Global French Studies

Spoken by over 300 million speakers worldwide, the French language unites many cultures on all continents. Both the vehicle of a French nation that has left its mark on world history, notably through revolutions but also colonizations, and the mode of expression of a civilization which has contributed many thinkers, writers, scientists and artists, it is today the shared heritage of dozens of multicultural nations, in constant interaction with vernacular, regional, or global languages.

Paris is a multi-faceted city: a historical testimony to a centuries-old classical culture with a continuously modern and vibrant artistic scene, the stage of social and political turmoil of a national capital, one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. But la Ville Lumière is also a city with well-kept secrets, an ever-changing transnational city sheltering diasporas from the world over, and still a gateway to the Francosphere, to those regions of the world where French is an official or widely spoken language. Hence, AUP's Parisian roots and profound anchoring offer a rare opportunity to give our students access to many other traditions and ethos through the uncovering of this manifold cultural and social hub which is the French capital, and through study trips' explorations within and outside of Paris and France.

The major in French Global Studies provides students with an advanced level of French language skills, a first-hand experience of the multicultural reality of contemporary France, a knowledge of French-speaking societies and artistic productions in Africa, America (including the Caribbean), Asia, Europe and Oceanic spaces (in particular the Indian Ocean's) and an understanding of Francophone worldviews on major contemporary political and societal issues, such as gender, social, sexual and ethnic equalities, ideological and religious tensions, social justice and climate change, migration, and identity backlashes in France and Europe.

1. Students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in speaking, writing, reading, and understanding French at an advanced level. 
2. Students will be able to describe how the ethnically diverse Parisians and the culturally diverse French regions creatively reinterpret a common historical and intellectual heritage and open new global perspectives for France.   
3. Students will be able to compare the literatures, cultures, as well as the social and political histories of countries in the Francosphere, including African, Asian, Caribbean, European, Mediterranean, North American, and Oceanic spaces.               
4. Students will be able to use social, historical, political, philosophical, linguistic and artistic resources of the Francophone world to develop critical thinking skills and construct well-formed and informed arguments about global contemporary questions.

The major offers an immersive and dynamic learning environment that capitalizes on the university's unique location in the heart of Paris. Students gain advanced French language and cultural skills by experiencing the vibrant multiculturalism of contemporary France. The program integrates classroom learning with firsthand exploration of the city's historical, artistic, and social landscapes. Paris serves as a living classroom, where students engage with the diverse diasporas and multifaceted cultural narratives that shape the French capital. Additionally, study trips extend learning beyond Paris, providing insights into French-speaking societies in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Indian Ocean.