Location: Ikire Campus

Brief History:
The Department of French was established in 2018/2019 academic session. It was a Unit at the inception of the University in September, 2007 under the then Department of Languages and Linguistics, one of the two foundation Departments in the College of Humanities and Culture of Osun State University, The Department offers B.A. French and International Studies and it has gotten NUC approval for its M.A. and Ph.D programmes.
The Department took off with one Professor, one Associate Professor, two Senior Lecturers, three Lecturer I, two Lecturer II and one Doctoral Fellow. At present, the department is filled with erudite scholars with keen interest in several fields in the language vis-à-vis; language, linguistics, literature and translation. The department now has two Professors, one Associate Professor, four Senior Lecturers and three Lecturer I. Professor A. K. Folorunso, a Professor of French with many years of experience is the most senior person in the Department while Dr. Olubunmi Oyebola Alaje is the current Acting Head of the Department. The academic staff members are supported by a Technologist, a Laboratory Technician, a Departmental Secretary and a Clerical Officer.
The programs of the Department operate academic curricula that are tailored along the stipulations contained in the National Universities Commission (NUC) Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards. Thus, students who are registered in the Department are exposed to courses in their chosen disciplines from 100 level. At the 300 level Rain Semester, the students are required to proceed to the Nigeria French Language Village (NFLV), Badagry, Lagos State, as part of their graduation requirements.

Mission:
We are today living in a global village. The need to be at ease in languages other than English, in particular international languages of sciences and technology, international commerce, education and diplomacy, where French excels par excellence, has never been more pressing. In today`s world, language teaching and learning objectives go from knowledge acquisition to equipping professionals with the skills needed to excel in multilingual environments. It is this mind-set that has guided the crafting of programmes in the department of French. Thus the mission of the department is:
• To teach students quality French language and linguistics in order to acquire linguistic competence in oral and written communication in French;
• To teach them African literature in French and expose them to literary criticism;
• To train students to acquire translation and interpretation skills with special reference to French and English;
• To equip them with basic skills to use French for specific purposes;
• To educate students in historical movements and issues of international or global importance to enable them acquire better knowledge of the world and thus promote World Peace,
• To develop students’ ability to appreciate the historical forces that have shaped and continue to shape their immediate environment,

Vision of the Department
To create a unique Department committed to the pursuit of academic innovation, in French studies and portray a tradition of excellence in teaching and research that is capable of impacting the students positively on their environment while being globally competitive.

List of Academic Programmes in the department of French
• B. A. French and International Studies
• M. A. French Language Studies
• M. A. French Translation
• M. A. French Literature
• Ph.D French Language Studies
• Ph.D French Translation
• Ph.D French Literature

Physical Development:
There is a functional Language Laboratory in the Department that serves the academic programs of the Department. The Laboratory is well equipped to cope with teaching of students and for the use of academic staff for research purposes. Lecture rooms are shared with the other Departments in the College.

Departmental Journal:
A departmental journal was launched in 2019 with the name Uniosun Journal of Foreign Language Studies (UJOFOLS). This departmental journal, which is published yearly has published 5 volumes and is currently working on volume 6.

Grants and Awards:
Academic staff members of the department have won different grants and awards. Notably among these grants and awards are:
• Dr. Waidi Akanji won a Ph.D Tetfund Grant between 2014 and 2016. He also won a Postgraduate Merit Award, Wits University, South Africa between 2014 and 2016 and French Embassy Grant, South Africa in 2016.
• Dr. Wabiy Salawu won the University of Kent Grant for international conference and research trips in 2015 and Nigeria Tertiary Education Trust Fund between 2014 and 2017.
• Drs. S,A. Ogundokun, O.O. Alaje, K.F. Faniran and W.A. Akanji are co-investigators in the 2023 UNESCO Grant on project for Women and Youth Empowerment in South-West Nigeria.

GENERAL INFORMATION
B.A. French and International Studies
For admission into the 100 level degree programme in French and International Studies, candidates must have the Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) or its equivalents with credit level passes in five (5) subjects: English Language and any other four subjects at not more than two sittings. The candidates must also earn an acceptable score in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Candidates need not have a previous knowledge of French.

Candidates seeking admission by direct entry into the 200 level French and International Studies programme must have two Advanced Level passes in French and any other Arts or Social Sciences subjects, in addition to credit level passes in five subjects at the SSCE or its equivalents. Candidates with ND and approved equivalents in relevant fields with at least a lower credit may be considered for direct entry into the programme. Candidates with an acceptable pass in the UNIOSUN Foundation Programme are also eligible for admission into the 200 level, provided they possess the requisite qualifications for entry into the 100 level of the programme. The NCE, Baccalaureate and the Nigeria French Language Village Diploma in French are acceptable as A-Level equivalents.