With more than 200 million people speaking French on the five continents and in 68 states and governments, French is the second most widely learned foreign language after English, and the ninth most widely spoken language in the world. The French Language Certificate offers students specializing in all professional and academic fields a valuable credential for their proficiency in French and their knowledge of French-speaking cultures, expanding their horizons to the French-speaking world.
Whether learners are job seekers interested in working for an international corporation or organization;world travelers who want richer, more immersive experiences; or are interested in exploring politics, the arts, gastronomy, fashion, and literature; the French Language Certificate gives them the tools to be able to communicate in French in non-specialized settings. The program also develops familiarity with the contemporary French-speaking world, its cultures, and literatures. As students engage in interactive communicative activities, they learn to participate in a French-speaking environment, preparing them for travel and work in French-speaking countries.
The program’s Northwestern University curriculum is practical and learner-centered, taught by current faculty from Northwestern’s foreign language departments. All courses are offered weekday evenings in the fall, winter, and spring quarters on the Northwestern University campus. Students in the program acquire language and cultural competence through dynamic courses that incorporate multimedia and online teaching tools and real-time classroom interactions. All courses offer one unit of undergraduate credit.
French Language Certificate students will be able to:
Narrate in the past, present and future
Express preference and opinion
Understand and give instructions; understand and ask questions
Understand French-speakers in different conversational settings
Understand a variety of written texts
Talk and write about a wide range of topics such as describing themselves and others, daily life and activities, relationships, city life, the work place (job interviews, office life), cinema, or the media in French-speaking countries, etc.
Make travel arrangements (hotel reservations, transportation, restaurants, etc.)
Discuss basic environmental, social, and cultural issues
Program Activities
Students learn to participate in a French-speaking environment as they engage in interactive communicative activities in class such as the following:
Holding short conversations on current issues in French-speaking societies and making comparisons with the U.S.
Recording short videos to discuss given topics
Participating in online discussion forum
Role-playing a variety of situations (meeting new people, job interview, making travel arrangements, ordering in a restaurant, etc.)
Writing one- to two-page compositions
Giving an oral presentation on a chosen topic of interest
French Language Certificate Courses
All of the following are required:
French 101-A Elementary French I
French 101-B Elementary French II
French 101-C Elementary French III
French 102-A Intermediate French I
French 102-B Intermediate French II
French 102-C Intermediate French III
Placement in more advanced courses in the curriculum is possible based on the student’s level of proficiency, which is assessed by program instructors prior to course registration. Students may enroll in courses in the third-year sequence based on assessment. Third-year courses are offered by the Northwestern Department of French and Italian during the daytime; enrollment will be based on both assessment and student availability.
A minimum of four courses are required for a certificate. At least two of those courses must be at the intermediate level.
The recommended start time for this program is fall quarter.
In addition to completing an online application, you'll also need to submit a few supplemental materials. A list of requirements for admission including application deadlines and tips on how to apply can be found at the Admission page.
French Language Certificate Tuition
Post-baccalaureate students at Northwestern's School of Professional Studies pay per course. For more information about financial obligations and tuition, please visit the Tuition page.
French Language Certificate Registration Information
Whether you're a first-time registrant or current and returning student, all students register using our online student registration and records systems. Important information about registering for courses at SPS, including registration timelines and adding or dropping courses in which you are already enrolled, can be found on the Registration Information page.
Find out more about the French Language Certificate
Program Courses:
Course Detail
Elementary French <> FRENCH 111-A
French 111-A is the first quarter of a three-quarter sequence of
Elementary French. The course covers grammar, vocabulary, reading,
writing, conversation and culture. The aim of the course is to
learn and develop skills in speaking, understanding, reading,
writing and cultural competence. The course includes a variety of
activities designed to help students develop their knowledge of
basic French vocabulary and structures along with the ability to
use what they have learned in communicative activities. Classes
will be conducted exclusively in French except when explanation of
grammar or other material may necessitate the use of English.
Students are expected to prepare outside of class, to participate
actively in class activities, and to work independently with the
online learning platform.
The course combines class meetings and online work that students
can complete on their own time.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: French 111-A is the first quarter of
a three-quarter course for students with less than one year of high
school French or with no previous study of French.
FRENCH 111-A is available to for students to audit—credit will not
be earned, but tuition is reduced. Students enrolled to audit the
course must meet participation and assessment requirements as
outlined in the course syllabus.
French 111-B is the second quarter of a three-quarter sequence
of Elementary French. The course covers grammar, vocabulary,
reading, writing, conversation and culture. The aim of the course
is to learn and develop skills in speaking, understanding, reading,
writing and cultural competence. The course includes a variety of
activities designed to help students develop their knowledge of
basic French vocabulary and structures along with the ability to
use what they have learned in communicative activities. Classes
will be conducted exclusively in French except when explanation of
grammar or other material may necessitate the use of English.
Students are expected to prepare outside of class, to participate
actively in class activities, and to work independently with the En
Avant! online learning platform: Connect.
The course combines class meetings and online work that students
can complete on their own time. The online courseware will be used
for homework.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: FRENCH 111-A or 101-A, or
equivalent. This course is for students with less than one year of
high school French or with no previous study of French.
Note: FRENCH 111-B is available to for students to
audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced. Students
enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as well as
participation and assessment requirements as outlined in the course
syllabus.
French 111-C is the third quarter of a three-quarter sequence of
Elementary French. The course covers grammar, vocabulary, reading,
writing, conversation and culture. The aim of the course is to
learn and develop skills in speaking, understanding, reading,
writing and cultural competence. The course includes a variety of
activities designed to help students develop their knowledge of
basic French vocabulary and structures along with the ability to
use what they have learned in communicative activities. Classes
will be conducted exclusively in French except when explanation of
grammar or other material may necessitate the use of English.
Students are expected to prepare outside of class, to participate
actively in class activities, and to work independently with the En
Avant! online learning platform: Connect.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: FRENCH 111-A, -B or 101-A, -B, or
equivalent. This course is for students with less than one year of
high school French or with no previous study of French.
Note: FRENCH 111-C is available to for students to
audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced. Students
enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as well as
participation and assessment requirements as outlined in the course
syllabus.
This course is the first quarter of the three-quarter
Intermediate French sequence for students who have completed French
111-C (or 101-C) or a similar elementary French course, or have
been placed in this course after taking a French Placement
test.
The primary goal of this course is to strengthen oral and written
communication and comprehension skills as well as cross-cultural
competence by immersing students in authentic cultural contexts,
materials, and language and by engaging in a variety of
communicative activities. A review and deepening of essential
grammar will reinforce linguistic foundations. The teaching
methodology for this course uses the flipped model: students learn
grammar and vocabulary at home with Flipped French, a pioneering
courseware developed by faculty in the French Department at
Northwestern. Class activities are devoted to conversation and
other communicative activities that allow students to practice what
they learned while exploring contemporary French and Francophone
cultures. This course enables students to actively participate in a
French-speaking environment, prepare for further studies in French,
and provide a path to proficiency.
This hybrid course meets on campus/in person once weekly with
online activities during the week. Students are expected to attend
the weekly in-person class and actively participate, to complete
the online activities during the week, and to spend at least two
hours of work outside of class for each hour of class.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: FRENCH 111-C or 101-C, or
equivalent, or consent of instructor. Students with
questions about course prereqisites and equivalents should contact
the instructor directly prior to registering.
Note: FRENCH 121-A is available to for students to
audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced. Students
enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as well as
participation and assessment requirements as outlined in the course
syllabus.
This course is the second quarter of the three-quarter
Intermediate French sequence for students who have completed FRENCH
121-A (or 102-A) or an equivalent French course.
The primary goal of this course is to strengthen oral and written
communication and comprehension skills as well as cross-cultural
competence by immersing students in authentic cultural contexts,
materials, and language and by engaging in a variety of
communicative activities. A review and deepening of essential
grammar will reinforce linguistic foundations. The teaching
methodology for this course uses the flipped model: students learn
grammar and vocabulary at home with Flipped French, a pioneering
courseware developed by faculty in the French Department at
Northwestern. Class activities are devoted to conversation and
other communicative activities that allow students to practice what
they learned while exploring contemporary French and Francophone
cultures. This course enables students to actively participate in a
French-speaking environment, prepare for further studies in French,
and provide a path to proficiency.
This hybrid course meets on campus/in person once weekly with
online activities during the week. Students are expected to attend
the weekly in-person class and actively participate, to complete
the online activities during the week, and to spend at least two
hours of work outside of class for each hour of class.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: FRENCH 121-A or 102-A, or
equivalent, or consent of instructor. Students with
questions about course prerequisites and equivalents should contact
the instructor directly prior to registering.
Note: FRENCH 121-B is available to for students to
audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced. Students
enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as well as
participation and assessment requirements as outlined in the course
syllabus.
This course is the third quarter of the three-quarter
Intermediate French sequence for students who have completed FRENCH
121-B (or 102-B) or an equivalent French course.
The primary goal of this course is to strengthen oral and written
communication and comprehension skills as well as cross-cultural
competence by immersing students in authentic cultural contexts,
materials, and language and by engaging in a variety of
communicative activities. A review and deepening of essential
grammar will reinforce linguistic foundations. The teaching
methodology for this course uses the flipped model: students learn
grammar and vocabulary at home with Flipped French, a pioneering
courseware developed by faculty in the French Department at
Northwestern. Class activities are devoted to conversation and
other communicative activities that allow students to practice what
they learned while exploring contemporary French and Francophone
cultures. This course enables students to actively participate in a
French-speaking environment, prepare for further studies in French,
and provide a path to proficiency.
This hybrid course meets on campus/in person once weekly with
online activities during the week. Students are expected to attend
the weekly in-person class and actively participate, to complete
the online activities during the week, and to spend at least two
hours of work outside of class for each hour of class.
Carries humanities credit (two-course limit for language
courses).
Prerequisite: FRENCH 121-B or 102-B, or
equivalent, or consent of instructor. Students with
questions about course prereqisites and equivalents should contact
the instructor directly prior to registering.
Note: FRENCH 121-C is available to for students to
audit—credit will not be earned, but tuition is reduced. Students
enrolled to audit the course must meet prerequisites, as well as
participation and assessment requirements as outlined in the course
syllabus.
