Senate Document Number 2902S

Date of Senate Approval 02/14/02

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Statement of Faculty Senate Action:

APC Document 27:   Requirements for the Majors in French and French with Teacher Licensure

Effective Date: Fall 2002

A. Delete: under "Major in French", p. 111, the following numbered sections:

I. Required courses in the major …

IV. Special departmental requirements …

Add: new statements for these sections:

I. Required courses in the major - 27 hours above the 220 level, including: FREN 300, 310, 320, 340, 341; three courses from the 400 series; plus a 300-400 level elective.

IV. Special departmental requirements

Oral competency. Oral competency will be tested after FREN 320 by the assembled faculty of French.

Capstone project. Competency in French will be demonstrated by a capstone project consisting of research plus oral and written presentations on French language, literature or civilization, to be carried out in one of the 400 level courses, as approved by the Department chair. Students must demonstrate satisfactory oral competency before undertaking the capstone project.

Impact statement:
a. The proposed change will in no way affect major, minor, or university requirements.
b. This change will not affect future staffing needs or regular course offerings.

Rationale:
The proseminar requirement is an essential component of the major in French. For the past few semesters we have increasingly individualized the capstone experience to better accommodate and reflect student interests. We have contextualized the capstone project in the 400 level courses and have seen through experience that this works better for all students involved, those completing the project and the others enrolled in the course, who have an enriched experience. Allowing students to complete the proseminar using any course at the 400 level provides more flexibility in the program.

B. Delete: listings for the following courses:

FREN 450

FREN 451

FREN 480

FREN 485

Impact statement:
a. The deletion of these courses will in no way affect major, minor, or university requirements.
b. These changes will not affect future staffing needs or regular course offerings.

Rationale:
The courses listed are scheduled to be dropped from the catalog due to the "sunset" policy. For the past few years, the faculty in French have used other courses to offer content that might also be offered in the courses proposed for deletion. For example, FREN 435, 445, and 460 all constitute studies in French literature and civilization; some of the content of FREN 480 is offered in FREN 300 and FREN 400. Finally, as noted above, the proseminar requirement has for the past few years been integrated into other regular course offerings.