) it stimulates and directs the acquisition of a national and international understanding by developing knowledge of the civilization, literature and language of one or more of the modern nations, which is a part of a cultural and liberal education; (2) it develops accuracy and precision in the use of language as an instrument for the comprehension and communication of ideas; (3) it offers training in the reading knowledge of a foreign language essential to advanced study in most fields of learning; (4) it is of practical value in diplomatic service, business and industry or foreign trade; and (5) it prepares the student to qualify for secondary or elementary school instruction or, after graduate study, for instruction at the college level in French.

Bachelor of Arts Language Requirement

For the bachelor of arts degree, a student must demonstrate a level of proficiency in the language achieved by three semesters of college study (through at least the 201 level). This requirement may be satisfied only by successful completion of French 201, or a higher-level three-credit course, on the Hillsdale campus. Satisfactory completion of two semesters of Freshman Rhetoric and the Great Books fulfills the bachelor of arts requirement in foreign language for students from non-English-speaking cultures who demonstrate possession of literary competence in their native tongue. Students who arrive with a 12-semester-hour competency in French, as determined exclusively by the Hillsdale College placement test, must take at least one course at Hillsdale College at or above the 201 level in French in order to satisfy the B.A. requirement. No student may fulfill the B.A. requirement by means of the placement exam alone.

The CLEP Examination

Any student qualifying on the basis of the departmental placement test to enter a French course numbered 102 or higher may receive a maximum of four hours of credit by successfully taking the CLEP examination in French. This test may be taken only once and must be taken during the first semester of enrollment at Hillsdale. If a student has more than four hours of Advanced Placement credit in French, or if a student has transferred or is expected to transfer more than four hours of French credit from another institution, said student is NOT eligible to take the CLEP exam in French for credit. Credit is given for the completion of the first semester of the introductory French course (101), whether or not the second semester is completed.