Why UMKC?
- Why French at UMKC? Small course sizes, close contact with your professors and fun classes will make you glad you chose to study French with us.
- Employers often look to hire people who know a second language.
- UMKC graduates with a degree in French have found jobs throughout the region and the world in education, international affairs and many other fields.
Fast Facts
- The French Program serves approximately 250 students a year and offers courses in French language, literature and culture.
- A teaching certification program in French is offered in conjunction with the School of Education.
- Average language class size is 20 students, while literature and culture classes average 12-15 students.
- Free tutoring and conversation is offered each week in the Language Resource Center.
- Beginning and advanced courses are offered in the evening in order to serve the needs of working adults in the community.
- Two years of French college credit may be earned by students in 17 area high schools through the High School/College Program.
Student Organizations
- Le Cercle Francais/The French Club
- Weekly conversation table at a nearby cafe
- Participation in the annual Kansas City FilmFest
- Events such as crepe-making parties and film viewings
Real World Experience
Why study French?
- Be understood in 55 countries across five continents and by more than 200 million people, as well as on the Internet, where French is the third most common language.
- French is an official language of our largest trading partner (Canada).
- French provides the base for more than 50% of the modern English vocablary, so studying French can improve performance on standardized tests.
- Open the doors to art, music, fashion, food, architecture and literature.
- Be more competitive in the national and international job market in disciplines like business, medicine, aviation, law, transportation technologies, global/international distribution and luxury goods.
- French is the official working language of the UN, NATO, UNESCO, the International Olympic Committee, the European Union, the International Red Cross and many more organizations.
- French is one of the major languages spoken in the United States. 1.9 million Americans speak French at home
Careers
Career options for French majors:
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Salaries
Average starting salary:
- Bachelor's level graduate, $30,000 per year
- Master's level graduate, $40,000 per year
Top salary
- Professionals with an additional language skill can earn more than $70,000 per year
Admission Requirements
- A language placement exam is recommended for all students. Contact the department for information on this exam or see the department website.
- Transfer students may expect to continue their foreign language study at the next comparable level.
- After taking the placement exam, students may be advised to do either remedial or more advanced coursework.
- No more than nine hours of transfer credit for 200- to 400-level courses are normally allowed toward degree requirements.
Prerequisite Courses
- For entering freshmen, there are no specific requirements beyond those for general admission to the University.
Major Courses
- Students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond first-year French.
- Majors are encouraged to take French-related courses in other departments (History, Art History, Anthropology, etc.) and to take advantage of the rich interdisciplinary offerings at UMKC.
- French classes at UMKC are interdisciplinary, interactive, exciting and enriching.
Here are some examples of classes we teach:
- 20th-Century Novel of Adolescence
- Contemporary French Culture
- Medieval Arthurian Romance
- Francophone Literature and Culture
- French Novels and their Film
Other Programs Available
- A combined French major/business minor with the Bloch School of Business
- A French minor for students in any other major at UMKC
- A dual degree program for students who want to teach French in middle or high school
- A Masters in Romance Languages with an emphasis in French
Study Abroad with UMKC in Lyon, France
- Live with a French family for six weeks
- Experience French culture first-hand
- Earn valuable college credits
- Take courses on French art, architecture, history, politics, and culture
Faculty
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The full-time French faculty did their graduate work at Duke University, The Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania. They are actively involved in their fields:
- Publishing articles and monographs on their research topics
- Attending national and international conferences
- Collaborating with scholars around the globe
- Directing university-wide programs
Faculty Contacts
Dr. Gayle A. Levy (Undergraduate Adviser)
816-235-2820
levyg@umkc.eduDr. Kathy M. Krause (Graduate Adviser)
816-235-1340
krausek@umkc.eduForeign Languages
816-235-1311
http://cas.umkc.edu/foreign
Contact us
UMKC Office of Admissions
120 Administrative Center
University of Missouri-Kansas City
5100 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499
(816) 235-1111
www.umkc.edu
Individuals with speech or hearing impairments may
call Relay Missouri at:
1-800-735-2966 (TT)
1-800-735-2466 (voice)
Visit us
Contact the UMKC Welcome Center at 816-235-UMKC (8652), or toll-free at 1-800-775-UMKC (8652), and we'll arrange a guided campus tour and a meeting with faculty and staff.
