COURSE CURRICULUM

The three-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) in French at Cape Breton University is designed to develop strong proficiency in spoken and written French while also building cultural and linguistic understanding of the Francophone world. In the first year, students take introductory French language courses along with general arts subjects, focusing on developing core skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The second year builds on this foundation with intermediate-level language courses and introduces studies in French-Canadian and global Francophone cultures, literature, and communication practices, helping students strengthen fluency and comprehension. In the third year, the curriculum advances to higher-level courses that deepen mastery of the French language and explore more complex areas such as French linguistics, language structure, variation, language contact, and Francophone literature and cultural studies from regions including Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Students also refine analytical, writing, and interpretive skills through advanced reading and discussion-based courses. Across all three years, the program emphasizes progressive language development, cultural awareness, and communication skills, preparing graduates for careers in education, translation, public service, international relations, media, and related fields, as well as for further academic study or professional certification in French language proficiency.