French

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WELCOME TO THE COLLEGE OF ST. CATHERINE FRENCH DEPARTMENT

THE FRENCH DEPARTMENT MISSION

The French Department Faculty at the College of Saint Catherine is committed to helping students expand their knowledge of French and Francophone studies. We teach courses in all levels of French language, literature, theatre, civilization and culture. We believe knowing another language enriches your personal life, expands the range of professional opportunities open to you, and increases your power to act as a citizen of the world. We are aware that competition for jobs and admission to top-rated graduate and professional schools is increasingly intense, therefore we teach with the understanding that language study can provide you with competitive job-related knowledge and skills, such as problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, effective communication skills, and a confidence in writing and in person. Finally, we are committed to teaching women to act with versatility and flexibility in a world that demands more and more cross-cultural interaction.

As faculty we promise to work closely with each French minor and major. We encourage all students to consider short and long-term study abroad programs as well as internships with non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities area that work with French-speaking peoples. In addition to preparing students for graduate school, we encourage students to consider a variety of career options in French (see Jobs in French).

CSC FRENCH DEPARTMENT HISTORY

Sister Marie Philip Haley is known as one CSC's greatest -- "la Grande Dame" -- leaders of the French Department. Her legacy is part of the reason the CSC French program has its reputation today. In 1962, she worked beyond the campus with the NDEA institutes, providing opportunities for 60 secondary school teachers at CSC and in Rennes, France until 1973. In 1981, she earned an honorary doctorate from the Universite de Rennes, after which the French Government made her 'Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques' in 1976. She brought such notables as Gabriel Marcel and Senator Fulbright to the CSC campus, and she became the first adviser to the Fulbright program. Her vision and verbal wit touched the lives of many. Most importantly, it is thanks to her hard work that the CSC French program gained its national reputation for excellence. Since then, her students (such as Sister Jacqueline O'Hara) have sustained Marie Philip's vision by working at CSC and staying committed to the mission of promoting French internationally and on our campus.

THE LANGUAGE CENTER

The Language Center (TLC), located in Whitby 3, has computers, foreign-language books, dictionaries, newspapers, magazines, movies, films and tutoring services for students learning French and Spanish. French books and films located in TLC for check-out are now available on-line:

French Films
French Literature
French Drama

Please visit the Language Center Website for more information, or call (651) 690-6561.