French and Linguistics (BA)
Program Description
French
The Department of French Literature, Thought, and Culture welcomes students with no knowledge of French as well as students who learned French in secondary school or at another university and wish to maintain their language skills and/or study the literature, culture, or thought traditions of France and the Francophone world. Advanced courses are also suitable for native speakers of the language. With an emphasis on the diversity of the French-speaking world and on urgent questions such as gender, race, and the environment, the department’s course offerings are constantly evolving. The department offers a variety of majors and minors, all of which complement a wide variety of other majors, including but not limited to Art History, Comparative Literature, Economics, History, International Relations, Journalism, Music, and Psychology. Departmental majors and minors are strongly encouraged to study away at NYU Paris, located in the heart of the historic Latin Quarter.
After graduation, French majors follow a wide range of career paths. Among recent graduates are: a diplomatic policy advisor for the United Nations, an editorial project manager, a fashion journalist, an international development consultant, a manager in an international real estate firm, and others who work in the US Foreign Service, art museums, and NGOs. Other popular post-graduation pathways include graduate school (French, art history, linguistics, etc.), medical school, and law school.
At the Maison Française, students can attend films, lectures, concerts, and Café et Conversation events, as well as other undergraduate events throughout the academic year. The Department of French Literature, Thought, and Culture hosts a chapter of Pi Delta Phi, the national French honor society. The NYU French Club, run by and for our undergraduates, fosters camaraderie and increases interest in French language and Francophone cultures within the NYU community.
Linguistics
Linguistics is the science of human language. It seeks to determine that which is necessary in human language, that which is possible, and that which is impossible. While linguists work to determine the unique qualities of individual languages, they are constantly searching for linguistic universals—properties whose explanatory power reaches across languages. The discipline of linguistics is organized around syntax (the principles by which sentences are organized), morphology (the principles by which words are constructed), semantics (the study of meaning), phonetics (the study of speech sounds), phonology (the sound patterns of language), historical linguistics (the ways in which languages change over time), sociolinguistics (the interaction of language with society), psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics (the representation of language in the brain). Current research by faculty members extends across the field, including topics in the interaction of syntax and semantics, phonetics and phonology, languages in contact, pidgin and creole languages, urban sociolinguistics, and computer analogies of syntactic processes.
Joint Honors
Joint majors must choose to complete their honors thesis in French or Linguistics. This choice should be outlined in a 2-page proposal submitted by April 15 of junior year. Students must consult with the directors of undergraduate studies in both departments.
French Honors Track
For students whose primary adviser and thesis research is in French:
The French honors program is open to all students majoring in French. The minimum eligibility requirements are a grade point average of 3.65 both overall in the major.
Students admitted to the honors program will complete a 6-credit sequence in addition to the credits for their major during their senior year. This includes:
- A methodological “French Research Lab” seminar (2 credits).
- A thesis—an original work of scholarship in the field of French literature, culture, or Francophonie (4 credits). Students may write the thesis either in French (25-30 pages) or in English (40-60 pages). Students work on their thesis throughout the year with the support of a departmental faculty adviser. The adviser will be chosen in consultation with the director of undergraduate studies.
The honors program is a unique opportunity to develop an original research project, elaborate a methodology, and contribute to intellectual debates in the field of French literature, thought and culture. Over the course of the program, students become experts on the topics about which they are passionate. An honors thesis will be a testament to this rigorous and engaging work.
Completing the honors program is especially helpful for applying to graduate school, as the thesis will demonstrate a significant achievement in original research and academic writing. It can also help graduates on the job market by demonstrating to potential employers that they have the skills and abilities to ask complex questions, conduct thorough research, and complete an extensive written project from start to finish.
Linguistics Honors Track
Students whose primary adviser and thesis research is in Linguistics must complete an honors thesis, which is an original research project of 40 to 50 pages conducted over two semesters. The thesis is due on April 1st of the student’s senior year. Additionally, students must take two advanced courses: LING-UA 102 Senior Honors Thesis Seminar (4 credits) in the fall semester, and one other advanced undergraduate course, graduate course, or independent study, chosen in consultation with the thesis adviser (totaling 8 credits). The Senior Honors Thesis Seminar and the additional course chosen with the student's adviser may be counted as advanced electives. The thesis must be presented either at an oral conference presentation or in a private defense/discussion with the thesis adviser and a second reader.
Students who excel in Linguistics are encouraged to begin developing their honors project as early as the second semester of their sophomore year. To pursue honors, students should have a strong background in linguistics, typically gained through high-level coursework.
Admission to the honors program is by application in the second semester of the junior year. To be eligible, students must have a GPA of 3.65 or higher both overall and in Linguistics. Applications are due by April 15th and must include a one- to two-page description of the proposed thesis topic. The student must select faculty members from both departments to serve as co-advisers. The thesis topic must reflect contributions to both disciplines.
Admissions
New York University's Office of Undergraduate Admissions supports the application process for all undergraduate programs at NYU. For additional information about undergraduate admissions, including application requirements, see How to Apply.