Self Placement
French 001
If you have never taken French before, sign up for FRE 1. If you have successfully completed the second or third year of French in the tenth or higher grade in high school, you may receive unit credit for FRE 1 when taken at UC Davis, but the grading mode will be P/NP only. The registrar will automatically make the change when grades are submitted. Course is not open to native or heritage speakers of French.
French 002
Sign up for FRE 2 if you have a passing grade in FRE 1 or in a first-quarter or first-semester college French course, or one or two years of high school French. Course not open to native or heritage speakers of French.
French 003
Sign up for FRE 3 if you have a passing grade in FRE 2 at UC Davis, two quarters or one semester of college level French, or three years of high school French. New students who have taken second-quarter college French courses elsewhere or received an AP score of 3, may also enroll in French 3; they will be screened for appropriate placement during the first week of classes. Course not open to native or heritage speakers of French. If you are unsure of your ability to take this course, contact the language coordinator, Julia Simon at [email protected].
French 021
Open to students with a passing grade in FRE 3 at UC Davis. New students who have taken two semesters or three quarters of college French courses elsewhere or received an AP score of 4 or 5, should also enroll in FRE 21. They will be screened for appropriate placement during the first week of classes. Students who have spoken French or lived in a French environment should consult with the language coordinator, Julia Simon at [email protected].
French 022
Open to students with a passing grade in FRE 21 at UC Davis, four years of high school French, or three semesters or four quarters of college level French. Students with native fluency may not be eligible to enroll in this course.
French 023
Open to students with a passing grade in FRE 22 at UC Davis, five or six years of high school French, or three semesters or five quarters of college level French. Students with native fluency may not be eligible to enroll in this course.
French 100
Open to students with a passing grade in FRE 23 at UC Davis, six years of high school French, or six quarters or four semesters of college level French, or the equivalent. This course is a requirement for the French major. If you are uncertain about placement, please consult the language coordinator, Julia Simon at [email protected].
Placement Exam
If you are still uncertain about which level of French to begin with, you may opt to take a placement exam at the Davis Language Center (DLC) located in the basement of Olson Hall.
The exams are taken on a computer and the results are given to you after you finish. If you have any questions about your placement after you have taken this exam, please contact the language coordinator for French, Professor Julia Simon. This is exam should not be taken by heritage speakers (see below).
Students with significant exposure to French
Heritage speakers/learners, including schooling in a francophone country, francophone parent(s) or attendance at a lycée français: Please contact Professor Julia Simon for assessment and placement.
Language Proficiency Requirement
If you wish to fulfill the Language Requirement for your College by exam, you may take a proctored Proficiency Exam via the UC Davis Language Center.