Learning French connects you to global business opportunities, from major French companies in Texas to the broader francophone economic space worldwide. 

Key opportunities: Major French companies operate in the Texas energy and aerospace sectors. 

French companies, including Total Energies, Airbus, Michelin, and Schneider Electric, work closely with their Texas offices and partners. With $13+ billion in bilateral trade annually between France and Texas (89% growth since 2013), these partnerships demonstrate the strength of Franco-Texan business relationships. 

Related French program course: Business French classes (FREN 3317/FREN 4317) - develop specialized business vocabulary and intercultural communication skills for French-speaking markets. 

Current UH academic exchange programs: NEOMA Business School (Reims & Rouen, France) - semester-long exchange opportunities for Bauer students with business courses taught in English at this top-ranked French business school: Montpellier Business School (Montpellier, France). 

Current UH faculty-led program (in English): Management and Leadership: France and Germany  

Connect to France's world-class engineering sectors and innovative French Tech ecosystem. 

France’s innovation in engineering includes aerospace, the automotive field, energy, nuclear technology, and digital technologies. France leads Europe's tech innovation through French Tech—a dynamic network that raised €10.8 billion in 2024 (14.5% of Europe's total), with artificial intelligence companies raising €1.3 billion. 

Career opportunities: 

·       French companies expanding to Texas: Dassault Systèmes, Schneider Electric, Capgemini 

·       Growing Franco-American partnerships in renewable energy and space technology 

French Tech Hub Houston: The Houston branch of French Tech provides direct connections to France's startup ecosystem, with regular exchanges and collaboration opportunities for engineering students. 

French is an official language of major international organizations and essential for diplomacy. 

French is beneficial to anyone working in international affairs, as an official language of the United Nations, NATO, and the International Red Cross, among other major organizations. With 88 member countries in the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (representing 300+ million speakers globally), French is essential for diplomacy, global governance, and international cooperation. 

Career advantage: The fastest-growing language in Africa, French connects you to emerging economies and international development opportunities. By 2050, French could be spoken by 700+ million people worldwide, with projections reaching as high as 750 million. 

Access major artistic movements and France's global leadership in creative industries. 

Major figures of the Renaissance, Impressionism, modern artistic revolutions, and cinema lived and worked in France. France's global leadership in museum curation, visual arts, and heritage management is internationally recognized. French also connects you to contemporary creative industries—cinema, music, fashion, and video game development—where France remains a major global player. 

Cultural and creative industries: France's cultural and creative industries generate nearly €92 billion in revenue annually, with 12% coming from exports, demonstrating the global reach and economic impact of French creative sectors. 

Relevant French courses: From first-semester French to advanced French courses, our students engage with artistic works from the French-speaking world. Students in the Arts, Film Studies, and Communication can take French courses like "Women in French Cinema" to explore the French film tradition, feminist perspectives, and cinematic techniques that have influenced global cinema. 

Current UH academic exchange programs: École Des Beaux Arts - Nantes (France). 

Access France's global leadership in architecture, urban planning, and sustainable design. 

French visionaries like Le Corbusier and Haussmann, along with French Renaissance movements, have shaped the world's architectural landscape. 

Why it matters: 40% of UNESCO World Heritage architectural sites are in French-speaking countries, offering unparalleled study and career opportunities. France itself is home to 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites—one of the highest ratios in the world. 

Current UH faculty-led program: Light & Lightness: Architecture in France. 

France leads global scientific innovation in health sciences, life sciences, environmental research, and sustainable technologies.

French language skills open doors to important research collaborations and international opportunities in these rapidly advancing fields. 

Research opportunities: Access cutting-edge research through France's Embassy Science and Technology network, the largest French scientific network worldwide. 

Notable fact: France ranks #6 globally in scientific research output, with particular strength in medical research and environmental sciences. 

Connect with France's world-renowned expertise in luxury hospitality, culinary arts, and international tourism. 

As the #1 tourist destination globally (100+ million visitors in 2024), France offers deep cultural savoir-faire in hospitality and access to a highly dynamic, global market. 

Industry impact: French hospitality management principles are industry standards worldwide. Major hotel chains like Accor (global #6) originated in France. 

Current UH academic exchange programs: Excelia Tourism School (La Rochelle, France), Ferrières Hospitality and Luxury Management School (Paris, France & Barcelona, Spain), Ferrandi Paris (Paris, France). 

Engage directly with influential French thinkers who have shaped global understanding in these disciplines.

—Descartes, Foucault, Durkheim, Bourdieu, Lacan, and de Beauvoir. Learning French allows you to access key texts in their original language and connect with international academic networks. 

Academic advantage: Reading foundational texts by major French theorists in their original language provides deeper understanding and access to nuances often lost in translation, giving you a significant scholarly advantage. 

Fellowship opportunities in the humanities: https://lafayette.villa-albertine.org/about-the-lafayette-fellowship/

Expand your teaching credentials with French to gain career opportunities in international and bilingual education.

In K-12 schools, French teachers are in high demand across programs, including AP French, IB French, and French as a World Language. 

Critical shortage: According to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), at least 49 of 56 U.S. states and territories experienced shortages in teachers qualified to teach World Languages and Bilingual Education in 2017-18. By 2025, there could be a hiring gap of 100,000 teachers annually nationwide. 

Local opportunity: Houston ISD offers competitive starting salaries of $64,000 for new teachers (compared to the Texas state average of $55,616), with experienced teachers earning significantly more. Over 60% of teachers work within 20 miles of where they attended high school, making your UH French degree valuable for meeting Houston-area demand.  

Every year, the UH French program is contacted by local schools looking for new French teachers. Thanks to this network, we support the study of French in our community and provide job opportunities to our recent graduates.