Starting Fall 2027, students who select this major on their UC Berkeley application are automatically declared and do not need to take any other action to join the major. Students should have a minimum of two semesters of French language training. See placement guidelines for high school, testing, and community college language preparation equivalencies.
Any remaining declaration requirement courses that are not completed prior to transfer must be completed to graduate. Please refer to the website here for more information on Direct Admission.
If you are directly admitted to the French major but do not have all major preparation courses completed prior to matriculation, plan to take those remaining courses [four semesters of French language] during your first semester on the Berkeley campus. Once admitted and prior to course selection, please contact Nina Rennert Cohen, Undergraduate Major Advisor (complituga@berkeley.edu) to create a program plan.
Two Year Program Plan for Transfer Students Needing Language Work
If French is a second language for you, and you have taken some advanced high school or community college or four-year college French, it's likely you still need more language work before you can begin the major in earnest. Please see the department's Placement Guidelines to determine where you would begin your studies. This plan assumes successful completion of at least two semesters worth of college-level language work.