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COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES

Students in class.

The French and Francophone Studies program offers a wide range of courses and experiences, both on campus and beyond, that will prepare you for success in our increasingly globalized world.

Our FFS faculty are committed to providing students with an understanding of the French language and expanding their cultural competence through varied classroom experiences, extra-curricular activities, and study abroad opportunities. You can start learning French in introductory courses or further develop your language skills in intermediate, composition and conversation classes. Taught entirely in French, our upper-level seminars cover a wide range of subjects and geographical areas related to the faculty’s expertise in literature, cinema, and cultures of the Francophone world.

WHY FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES?

No matter what career you decide to pursue—healthcare, international development, marketing, finance, consultancy, fashion, etc.—your language and intercultural skills will set you apart from most job seekers and drastically increase your marketability.

Our program aims to give you a complete experience in the Humanities. Your engagement with critically influential texts, films, and thinkers, as well as with contemporary popular culture will allow you to understand and better contribute to the complex world we live in.

Over 300 million people speak French around the world—and even in (cyber) space! French is the fourth most spoken language in US households. By speaking it, you will be able to better negotiate cultural diversity and relate to people all over the globe and within your community.

Director of French and Francophone Studies
Dr. Roderick Cooke
St. Augustine Center 340

WHO WE ARE

Paisley Hahn '24 CLAS

Paisley Hahn ’24 CLAS graduated with a double major in Criminology and French & Francophone Studies. She will be a high school English teaching assistant in Toulon, France during the 2024-2025 school year. Her French courses at Villanova helped her solidify her fluency in the French language. Further, taking courses on literature, film, and cuisine, along with studying abroad in Toulouse, allowed her to dive deeper into French culture and inspired her desire to return to France after graduation.

Rachel Westcott '23 CLAS

Rachel Westcott '23 CLAS earned her Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Science and French and Francophone Studies from Villanova. After graduation, she moved to Paris, France, as a Fulbright-CY Initiative Award recipient to pursue a master's degree in Environmental Science at CY Cergy Paris Université. She is now in the second year of her program, focusing on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Communication while working as an Environmental Impact Analyst at Fairglow, a Paris-based startup specializing in carbon management for the cosmetic industry. Rachel’s experience learning about French language and culture, both at Villanova and in Paris, broaden her perspective and introduce new opportunities on a daily basis.

Victoria Rozas-Rivera '24 CLAS

Victoria Rozas-Rivera '24 CLAS graduated from Villanova in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and French & Francophone Studies. After graduation, she will be teaching French 2 and 3 in Bryn Mawr, PA. She looks forward to incorporating all she learned from Dr. Achille and Prof. Massonnat about Francophone literature, film, and politics in her own classroom. Her goal is to inspire the same passion for the French language and Francophone culture in high school students. In the future, she hopes to return to Toulouse, France, where she studied abroad in Fall 2022 and also plans on pursuing a graduate degree in the education field.

Bella Stern, 21' CLAS

Bella Stern, 21' CLAS pursued a double major in Psychology (BA) and French & Francophone Studies, with a minor in sustainability. After graduating in the Spring of 2021, she moved to Paris in the Fall to attend Parsons. There, she pursued a master's degree in Fashion Studies, with the plan of staying in Paris, working in set design and styling. Knowing French and studying abroad in Lille before moving to Paris has been integral in her work and acclimation into French culture.

EDUCATION WITH IMPACT

 

AN EDUCATION IN THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES promotes intellectual curiosity and rigor; instills the fundamentals of critical insight, mature judgment and independent thinking; and strengthens students’ sense of their moral responsibility for others and for the betterment of society.