Faculty Profile
Dominique Laurent
Associate Professor of French (1995)
Contact Information
Bosler Hall
717-245-1299
Bio
Professor Laurent's research examines the image of America in the French press in the XIXth and XXth centuries. He teaches French language and civilization classes (Intermediate French, Communications in French and Francophone Contexts, Introduction to Cultural Analysis) and senior seminars on "The French Press," "France between the Wars," and "America in French Eyes." In addition he has taught First-Year Seminars on "The Great War" and, more recently, on "America in the Eyes of the World". Professor Laurent is currently working on the image of Woodrow Wilson in the French press during the Paris Peace Conference (December 1918-June 1919).
Education
- Licence, Universite Catholique de L'ouest, 1978
- M.A., Vanderbilt University, 1985
- Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University, 1996
2026-2027 Academic Year
Fall 2026
FREN 101 Elementary French
Complete first-year course. Intensive study of the fundamentals of French grammar, with special attention given to pronunciation and oral expression. Cultural readings in the context of language acquisition.
FREN 231 Fr & Francophone Cultural Hist
This course explores the main historical eras and cultural movements that have shaped France and Francophone cultural identities, tracing the origins of the Francophone world, and decentering the traditional narrative of French imperial history. From the Medieval era to the collapse of the French Empire in early 20th century, the course explores the formation of the French nation while examining the rise and justification of colonial and racial ideas in mainland France that led to the creation of the French Empire and the making of the Francophone world. The course consolidates and builds competencies in listening, speaking, reading, and writing to prepare students for an immersive experience in a French-speaking environment. As a Writing-in-the-Discipline course, this class will focus on genres of writing specific to francophone academic practices. This is a required course for the major and minor in French and Francophone Studies.Prerequisite: FREN 202, 225 or equivalent.
Spring 2027
FREN 231 Fr & Francophone Cultural Hist
This course explores the main historical eras and cultural movements that have shaped France and Francophone cultural identities, tracing the origins of the Francophone world, and decentering the traditional narrative of French imperial history. From the Medieval era to the collapse of the French Empire in early 20th century, the course explores the formation of the French nation while examining the rise and justification of colonial and racial ideas in mainland France that led to the creation of the French Empire and the making of the Francophone world. The course consolidates and builds competencies in listening, speaking, reading, and writing to prepare students for an immersive experience in a French-speaking environment. As a Writing-in-the-Discipline course, this class will focus on genres of writing specific to francophone academic practices. This is a required course for the major and minor in French and Francophone Studies.Prerequisite: FREN 202, 225 or equivalent.
FREN 401 Rsch Sem in Fr & Francoph St
The capstone class for French and Francophone studies majors, this course builds on previous coursework to hone students’ research, writing and reading skills. In the first two-thirds of the class, students will study a topic or theme selected by the professor and examine scholarly publications and research methods related to the topic. The last third of the class will be dedicated to researching a well-developed thesis related to the course topic and completing a substantial research project. This research project allows students to explore an aspect of the course that particularly interests them. Students will complete shorter research and writing assignments in the first nine weeks of the class that will act as stages to prepare them for the final paper or project. Students will present their research to faculty and students in the Department of French and Francophone Studies at the end of the semester.Prerequisite: FREN 363 or FREN 364