A. Rationale
B. Eligibility
C. Program Structure
D. Course Selection and Transfer Credit
E. Credits Toward an Education Minor in Modern Languages (Spanish)
F. Grading
G. Application to the Department of Modern Languages
H. Enrolment and Fees
I. Financial Assistance
J. Step-by-Step Procedure
A. RATIONALE
Study in francophone milieu is an excellent means of improving one's understanding of the French language and Spanish and Latin American culture.
B. ELIGIBILITY
The program is designed primarily for French mjors. Students are eligible to participate when they have completed a minimum of two (2) French courses above the 1500-level, with a minimum "C minus" grade.
Since participants in the FVSP must register at the University of Lethbridge, they maintain their official University of Lethbridge student status while studying at the host university. As Residence Requirements vary across Faculties, students are advised to consult the University of Lethbridge Calendar and/or an Academic Advisor for the Residence Requirements of their Faculty.
C. PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Students will spend a full semester at a francophone university, e.g., in Québec or in France. Participation in the FVSP is not permitted during summer semesters. The formal requirements of the Program are
1. During the semester a maximum of 6 one-semester courses, to include:
a) FR 2250. This course involves regular correspondence in French with the U. of L. French Off-Campus Studies Coordinator. A minimum of six (6) 500-word letters describing the student’s stay in Québec/France/ etc., must be forwarded every other week at predetermined dates. Credit for this work is granted in recognition of the anticipated improvement in the student’s command of the French language, resulting from her/his participation in the FVSP.
b) a maximum of five French transfer courses in French language, francophone literature or culture and civilization, or French linguistics. French transfer courses must be taught in French and must be eligible for credit at the 2000-, 3000- or 4000-level at the University of Lethbridge.
2. Options: In the above program of 5 French transfer courses (C.1.b.), a maximum of two substitutions are allowed:
a) Students may substitute a one-semester non-French transfer course for one of the French transfer courses mentioned above. A non-French transfer course is a course in another discipline (e.g., sociologie, psychologie, histoire, etc.) in which French is the language of instruction. Physical activities, other languages or courses taught in English are EXCLUDED.
b) Students may substitute a University of Lethbridge Independent Study in French for one of the French transfer courses mentioned above.
3. Minimum program requirements: In order to remain officially enrolled in the SVSP, students must complete at least three courses as follows:
a) French 2250,
b) One French transfer course,
c) One of the following: i) A second French transfer course; ii) One non-French transfer course; iii) One Independent Study in French.
N.B. If a student does not complete the minimum program requirements, s/he will be considered to have dropped out of the FVSP. Only students fulfilling the minimum requirements of the SVSP will be eligible to receive credit for French 2250.
D. COURSE SELECTION AND TRANSFER CREDIT
In selecting a university for the FVSP, prospective applicants should consult the promotional literature describing study opportunities in Sfrancophone regions - see brochures on display on Department bulletin boards. The French Off-Campus Studies Coordinator in the Department of Modern Languages can also provide advice on selecting a university.
Students must select their courses for the FVSP in consultation with the French Off-Campus Studies Coordinator. While prepared to advise students on course selection and transfer credit, the Coordinator is not authorized to grant transfer credit for courses which students intend to take off campus. Upon completion of their courses at the host university, students will apply for transfer credit at the Admissions office at the University of Lethbridge as described in paragraph J.8 and 9. For non-French transfer courses, students should consult an advisor in the appropriate Department at the University of Lethbridge for advice on transfer credit. In planning their off-campus courses, students should keep the following in mind:
- In order to be eligible for transfer credit at the U. of L., Spanish transfer courses must be at or above the level of Spanish for which the students have obtained official credit in a given "stream"; the Department recognizes four main "streams": language, literature, culture and civilization and linguistics. For example, students who have successfully completed a 3000-level Spanish language course will not be allowed transfer credit for 2000-level Spanish language courses taken off campus. Students must have passed the courses taken off campus in order to receive transfer credit for them. Moreover, any courses which duplicate work for which the student has already obtained official credit will not be eligible for transfer credit. Finally, a student may obtain a maximum of FOUR TRANSFER CREDITS from participation in the SVSP, plus an additional credit for SPA 2250.
- Students may be required to take a language placement test by the host university. Students are strongly advised to enrol only in courses for which they are properly qualified, as indicated by the results of the placement test. Some students may thus find themselves having to take courses which are below the level of French for which they have already obtained official credit. Such courses would not be eligible for transfer credit.
- Participants in FVSP should be aware that they may take longer than expected to complete all of their program requirements at the University of Lethbridge. For example, if the courses from the host university transfer at the 2000-level rather than the 3000-level, the transfer courses may not satisfy students' university of Lethbridge degree requirements. Such students would have to take additional courses to meet their graduation requirements.
E. CREDITS TOWARD (i) AN ARTS AND SCIENCE MAJOR IN FRENCH, (ii) AN EDUCATION MAJOR IN MODERN LANGUAGES (FRENCH) OR (iii) AN EDUCATION MINOR IN MODERN LANGUAGES (FRENCH)
Only French transfer courses count towards the requirements for a Major or Minor in French.
Non-French transfer courses count toward students’ general degree requirements but not toward a Major or Minor in French.
Arts and Science Major: French 2250 will count toward the maximum of 17 French courses allowed in the Major but not toward the minimum 13 courses required for the Major.
5-Year BA/BEd (French Major): French 2250 is a required course for this program.
- 5-Year BA/BEd (French Minor)
5-Year BSc/BEd “ “
5-Year BMgt/BEd “ “
5-Year BFA/BEd “ “
5-Year BMus/BEd “ “
French 2250 is a recommended course in these programs.
F. GRADING
- Mention will be made on participants' University of Lethbridge transcript that the semester was spent in the FVSP at a particular francophone institution. However, University policy does not permit titles of courses taken at the host university and grades awarded to appear on the University of Lethbridge transcript. Such information is recorded only on the transcript issued by the host institution. The transcript issued by the host university will be kept in each student's personal file.
- Since students' grades from the host university are not recorded on the University of Lethbridge transcript and do not affect students' GPA at the University of Lethbridge, the CR/NC designation is not available for courses taken at the host university. Please note, however: For students seeking admission to the Faculty of Education, grades awarded by the host university will be taken into account. Students may not choose the CR/NC designation for the Independent Study course.
- FRENCH 2250 is designated Pass/Fail.
- Upon returning to the University of Lethbridge, students will not be allowed to enrol for credit in FRENCH 2000 or in courses which duplicate those taken in the FVSP or which are at the 2000-level in streams in which students have successfully completed courses at the host university (for an explanation of the term "stream", see Section D.1).
G. APPLICATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES
Interested students should apply in writing to the Spanish Off-Campus Studies Coordinator as early as possible during the university term preceding the semester of their intended participation in the SVSP. Application forms are available from the Spanish Off-Campus Studies Coordinator. Deadlines for application are as follows:
- by OCTOBER 1, to participate in the FVSP during the Spring semester;
- by MAY 1, to participate in the FVSP during the Fall semester.
H. ENROLMENT AND FEES
Students must enrol and pay required fees BOTH at the University of Lethbridge and the host university:
- at the University of Lethbridge payment must be made for FRENCH 2250 and the optional Independent Study course;
- students will pay fees to the host university for all transfer courses undertaken in the FVSP. Specific information on the host university's fees may be obtained from the appropriate university calendar in D-610. Visa students should be aware that Québec universities’ foreign student fees may be substantially higher than those charged in Alberta.
I. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The Alberta Department of Advanced Education offers a number of fellowships and travel bursaries to assist students who wish to improve their knowledge of French by studying in a francophone milieu. Deadline for application for a fellowship is usually early September. See the French Off-Campus Studies Coordinator for details.
Since students are registered at the University of Lethbridge, they may be eligible for the Alberta Government loans and for University of Lethbridge scholarships and bursaries, such as the Louis Sherman Turcotte Memorial Travel Scholarships. For further information, students should consult with an advisor at the Financial Aid and Student Awards office (SU-047).
J. STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE
- Students fill out the "University of Lethbridge Department of Modern Languages French Visiting Student Program Application Form" in consultation with the Spanish Off-Campus Studies Coordinator. At this time, arrangements must also be made for the optional Independent Study. (For the office number of the Spanish Off-Campus Studies Coordinator, see the office Directory posted outside of B-592).
- Students have the FVSP application form signed by the French Off-Campus Studies Coordinator, the Department Chair and the Assistant Dean (Curriculum and Advising, Faculty of Arts and Science).
Students register and pay tuition for FRENCH 2250 and the optional Independent Study at the University of Lethbridge Registrar's Office.
- Students forward all necessary documents to the host university, including a completed copy of the host institution's application form, supporting documentation and fees or deposits. Students should keep photocopies of all correspondence with the host university.
- Students may apply for financial assistance to the agencies described in Section I.
- As soon as students have been informed in writing of their acceptance by the host institution, they should arrange travel to the host institution.
- Students in the FVSP who withdraw from one or more courses may apply to the appropriate Registrar's office to enquire whether any fee refund is owed to them.
- Before leaving the host university, students must arrange to have an official transcript from the host university forwarded to the University of Lethbridge Admissions office.
In order to get credit for 2250, students must provide the FVSP coordinator with a copy of their transcript from the host university. It does not need to be sent directly by the host university. (If the host university does not provide multiple copies of transcripts, students should download a report form from the French 2250 website and ask each of their instructors to sign a report form.
Students who are applying to the Faculty of Education should find out if they need to provide an additional official transcript.
- Immediately upon completion of the FVSP, students should apply to the University of Lethbridge Admissions office for transfer credit. Students must make available to Admissions all relevant documents pertaining to the courses taken off campus (e.g., course descriptions from the calendar, course outlines, class notes, texts, workbooks, class hand-outs, and, if available, tests, exams, graded assignments, etc).