The program in French is designed for students interested in languages, literature and cultural, social, political  and historical issues in France and Francophone countries.  The variety of the section's offering complements the diversity of students' interests and reflects the spectrum of research fields among French faculty, from medieval studies to 19th-century poetry to the early Algerian novel.  There is also a focus on interdisciplinarity with several cluster-course offerings and cross-listed classes.  A balance is struck between teaching fresh topics and providing a solid foundation is the basics.  Undergraduate and graduate students have the opportunity to enhance their languages skill on summer study abroad and academic year exchange programs.