French North American Studies Minor, Concentration, and Certificate

[version française]

This course of study is designed to develop an appreciation for the diversity of French society in North America - from Maine and the Maritimes, through Quebec and the Great Lakes, into Louisiana, Haiti, Saskatchewan, and the many other French regions of the continent. The courses weave together a variety of subjects, such as geography, history, gender, literature, films, and current events, as well as involve students in field trips to historical and cultural sites, in actual research using formats as diverse as oral history and archeology, and in community service.

Bob & Sally Schaible, LAC, 2002

Faculty (Full Time): Barry Rodrigue (Coordinator); Eve Raimon; Bob Schaible; Mark Silber; Matthew Bampton.

Barry Rodrigue, Jackman, Maine, 1997

Three central courses are required. Courses on French North American subjects from other post-secondary institutions may be substituted, at the discretion of the FNAS Faculty. Supporting courses may be made applicable to the minor, if a portion of the student’s individual work in that course focuses on a French North American topic, as prearranged with the FNAS faculty and the course instructor. Finally, a student must complete a capstone paper, project, or other production that summarizes and unifies their course of work in French North American Studies. The topic chosen and the submission itself will be approved by the FNAS Faculty.

French North American Studies may be taken as a minor, a concentration, or a certificate. Any USM student may take this course of study as a minor, as long as they have the approval of their major advisor, although no more than six credit hours from their major may be applied toward the minor. Students majoring in Arts & Humanities, however, who wish to apply more than six credit hours from their major, may list French North American Studies as a concentration. The certificate is for non-degree students.

Prerequisite: Western Civilization II or World History II

Central Courses (3 courses required)

HUM 350-E, Cultural Fieldwork or HUM 360, Franco-American Community & Archival Work
HUM 301-I, French North America
HUM 310-I, French Settlement in the Northeast

Supporting Courses (3 of these courses or others; see guidelines, above)

HUM 135/136-I, United States Studies I and II
HUM 299, Creoles in American Women’s Literature
HUM 340-I, World Native Studies
SBS 381, Introduction to Globalization
SBS 399, Ethnicity, Immigration, and Identity
GEO 120-J, Geography of Maine

Exterior or Distance Courses (sample)

Capstone Production (1-credit).

HUM 398, Independent Studies. This is a capstone paper, project, or other production that summarizes and unifies a student’s course of work in French North American Studies.

In addition, we encourage students to take French language courses or to join a French conversational language group. We invite you to browse our website at (www.usm.maine.edu/lac/francoresources/).

Overseas University Study
We have treaty of exchange with Laval University in Quebec City for those students who may like to do a semester of study in Canada.

Solidarity Projects, Clubs, & Activities
Students in French North American Studies may like to work with the International Student Organization of Lewiston-Auburn (ISOLA), especially in relation to Francophone areas of the world.

French North American Studies class at the Maine State Legislature, Augusta, 2002

Native & Indigenous Studies class on a field trip in the Androscoggin Valley, Maine, 2002

[version française]