With a staff of internationally known scholars and teachers, the Department of French offers an unusually broad range of courses in French and Francophone language, literature, and civilization.

The program is strong and diversified, with emphasis on immersion of the student in foreign culture and language. The vast majority of courses are taught in French.

Each year the department offers a number of courses by eminent visiting professors. These visiting professors are one of the distinctive strengths of the department's graduate programs. Among the most recent visitors are Gérard Genette, Alain Robbe-Grillet, Philippe Roger, Françoise Gaillard, Lucette Finas, Tahar Ben Jelloun, and Yves Hersant. In addition, Jacques Derrida was a regular visitor to the department every fall. more...