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Majors and Minors

French Major & Minor

The Hartwick College French major is designed to prepare you for a future of increasing global interdependence.

Hartwick students in France

Where degrees in French can take you.

More than 220 million people currently speak French on five continents. French is the second most widely learned language and the sixth most widely spoken language in the world. It’s also one of the only languages, along with English, that’s taught in every country in the world.

Knowledge of French and French-speaking cultures is advantageous in many careers. The French major at Hartwick is designed to develop students’ fluency in oral and written language skills and to equip them with cultural competence.

Along the way, students’ perspectives of the world are enhanced through a critical understanding of multiculturalism in Europe, North America, the Caribbean, and Africa.

Typically, graduates pursue careers as:

  • Interpreters and translators
  • High school teachers
  • Public relations specialists
  • Curators
  • Flight attendants
  • Social and human services assistants
  • Management analysts
  • Historians

Putting French to work

Hartwick alumni at work.

Hartwick language majors are prepared for a range of career opportunities in a variety of fields. They work for:

  • U.S. Department of Justice
  • The University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
  • Family Service League
  • City of Chicago

Alumni in graduate school.

Our alumni are prepared for graduate and professional study at some of the best universities in the United States:

  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Delaware
  • New York University
  • State University of New York at Albany

An agreement between Hartwick College and the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis allows one graduating French major per year to spend a year in France as a paid lecturer in English.

Beyond the basic.

The faculty in the French program work very closely with students, helping them find internships locally, regionally, and abroad in areas that connect with their various majors and or minors. French majors and minors at Hartwick participate in January Term study abroad programs, which offer students opportunities to reinforce and expand previous learning in places like France, Switzerland, Quebec, Senegal, Mali, and Cameroon.

A closer look.

Beyond foundational courses, French students are encouraged to pursue the study of literature, culture, and the practical application of language skills. Dedicated faculty members, small class-sizes, and a supportive and engaged campus community allow students to mold and direct their language studies in ways that best complement their learning goals.

Hartwick is the first college or university in New York State to offer a Peace Corps Preparatory Program. The program prepares students for meaningful and successful international careers in global healthcare, business, and education. French students who complete the Peace Corps Prep Program are 70% more likely to be selected to serve in the Peace Corps.

Faculty

Mark Wolff

Professor of French and Modern Languages Department Chair
wolffm0@hartwick.edu
607-431-4615

THREE-YEAR BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAM

Ready to move faster? Get the full Hartwick French experience in three-quarters the time at three-quarters the cost.

Learn More

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