French and History

Course description

French at Stirling is focused on high quality research-led teaching of the language and cultures of the contemporary French-speaking world. Our courses give students an in-depth understanding of language, society and thought across historical and geographical contexts, as well as an opportunity to spend time abroad at a range of exciting partner institutions. Our graduates are dynamic, motivated and flexible. They bring their high-level skills in written and oral communication, translation and intercultural awareness to a wide range of professional contexts. As Language students you will be taught by tutors and lecturers who specialise in the complexities of cultures in places as diverse as metropolitan France, Quebec, the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa. And our Language Coordinators, who are highly experienced in the teaching of French as a foreign language, work in close collaboration with our team of Language Assistants to provide in-depth language study throughout your degree. Your degree in French will not only enable you to develop high-level written and spoken linguistic skills, but you will also build an understanding of the histories, societies, literature, cinema and visual cultures of the French-speaking world. You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures and small tutorial groups, with access to our state-of-the-art range of language learning resources through our virtual learning environment and our campus language labs. As a student of French at Stirling you will have a number of opportunities to spend time living, studying and working abroad as part of your degree. If you really want to get a handle on the modern world, it is essential to understand the past. How did America become a superpower? Would women have got the right to vote without struggle? Why do people empower authoritarian leaders? How does climate shape society? History at Stirling allows you to explore these and many other pressing questions, guided by a committed team of historians passionate about their subjects. You will develop your knowledge of the world while acquiring intellectual and personal skills much in demand in the labour market. Stirling is different: in the context of a friendly department with approachable staff, we offer a unique breadth and chronological depth of options at honours level. We offer a range of courses on American, African, European, British and Scottish history that only few other (and much larger) institutions can match. You will explore reform and revolution, war, ideas, social movements, historical figures, race, gender, religion, democracy, the environment. In addition, thanks to the flexibility of Stirling’s academic programmes, you can study history in combination with other subjects, such as education, politics, languages, media studies and many more. The first two years provide the strong foundations that any student of history needs, while years three and four allow you to choose from an ample selection of country and thematic specialisms. The final year allows you to become a researcher yourself and thereby practice the skills you have learned and hone your analytical and problem-solving skills for life beyond university.

Subjects

• French
• History