[Disclosure: I am a UC employee and an alum of the UC Davis French A.B. degree program. Endorsement of a specific campus or program is not implied. This post is not sponsored by the University.]
[Updated September 2022]
Going to college and thinking about studying French, the language of Molière? Maybe you’re wondering:
Does the University of California have a French program?
Short answer:
Yes! Currently, all nine undergraduate University of California (UC) campuses offer French language and/or French literature courses.
Long answer:
While all nine undergraduate UC campuses offer French language and/or French literature courses, only eight of them currently offer French degree programs.
So be sure to read program descriptions carefully, and note that:
- Some UC campuses require French placement tests
- Some UC campuses offer French programs as concentrations or specializations within their literature or linguistics departments
- Students are encouraged to take advantage of study-abroad opportunities
Although I am not a college admissions coach, I hope you’ll find this link roundup helpful in your search and comparison of French programs offered at each of the nine undergraduate UC campuses.
UC Berkeley
4125 Dwinelle Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720
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UC Davis
Department of French and Italian
One Shields Avenue, Sproul Hall, Room 213, Davis, CA 95616
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UC Irvine
European Languages and Studies
243 Humanities Instructional Bldg., Irvine, CA 92697
📚
UCLA
The Department of French & Francophone Studies is now a part of the Department of European Languages and Transcultural Studies
212 Royce Hall, Box 951550, Los Angeles, CA 90095
📚
UC Merced
World Languages French Program
5200 North Lake Road, Merced, CA 95343
*Currently, there is no French degree program at UC Merced
📚
UC Riverside
Department of Comparative Literature and Languages
900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521
📚
UC San Diego
Department of Linguistics – Language Program
9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
📚
UC Santa Barbara
Department of French and Italian
5206 Phelps Hall, Santa Barbara, CA 93106
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UC Santa Cruz
1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064
If you do decide to apply to a UC, here’s a friendly reminder: the filing period for the UC admissions application is October 1-November 30!
Bonne chance
Congratulations on your decision to go to college and study French. I wish you all the best – Bonne chance ! Bon courage !
[Updated September 2022]
Disclaimer:
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The content provided here is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only
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Do your own research and contact the campuses directly if you have any specific questions about their programs
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Information is current as of September 2022 and is subject to change
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The links point to websites administered by the Regents of the University of California
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This post does not reflect the opinions or policies of the University
Bonjour: A Francophile Blog 
I studied at UCLA and minored in French. The department is relatively small, but it allowed me to get to know the professors, TAs, and classmates on a more-personal level. We also had a weekly French club that was a great way to learn about French culture and practice speaking the language. Fond times!
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I agree that smaller departments and classes provide a deeper learning experience. Using instructors’ office hours is helpful, too (wish I had known this when I was a student at UCD!) Thank you for sharing your experience and fond memories of UCLA!
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Interesting!!
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