French Education (Grades K-12) Major - Bachelor of Science (BS)
Completion of the French Education Program and associated benchmark assessments will lead to endorsement for the following Wisconsin teaching license:
- French, grades K-12 (1355).
Students in all teacher education programs must satisfy the School of Education (SOE) core requirements.
Student all teacher education programs must be admitted to the School of Education in order to complete their program requirements be eligible for endorsement for the appropriate teaching license(s). Students majoring in French Education (grades K-12) must meet specific program admission criteria.
Retention and advancement
Beginning language proficiency
All students with French language on their transcripts and/or prior experience in French must take the Universities of Wisconsin Placement exam and are required to enroll at their level of placement. Students with no evidence of prior study of French are required to begin French at FRE 101
Curriculum
Required general education courses (6 credits)1
Besides the courses specified below, French education majors must satisfy additional general education requirements. The General Education Program requires a total of 42 credits.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDS 203 | School, Society, and Teachers 2, 4 | 3 |
| EDS 206 | Multicultural Education 3, 4 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
- 1
Students earning retroactive credits in French may count up to four credits toward the General Education Program requirement: Mathematical/Logical Systems and Modern Languages (GE Category 2).
- 2
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Self and Society (GE Category 6).
- 3
Counts toward General Education Program requirement: Minority Cultures or Multiracial Women's Studies (GE Category 3).
Allied course requirements for education majors (9 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 212 | Lifespan Development 4 | 3 |
| SPE 200 | Foundations of Special Education 4 | 3 |
| TSL 250 | Educating Multilingual Learners | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
French major content requirements (30 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Communication category | ||
| FRE 300 | Visual Encounters | 3 |
| FRE 301 | Sound, Speech, and Proficiency | 3 |
| FRE 307 | French for Professional Communication | 3 |
| Connections category | ||
| FRE 305 | Exploring the Story | 3 |
| FRE 403 | Studies in French/Francophone Literature | 3 |
| Culture category | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Perspectives on French Civilization | ||
| French without Borders | ||
| Study abroad | ||
| Three approved study abroad credits | 3 | |
| Elective credits | ||
| Select six credits of the following: | 6 | |
| French for International Relations | ||
| Practice in Translation | ||
| Perspectives on French Civilization 5 | ||
| French without Borders 5 | ||
| French 3.0: Focus on Science and Technology | ||
| French Cinema | ||
| French Literary Voices in English | ||
| National/International Intern Program | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Independent Study | ||
Approved study abroad credits | ||
| Capstone | ||
| FRE 430 | French Connections (must be completed at UWL) | 3 |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
World language education requirements (30 credits)
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Courses not requiring admission to the School of Education | ||
| GCL 310 | Theories and Research in Second Language Acquisition | 3 |
| TSL 345 | Intercultural Interactions | 3 |
| Courses requiring admission to the School of Education | ||
| GCL 300 | World Language Education: Field Experience I 4 | 3 |
| GCL 320 | World Language Education: Field Experience II 4 | 3 |
| GCL 400 | Teaching World Languages: Methods and Approaches 4 | 3 |
| GCL 420 | Teaching World Languages: Design and Application 4 | 3 |
| Student teaching semester 6 | ||
| EDS 492 | Student Teaching Seminar 4 | 1 |
| One of the following: 4 | 11 | |
| Student Teaching: Kindergarten through Grade 12 (K-12) | ||
| Teaching Internship | ||
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 4
Also satisfies an SOE core requirement.
- 5
If not taken in a previous category.
- 6
Must complete all course requirements and other benchmarks prior to student teaching. For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.
Study abroad requirement
- All students should consult with their advisor in French regarding specific requirements for study abroad;
- All French education majors are required to complete an approved foreign language immersion experience of at least 14 weeks (one semester);
- French education majors are required to complete the 300-level core of courses before studying abroad;
- Up to 15 credits of the 400-level and the electives categories may be taken abroad with faculty approval;
- FRE 430 must be taken at UWL (concurrent registration in methods course (GCL 400 or GCL 420) is recommended).
Language proficiency for student teaching requirements
Prior to student teaching, teacher candidates are required to
- Demonstrate proficiency with an "Intermediate High" rating on the American Council Teaching of Foreign Languages Oral Proficiency test (ACTFL-OPIc) and
- Demonstrate proficiency with an "Intermediate High" rating on the American Council Teaching of Foreign Languages Written Proficiency test in French (ACTFL-WPT internet).
Additional teacher education requirements are listed on the School of Education catalog page.
All teacher education students must complete the general education, School of Education, major/minor, and university degree requirements in order to qualify for a degree. The easiest way to track all of these requirements is to refer to the Advisement Report (AR) found in the Student Information System (WINGS) Student Center. All enrolled students have access to the AR.
Baccalaureate degree requirements
Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degrees must accomplish the following:
- Fulfill the general education requirements.
- Complete at least one ethnic studies (diversity) course.
- Complete the courses prescribed by the Undergraduate Curriculum Committee for the degree desired in the respective school or college.
- Earn a minimum of 120 semester credits with at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.1, 2
- At least 40 credits must be earned in 300/400 level courses. Transfer courses earned or transferred at the 300/400 level apply to this requirement.
- Complete major and minor requirements with at least a 2.00 GPA1, 2 in each major and minor (and concentration or emphasis, if selected).
- A minimum of 30 semester credits in residence at UWL is required for graduation. (See undergraduate resident requirement.)
- Submit an application for graduation via the "Apply for Graduation" link in the WINGS Student Center as soon as the student has registered for his or her final semester or summer term in residence. December and winter intersession graduates should apply by May 1. May and summer graduates should apply by December 1.
- 1
Grade point average requirements for some programs will be considerably higher than 2.00. Re-entering students may be required to earn credits in excess of the 120 needed for graduation in any curriculum in order to replace credits earned in courses in which the content has changed substantially in recent years. Each case will be judged on its own merit.
- 2
The grade point average recorded at the time the degree is awarded will not be affected by future enrollment.
No degree will be awarded unless all requirements are fulfilled and recorded within 30 days after the official ending date of each term.
Below is a sample degree plan that can be used as a guide to identify courses required to fulfill the major and other requirements needed for degree completion. A student's actual degree plan may differ depending on the course of study selected (second major, minor, etc.). Also, this sample plan assumes readiness for each course and/or major plan, and some courses may not be offered every term. Review the course descriptions or the class timetable for course offering information.
The sample degree plans represented in this catalog are intended for first-year students entering UWL in the fall term. Students should use the Advisement Report (AR) in WINGS and work closely with their faculty advisor(s) and college dean’s office to ensure declaration and completion of all requirements in a timely manner.
General Education Program
The general education curriculum (Gen Ed) is the common educational experience for all undergraduates at UWL. Sample degree plans include Gen Ed placeholders to ensure completion of the general education requirements. Courses may be rearranged to fit the needs or recommendations of the student’s program of study. Gen Ed courses may be taken during winter term (January between the semesters) and summer to reduce the course load during regular terms (fall and spring). Students should consult with their advisor and/or the college academic services director in their college/school for assistance with course and schedule planning. Refer to the general education requirements for more specific details.
At least 40 credits of the 120 credits required must be earned at the 300/400-level.
Note: New students and transfer students with less than 12 credits earned are required to take FYS 100 First-Year Seminar (3 cr.) during one of their first two semesters at UWL.
This sample degree plan does not establish a contractual agreement. It identifies the minimum requirements a student must successfully complete, to qualify for a degree, in a format intended to assist the student in planning their academic career. Actual degree plans may differ.
The sample plan below is based on a student beginning their French education major by placing into a FRE course at the 300-level and earning 12 retroactive credits. Additional courses may need to be completed, depending on a student’s FRE placement and number of retroactive credits earned. Students should consult with their advisor regarding their individual plan of study.
| Year 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| CST 110 (Gen Ed Literacy-Oral) | 3 | ENG 110 or 112 (Gen Ed Literacy-Written) | 3 |
| EDS 203 (Gen Ed Self & Society) | 3 | EDS 206 (Gen Ed Minority Cultures) | 3 |
| Gen Ed Math | 4 | Gen Ed Natural Lab Science | 4 |
| FRE 3001 | 3 | FYS 100 (Gen Ed First-Year Seminar) | 3 |
| FRE retroactive credits2, 3 | 12 | FRE 301 | 3 |
| 25 | 16 | ||
| Year 2 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| Gen Ed Humanistic Studies | 3 | SPE 200 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 | TSL 250 | 3 |
| PSY 212 | 3 | TSL 345 | 3 |
| FRE 307 | 3 | FRE 305 | 3 |
| Gen Ed Global Studies | 3 | Gen Ed Arts | 2-3 |
| Apply for admission to SOE4 | |||
| Apply for Field Experience I5 | |||
| 14 | 14 | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GCL 300 | 3 | Study Abroad Semester (Transfer Electives) | |
| GCL 400 | 3 | FRE Ed Major Electives | 9 |
| FRE 320 or 322 | 3 | Gen Ed World History | 3 |
| FRE 403 | 3 | Apply for Field Experience II5 | |
| Apply for Student Teaching6 | |||
| 12 | 12 | ||
| Year 4 | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| GCL 320 | 3 | All course requirements and other benchmarks must be completed prior to student teaching.7 | |
| GCL 420 | 3 | EDS 492 | 1 |
| GCL 310 | 3 | EDS 497 | 11 |
| FRE 430 | 3 | ||
| Gen Ed Health & Well-Being | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Credits: 120 | |||
- 1
Depending on placement, additional courses may be required to meet the prerequisite for enrollment in FRE 300.
- 2
Students who place into a French course at the 300-level and earn a grade of "B" or better will receive 12 retroactive credits.
- 3
Students earning retroactive credits in French may count up to four credits towards the General Education Program requirement: Mathematical/Logical Systems and Modern Languages (GE Category 2).
- 4
See the SOE admissions website for complete admission and application details. Students will be required to complete a criminal background check at the time of application for admission.
- 5
Students applying for field and student teaching placements will be asked to disclose any criminal charges.
- 6
Students must apply for student teaching through the Office of Field Experience one year prior to the student teaching semester.
- 7
For more information, please see the Student Teaching and Internship Policy.