2024-2025 Catalog

Advising Information

Students interested in the French Studies major should take the online French placement exam or submit a qualifying standardized test score (see Placement Information below) in order to identify their appropriate course level as they  start their studies.  Students in the major typically take at least one course in French every semester. They are also strongly encouraged to study abroad in a French-speaking country and to avail themselves of other international opportunities such as the Richter and Maes scholarships.

French Studies

Students interested in the French Studies major should take the online French placement exam or submit a qualifying standardized test score (see Placement Information below) in order to identify their appropriate course level as they  start their studies.  Students in the major typically take at least one course in French every semester. They are also strongly encouraged to study abroad in a French-speaking country and to avail themselves of other international opportunities such as the Richter and Maes scholarships.

Placement Information

For detailed placement information, please see the Language Study & Placement page. 

Sample 4-Year Plan

French Majors (starting at 101-level) 

 

Fall

Spring

Year 1

  • Fall FYS course

  • FREN 101

  • Core Requirement

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • Spring FYS course

  • FREN 102 (Foreign Language)

  • Core Requirement

  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 2

  • FREN 201 (CPGC)

  • Core Requirement

  • Core Requirement

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • FREN 202(CPRF)

  • Core Requirement

  • Core Requirement

  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 3

  • 300-level FREN

  • 300-level FREN

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • 300-level FREN

  • 300-level FREN

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 4

  • FREN 497(Senior Seminar)

  • 300-level FREN

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • 300-level FREN

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

Curricular Notes

  • A maximum of three courses may be taken outside the department, including those taken on study abroad programs.

  • Only one FREN elective may be taken in English.

French Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: 3 courses

Designated Transfer Adviser


Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in French:

  • Junior transfers should have language proficiency equivalent to FREN 202 or higher. They should have completed at least two-thirds of their core requirements. 

  • No specific preparation is required for students transferring in as sophomores or midway through their sophomore year, though previous language experience will allow for additional flexibility. 


What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

  • Junior transfers should take FREN 202 unless they have already completed an equivalent course; in that case, they should take a 300-level course. Spring transfers should contact the transfer adviser or department chair as early as possible to discuss their plans.

  • Other transfer students should take a placement exam or use prior coursework to determine the appropriate French language course to take during their first semester.

Spanish Studies

Students interested in the Spanish Studies major should take the online Spanish placement exam or submit a qualifying standardized test score (see Placement Information below) in order to identify the appropriate course to start their studies.  Students in the major typically take at least one course in Spanish every semester. They are also strongly encouraged to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country and to avail themselves of other international opportunities such as the Richter and Maes scholarships. 

Placement Information

For detailed placement information, please see the Language Study & Placement page. 

Sample 4-Year Plan

Spanish Studies Major (starting at 101-level) 

 

Fall

Spring

Year 1

  • Fall FYS course

  • SPAN 101

  • Core Requirement

  • Core Requirement

  • Spring FYS course

  • SPAN 102 (Foreign Language)

  • Core Requirement

  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 2

  • SPAN 201

  • Core Requirement

  • Core Requirement

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • SPAN 202 (CPGC)

  • Core Requirement

  • Core Requirement

  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 3

  • 300-level SPAN (Literature)

  • 300-level SPAN (Linguistics)

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • 300-level SPAN (Literature)

  • 300-level SPAN

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

Year 4

  • SPAN 490 (Senior Seminar)

  • 300-level SPAN

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • 300-level SPAN

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

  • General Elective (4 units)

Curricular Notes

  • Once course must be numbered 340 or higher

  • A maximum of three courses may be taken outside the department, including those taken on study abroad programs

  • Only one course may be taken in English

Spanish Transfer Student Advice

Transfer Course Limit for Transfer Students: 3 courses

Designated Transfer Adviser


Expected preparation for transfer students wanting to major in Spanish:

  • Junior transfers should have language proficiency equivalent to SPAN 202 or higher. They should have completed at least two-thirds of their Core requirements. 

  • No specific preparation is required for students transferring in as sophomores or midway through their sophomore year, though previous language experience will allow for additional flexibility. 


What courses should a transfer student take during their first semester at Occidental?

  • Junior transfers should take SPAN 202 unless they have already completed an equivalent course; in that case, they should take a 300-level course. Spring transfers should contact the transfer adviser or department chair as early as possible to discuss their plans.

  • Other transfer students should take a placement exam or use prior coursework to determine the appropriate Spanish language course to take during their first semester.