The French Department offers a four-year Bachelor of Arts programme that includes courses in both language and literature and civilisation. Students who have already studied French in secondary school may be permitted to begin the program at a higher level. Many students continue after completion of the programme to obtain the Post-graduate Degree in Education in order to teach in secondary schools.
Students who wish to speak other languages, who enjoy literature and cultural studies, or who are interested in international affairs and travel will find the programme rewarding.
Students take a core curriculum of language and literature courses that enable them to speak, read, and comprehend French with a high level of competency. In addition, a broad array of optional courses enables them to choose the particular aspects of the field on which they wish to concentrate. These courses include topics in literature and philosophy, contemporary life and civilisation, linguistics, and French for specific purposes such as business, tourism, diplomacy, or translation.
The ability to speak another of the worlds’ most widely used languages opens many opportunities to students. Besides the chance to teach French in secondary schools or at the University level, French majors have the possibility to work in government, international business and commerce, tourism, journalism, and international law. You may choose to work in some Advertising agencies as an advertiser, a Copy writer. Other opportunities include working as Guide, Hostess, Hotel or Catering Administrator, Information Officer, Interpreter, Translator, Journalist or archivist, Private Secretary or Private Tutor.
Only candidates who passed FRENCH in the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) or its equivalent may be admitted to Level 100 Group A ADVANCED.
Candidates without the above requirements may be admitted to Level 100 Group B BEGINNERS.
In a combined major Degree Programme, a student may take the following:
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100(Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at Level 100 (Group A advanced) and two optional courses at Levels 200, 300 and 400. One of these optional courses shall be selected from the prescribed courses offered by other Departments in the Faculty of Humanities;
At least one elective at Levels 100, 200, 300, and 400, which may be taken from another department, depending on the students’ professional needs;
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100 (Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at Level 100 (Group A advanced) and two optional courses at Levels 200, 300 and 400. One of these optional courses shall be selected from the prescribed courses offered by other Departments in the Faculty of Humanities;
At least one elective at Levels 100, 200, 300 and 400 which may be taken from another department, depending on the students’ professional needs;
To be awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in a Combined Major Programme, a student must have obtained 24 credits in the core courses and at least 28 credits in the optional courses. The total number of credits must not be less than 52.
In a combined Degree programme, where French is the Major, a student shall take the following:
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100 (Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at Level 100 (Group A advanced), two optional courses at Level 200 and three optional courses at Levels 300 and 400. One of these optional courses shall be selected from the prescribed courses offered by other Departments in the Faculty of Humanities;
At least one elective, which may be taken from another department, depending on the students’ professional needs;
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100 (Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at Level 100 (Group A advanced), two optional courses at Level 200 and three optional courses at Levels 300 and 400. One of these optional courses shall be selected from the prescribed courses offered by other Departments in the Faculty of Humanities;
At least one elective at Levels 100, 200, 300 and 400 which may be taken from another department, depending on the students’ professional needs;
To be awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in a Combined Major Programme where French is a Major, a student must have obtained 24 Credits from the core courses and 36 credits from the optional courses. The total number of credits must not be less than 60.
In a combined degree programme, where French is the Minor, a student shall take the following:
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100 (Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at levels 100(Group A Advanced) to 400;
At least one elective, which shall be taken from the Major subject;
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100(Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at Levels 100 (Group A Advanced) to 400 provided that no optional course has been taken in the first semester;
At least one elective, which shall be taken from the Major subject;
A student shall normally take a total of up to three courses in French in Two semesters (one core course each semester and one optional course in two semesters), giving him/her up to 8 credits.
To be awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in a Combined Programme where French is the Minor, student must have obtained 24 credits from the core courses and at least 8 credits from the optional courses. The total number of credits must not be less than 32.
In a Single major degree Programme, a student shall take the following courses:
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100 (Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at Level 100 (Group A advanced) and two optional courses at Level 200; five optional courses at Level 300, and six optional courses at Level 400. Two of these optional courses at Levels 300 and 400 shall be selected from the prescribed courses offered by other Departments in the Faculty of Humanities.
At least one elective, which may be taken from another department, depending on the students’ professional needs;
All core courses as follows: one core course at Levels 100 (Group A Advanced), 200, 300 and 400; two core courses at Level 100 (Group B Beginners);
One optional course at Level 100 (Group A advanced) and two optional courses at Level 200; five optional courses at Level 300, and six optional courses at Level 400. Two of these optional courses at Levels 300 and 400 shall be selected from the prescribed list of courses offered by other Departments in the Faculty of Humanities
At least one elective at Levels 100, 200, 300 and 400 which may be taken from another department, depending on the students’ professional needs;
To be awarded a Bachelor of Arts Degree in a Single Major Programme, a student must have obtained 24 credits from the core courses and 56 credits from the optional courses. The total number of credits must not be less than 80.
In a Multidisciplinary Combined Degree Programme a student shall take a number of core and optional courses that will be determined by negotiation between him and the French Department.
Core course
FRE111 Practical French Language (3 credits)
Optional courses
FRE112 Spoken and Written French (2 credits)
FRE113 French for Specific purposes I (2 credits)
Core Course
FRE121 Communication skills in French (3 credits)
Optional courses
FRE122 Techniques of oral and written expression (2 credits)
FRE123 French for Specific purposes II (2 credits)
Core Courses (Students should register for both FRE114 and FRE115 which are compulsory)
FRE114 Basic French language (3)
FRE115 Oral and Written Comprehension (3)
Core Courses (Students should register for both FRE124 and FRE125 which are compulsory)
FRE124 Oral and Written Expression (3)
FRE125 Elementary French language (3)
Core Course
FRE211 Intermediate French Language (3): Prerequisite FRE124 & FRE125 or equivalent.
Optional Courses
FRE212 Business, Scientific and Technical French (2)
FRE213 Introduction to French Literature (2)
FRE214 Introduction to the Culture and Civilization of the French Speaking World (2)
Elective course
FRE217 French Language I (3) Prerequisite: NONE
Core Course
FRE221 Advanced French Language (3) : Prerequisite FRE211 or equivalent.
Optional Courses
FRE222 French for International relations, Tourism and Hotel Industry (2)
FRE223 Introduction to African Literature in French (2)
FRE224 Conversation (2)
Elective course
FRE227 French Language II (3) Prerequisite: FRE217 or equivalent
Core Course
FRE311 Proficiency in French Language (3) : Prerequisite FRE221 or equivalent.
Optional courses
FRE312 French Novel and Poetry of the 19th Century (2)
FRE313 Introduction to French Linguistics (2)
FRE314 French Culture and Civilisation (2)
FRE315 Introduction to Text Analysis (2)
ALL341 Introduction to Literary Theory (3)
TRS391 African Philosophy and Culture (3)
ENG333 A Critical Issues in Modern African Literature (3)
Elective course
FRE317 French for Tourism and Hospitality I (3) Prerequisite FRE227 or equivalent
Core Course
FRE325 Advanced Communicative French (3): Prerequisite FRE311
Optional Courses
FRE321 African and Caribbean Literature in French (2)
FRE322 Culture and Civilization of French Speaking African Countries (2)
FRE323 French Linguistics and Orthography (2)
FRE324 French Essay Writing (2)
ALL333 Introduction to Research methods (3)
ENG373 Botswana Literature (3)
ENG343 Modern African Poetry (3)
Elective course
FRE327 French for Tourism and Hospitality II (3) Prerequisite: FRE317 or equivalent
Core Course
FRE411 French language in use (3): Prerequisite FRE325
Optional Courses
FRE412 Currents of thought in the French Speaking World (2)
FRE413 Theory of translation (2)
FRE414 Modern French Literature: Study of a Genre, an Author (2)
FRE415 Research essay (2)
ENG431 Introduction to Discourse Analysis (3)
ALL451 Introduction to African Thought (3)
Core Course
FRE426 Advanced Communication skills in French (3) ): Prerequisite FRE411
Optional Courses
FRE421 French Language Through Drama (2)
FRE422 Advanced French Linguistics (2)
FRE423 Translation (2)
FRE424 African Literature: study of a genre, an author (2)
FRE425 Aspects of French thought (2)
FRE427 Caribbean Literature in French (2)
ENG 433 Introduction to gender issues (3)
ALL 442 Creative Writing, Theory & Practice (3)