Minor in French
Why minor in French?
The minor is one of the best academic investments you can make alongside another field. Here are just a few examples of how a French minor can boost the value of any major.
Business or economics
French is the second-most-used language in international business after English, and Francophone Africa is one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world.
Political science or international relations
French appears in nearly every multilateral negotiation in the world. It is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and, alongside English, one of only two working languages of the UN Secretariat, NATO, the Council of Europe, and the OECD.
Pre-law
A serious portion of international, comparative, and human-rights law is still written, argued, and decided in French. French is the primary internal working language of the Court of Justice of the European Union and, alongside English, one of the two working languages of the European Court of Human Rights, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice.
STEM
France is consistently among the world's top producers of peer-reviewed scientific research and home to global leaders in aerospace, pharmaceuticals, and energy—Airbus, Safran, Sanofi, EDF—all of which operate in French and recruit internationally. Bilingual Canada adds another research and tech corridor where French fluency is a measurable hiring advantage.
Art history, film, or literature
Studying French opens up not one cultural tradition but a whole multicontinental network that draws on traditions from Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, the Maghreb, Québec, and beyond. Whether you're reading Proust, watching Mati Diop, or analyzing a Manet, French gets you to the source.
Public health or environmental studies
65% of the world's French speakers now live in Africa, a figure projected to rise to 90% by 2050. Francophone West and Central Africa contain some of the most consequential global health programs and biodiversity hotspots on the planet, from the Congo Basin to the Sahel.
Requirements for the minor
The minor in French consists of a minimum of 15 units taught in French, nine units of which must be in upper division French courses. One course taught in English may apply to the minor.
Courses in the minor may not be counted toward the major, but may be used to satisfy preparation for the major and general education requirements, if applicable. A minimum of six upper division units must be completed in residence at San Diego State University.
Advising
Kylie Sago, Undergraduate Adviser
Office: SH 224C
Email: [email protected]
Anne Donadey, Program Director
Email: [email protected]
Important Links
Class Schedule | SDSU Catalog | Academic Calendar | Canvas
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