What can you do with a French Major?
Honestly, does any language sound cooler, more romantic, or more sophisticated than French? Okay, maybe Italian. But beyond sounding cool, French is also a great college major.
Undergraduate programs in French are primarily designed to ensure that you gain a substantial degree of competence in speaking and writing the language (advanced courses are often conducted in French), and to study the culture, literature, and history of the Francophone world. Be prepared to spend a lot of time studying the nuts and bolts of grammar and translation.
What can you do with a French major besides teach?
A lot. French speakers are in demand in banking and finance, foreign market analysis, diplomacy, and hotel management, just to name a few fields. While many will tell you that the language of business is English, relationships are forged through common experiences and respect, and in a common language (typically not English). Even the most basic efforts to understand and communicate in the language of the host are greatly appreciated, and often form the basis for a business deal to be struck.
In case you were wondering, France boasts the world's fourth largest economy, and its gross domestic product (GDP) growth is one of the highest among European economies.
*Suggestion: Pair a French major along with a second major in a field such as political science, history, biology, business, or economics to make yourself more marketable.
The French major also serves to prepare students for graduate and professional skills. Our majors regularly go on to receive their MBA, JD, (Law degree), or PhD’s in various fields.
Learn more about career and language resources.
Careers Paths
- Banking and Finance
- Book Publishing Professional
- Curator
- Diplomat/ Attaché/ Foreign Service Officer
- Editor/ Proofreader
- English Instructor Abroad
- Film Director
- Foreign Exchange Trader
- High School French Teacher
- Hotel Manager
- International Business/Organizations
- in the art & fashion worlds
- in Sales & Marketing
- Law
- Military Translator/Interpreter
- Professor
- Public Relations
- Sommelier (aka. a cellar master or wine steward)
- Speech Therapist
- Teacher
- Translator/ Interpreter
- Travel/ Hospitality
- Writer/ Journalist