<p>I’m entering as a French major next year and have already learned enough to be impressed. Of course it helps that it’s in Louisiana, where French influence abounds, and LSU itself has a lot of French connections that give students the opportunity to participate in programs like the Ubaye Valley Program ([Department</a> of French Studies: Ubaye Valley Program](<a href=“http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/frenchweb.nsf/$Content/Ubaye+Valley+Program?OpenDocument]Department”>http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/frenchweb.nsf/$Content/Ubaye+Valley+Program?OpenDocument)). No course credit offered for that one, but there are plenty of study abroad programs that offer credit. LSU in Paris ([Academic</a> Programs Abroad - Students Returning from NSE Exchanges](<a href=“http://ocs-web2.ocs.lsu.edu/apa/summer/lsu_in_paris.asp]Academic”>http://ocs-web2.ocs.lsu.edu/apa/summer/lsu_in_paris.asp)) is a staple summer program and offers credits in art and French.</p>
<p>Unlike a few other universities I considered, French at LSU has its own department ([Department</a> of French Studies](<a href=“http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/frenchweb.nsf/index]Department”>http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/frenchweb.nsf/index)). There’s also a Center for French and Francophone Studies; a pretty impressive list of past events hosted by the CFFS can be found here: [The</a> Center for French and Francophone Studies: Past Events](<a href=“http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/cffsweb.nsf/$Content/Past+Events?OpenDocument]The”>http://appl003.lsu.edu/artsci/cffsweb.nsf/$Content/Past+Events?OpenDocument)</p>
<p>As for the courses… A job I have as a research assistant for one of the business professors required me to, just last night, compile a list of every French course LSU offers, and it’s pretty comprehensive. Past the entry-level courses, there are plenty of oral communication, phonetics, linguistics, and literature classes. You can also take up to intermediate Cajun French. LSU offers up to a Ph.D. in French.</p>
<p>And of course, the French Department and the CFFS often host fun, cultural events like the fashion show ([LSU</a> French studies hosts fourth annual fashion show - Covering The Louisiana State University Community (LSU) – Tigerweekly.com](<a href=“http://tigerweekly.com/article/04-22-2009/10983]LSU”>http://tigerweekly.com/article/04-22-2009/10983)) and la Nuit Blanche ([url=<a href=“http://www.consulfrance-nouvelleorleans.org/spip.php?article844]LSU”>http://www.consulfrance-nouvelleorleans.org/spip.php?article844]LSU</a> Night of French Cinema: une nuit blanche </p>