The French and Francophone Studies Program (FFS) of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a major and a minor. The faculty are involved in the Honors Program, and other interdisciplinary pursuits on campus, and they serve as advisors of the Cercle français and the Pi Delta Phi French Honor Society. They also organize a summer-long study abroad program in Rennes and Paris and strongly recommend advanced study in the Francophone world. FFS emphasize language skills and offer interdisciplinary studies in the faculty's areas of specialization: French literature and civilization; the evolution of Western thought in France; the cultures and literatures of the Francophone world; and stylistics and translation.

Student Organizations
*French Honor Society - Pi Delta Phi
*French Club - Cercle français

The influence of French language and literature crosses centuries as well as geographic boundaries. Francophone studies is a dynamic and rapidly expanding field, focusing on the literatures, politics, history, cultures, language, identities and related studies of French-speaking countries.

These regions now include Africa, the Caribbean, North America, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans, in addition to francophone Europe. Villanova’s interdisciplinary FFS have been designed in response to these developments and provide students with a thorough grounding in the history, politics, cultural production (literatures, film, theater), sociolinguistics, post-colonial experiences, and development of Francophone countries. Coursework also assesses the role of France within and outside metropolitan France.

La francophonie represents a worldwide community and network. Employment possibilities for FFS graduates include academia, journalism, development, tourism, current affairs, and international organizations, to name a few. Numerous Villanova alumni live and work in France and Francophone countries, where they use their French language skills in teaching, publishing, international business and government organizations.

Coordinator: Dr. Jan-Franzke Rigaud, St. Augustine Center 338, 610.519.6955.

Please visit our Language Lab for audio files and web resources.