Undergraduate French Studies
Study the French language and culture to become a global professional.
Why Study French?
More than 220 million people in over 40 different countries speak French. Studying French gives students insight into a diverse array of cultures in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. French is one of the official languages of the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and international courts. On a more local level, Mississippi was part of the French colony of Louisiana during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Our French Program
The Department of Modern Languages offers a French major and minor as well as the master's degree with a French concentration in the Languages emphasis.
French students study the language and cultures of the French-speaking world. They can take courses in French literature from the Middle Ages to the 21st century, cinema, linguistics, cuisine, music and more. The language proficiency and cultural understanding they develop make them better-informed citizens of the world, as well as job candidates with highly sought-after skills.
Faculty Expertise
Our French classes feature low faculty-to-student ratios allowing students to work closely with the faculty. Faculty expertise includes linguisticcs, medieval French and Occitan literature, early modern French literature, 19th century French literature, and 20th and 21st century French and Francophone literature and film.
Dr. Anne Quinney, Professor of French, has a current book project on the work of five French film directors, Mia Hansen-Love, Justine Triet, Céline Sciamma, Alice Diop, and Mati Diop. They share a primary concern: the cinematic portrayal of a range of women’s experiences from a woman’s perspective. She is a 2024-26 Sarah Isom Fellow for Women and Gender Studies in support of this project.
Dr. Dan O'Sullivan, Chair and Professor of French, is working with Lynn Ramey (Vanderbilt University) and Jacob Abel (Baylor University) on a project that is partially funded by the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH). The project, "Brendan's Voyage," gameifies the twelfth-century text, The Voyage of Saint Brendan, in order to teach students about Old French language, including pronunciation. The image above shows the character of the Scriptorium Monk.
Welcome to the French Program
"The French faculty are an engaged team of instructors and scholars who explore the literature, language, ideas, history, and cultural forms produced from the medieval period to the 21st century in France and the francophone world. Our talented and attentive faculty teach innovative courses that speak to the interests and needs of today’s students who pursue the study of French for a variety of reasons, whether for the love of the language or for its professional applications in law, global business, health-related fields and more. We invite you to reach out to us should you have a question or wish to start a conversation."
Anne H Quinney
Professor of Modern Languages
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Academic Information
Learn about the French major and minor requirements as well as the general education requirements for the B.A. degree. Download a 4-year degree plan for the B.A. in French.
French Curriculum -
Scholarships
Scholarships from the Department of Modern Languages, College of Liberal Arts, and UM Office of Financial Aid help many students study French.
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Pi Delta Phi French Honor Society
Pi Delta Phi, the national French Honor Society, recognizes students’ outstanding achievement in French studies. The University of Mississippi’s chapter, Delta Omega, was established in 1966. Every year, faculty invite undergraduate and graduate students who meet the eligibility requirements to join this prestigious society. Members of Pi Delta Phi are eligible to apply for one of the Society’s generous scholarships for summer study abroad
Pi Delta Phi
Featured Course
FR 589. The Environment in French and Francophone Literature
Students learn more about environmental issues that have affected people and places in the French-speaking world by reading about them in the original French. As we study essays, novels, graphic novels, plays, music, and films from around the francophone world, moving chronologically from the 17th to the 21st century, we learn why cultural and historical context is essential for understanding environmental questions. We see what we miss when we apply over-generalized definitions of nature or environmentalism across different cultures and time periods.
Dr. Sara Wellman, FR 589 Faculty
"I hope that this class allows students to strengthen some of the skills that will serve them well in their post-graduate life: the ability to think critically about an issue such as climate change in an interdisciplinary way; the ability to be a bridge between different perspectives, cultures and languages in discussions of global issues. And of course, I hope that they all continue a life-long love of French and Francophone literature that brings them lots of enrichment and joy."
Meet the Faculty
Marta Chevalier
- Senior Lecturer in French
Hailey Kaim
- Adjunct Instructor in Modern Languages
Daniel O'Sullivan
- Chair and Professor of Modern Languages
Anne Quinney
- Professor of Modern Languages
Elodie Tantet
- Instructional Assistant Professor of French
Kristen Walker
- Instructor in Modern Languages
Sara Wellman
- Associate Professor of Modern Languages
Beyond the Classroom
French Club
A group for students who love French, run by students who love French. Two evenings a month, this informal gathering gives students the opportunity to use their French outside the classroom through games, films and group discussions. For more information, contact Marta Chevalier.
French Table
Join our weekly informal conversation group to practice your French, meet new friends, and get to know your instructors over a shared meal. For more information, contact Dr. Sara Wellman.
— Wednesdays 12:00p-1:00p @ the South Residential College
Study Abroad
Green Paris: Past and Present
French faculty (Wellman and Walker) lead this course to investigate the different roles that green spaces in and around Paris have played in French communities from the 17th century to today, including Versailles gardens, Monet's gardens of Giverny, and a former manufacturing plant transformed into a public park. Students tour gardens, visit museums, and situate green spaces in their historical context. They learn about the current work of environmental organizations in the Paris region and participate in a green volunteer project.
Cannes Film Festival
A French faculty member (Quinney) leads this study abroad course for French majors, Film Production majors, and more to attend the Cannes Film Festival in France. Students view films in competition and have a close-up view of how directors, actors, film technicians, media, and locals interact during the most famous annual film festival in the world. They research the history of the festival, film competition categories, film marketing, and the reception of films in various countries, wrote daily film critiques, and reviewed live events, movies, and television.
Angers: Catholic University of the West
Angers is a city of ~160,000 citizens in western France at the edge of the Loire Valley. The medieval seat of the Plantagenet dynasty, it has an old town with half-timbered houses, castle, and large cathedral and a thriving cafe culture. The Catholic University of the West is a private university founded in 1242 that has approximately 12,000 students. Its main campus in Angers has ~7,000 students. The exchange programs are best suited for advanced or graduate students with a strong grasp of the French language.
A Dream Visit to Paris
"Ever since I was little, it has been my dream to visit Paris. Over the summer, this dream was actualized when I went on the "Green Paris: Past and Present" study abroad with Dr. Wellman, Madame Walker, and a group of other students. This study abroad course allowed us to analyze the evolution and importance of the gardens in Paris and a few surrounding cities. When we weren't learning about the Jardin du Luxembourg or walking through the halls of Versailles, we were exploring all that Paris had to offer. On our last night in the city, we ventured to the Eiffel Tower to watch the tower lights sparkle, which they only do for five minutes every hour. We got there just in time and it felt like my trip had come to a perfect end as I got to stand with people I grew incredibly close with and experience something I had dreamed of for as long as I can remember."
Claire Reynolds
(B.A. in Economics, minor in French)
Outstanding Student Awards
| Year | Honors Day French Award |
| 2024 | Kathrynanne Eastman |
| 2023 | Alyssa Claire Langlois |
| 2022 | Lucy Hollis Jones |
| 2021 | Jeanne Gabrielle Torp |
| 2020 | Megan Amelia Wadsworth |
| 2019 | Elizabeth Lauren Brown |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | Megan Amelia Wadsworth |
| 2016 | Walker Daniel Bobo |
| 2015 | Jillian Leah Cowart |
| 2014 | Sarah Price Wright |
| 2013 | Cody LeBlanc |
| 2012 | Daniel James Hammett |
2011 | Marie Elizabeth Wicks |
| 2010 | Halley Anne Hargrave |
| 2009 | Catherine Corinne Cunningham |
| 2008 | Judith Bridges |
| 2007 | Ryan Matthews |
| 2006 | |
| 2005 | |
| 2004 | Brittany Gail McDonald |
| Year | French Awards |
| 2024 | 100 Level: Mason Baker 200 Level: Hailey Kaim: Aidan J. Redmond 200 Level: Kristen Walker: Emily McCarthy 300 Level: Marta Chevalier: Alfredo Martinez Perez 300 Level: Elodie Tantet: Mason Neal 500 Level: Caroline Potts MA Level: Elsie Clauss |
| 2023 | 100 Level: Ruth Callicott 200 Level: Sarah Spencer 300 Level: Grace Marie Azordegan 500 Level: Bryce Montgomery Barrett |
| 2022 | 100 Level: Sarah Ryann Morgan Fortner 200 Level: Conogher Clancy 300 Level: Sarah Winn Philpott 500 Level: Amy Rhodes MA Level: Justice Obioha |
| 2021 | 100 Level: Ellie Fitts 200 Level: Oanh Trieu 300 Level: KathrynAnne Eastman 500 Level: Lily Fritz MA Level: Cade Jarrell |
| 2020 | 100 Level: Lauren Hamme 200 Level: Amy Cain 300 Level: Lucy Jones 500 Level: Cheyanne Hope Glenn |
| 2019 | 100 Level: Haakon Colwell 200 Level: Gunnar Ohberg 300 Level: Madison Gee 500 Level: Madison MA Level: Charlie Winnick |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | Shelby Knighton, Amber Malone, Sarah Meeks, Mary Wimsett |
| 2015 | Amir Aziz, Savannah Bryant, Elizabeth Wicks, Shelby Knighten, Sarah Meeks |
| 2014 | Brad Gordon, Adair Abbott, Kelly Cervenka, Amir Aziz, Shelby Knighten |
| 2013 | Grace Ann Pierce, Daniel Hammett, Daniel Webb, Sarah Price Wright, Brad Gordon, Talley Diggs, Drazen Minor, Katelynn Rose Dillard, Brian D. Hiller, Harman Kaur, Tara Palmer, Steven Wild |
| 2012 | |
2011 | Brad Gordon |
| 2010 | Jamie Kathryn Gandy, Robert McCain, Ramsey McNeil, Courtney Pinac, Merill Lee Girardeau, Alex Vega |
| 2009 | Elwyn Lopez, Ariadne Strutton, Richard Martindale, Margaret McDill, Elizabeth McNair, Matthew Cope |
| 2008 | Richard Martindale, James Buchanan, Christen Chapman |
| 2007 | Zebulon Brookshire, Ramsey McNeil, Diana Madrigal |
| 2006 | |
| 2005 | |
| 2004 | Courtney Elizabeth McAlexander (First Year), Demetria Lakenta Bracey (Second Year), Ann Barrett Blackburn (Third Year), Haley Elizabeth McCay (Fourth Year) |
Careers and Alumni
College of Liberal Arts students have access to a strong alumni network. Our French language alumni find careers in all major economic sectors, with the most common including:
- education - both K-12 and higher education,
- business and finance,
- law,
- STEM,
- non-profits and community services, and
- government & military.
“Learning a foreign language has been an amazing experience for me, it opens windows to different cultures and perspectives and opens doors to different career paths. French is a beautiful language and France is a beautiful country. It has always benefited me in my life and career to be able to speak it, right down to the day to day dealings I have in my job with my francophone clients all over the world such as Canada, France, and even North Africa where it is often a 2nd language.”
Christine Day
BA in French and International Studies (2006)
Integrated Agency Team Lead, Oncology & Hematology, Publicis Health
Study Abroad
We are proud of the legacy built by French alumni.
- Business Analyst, Applied Information Services
- VP, Merchants & Farmers Bank
- Global Knowledge Manager, KPMG
- Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Human Resources, Creative Artists Agency
- Account Executive, Divaris Real Estate
- Corporate Travel Consultant, FCM Travel Solutions
- Faculty, University of Pennsylvania
- English Teacher, American School, Switz.
- Teacher, Academy de Nantes
- French Teacher, Columbia High School
- Associate Attorney, Baker Botts
- Communications Coordinator, Kate Spade
- Legal Editor, Bloomberg Law
- Associate General Counsel, TransAtlantic
- Project Manager, IBM
- Director, US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- International Economist, US Department of Commerce
- Director of Employee Engagement, St. Jude Hospital
- Senior Program Officer, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria