The French Program at the University of Houston offers an undergraduate course of studies leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree, preparing students for further study in French, such as a master's or a Ph.D., for the teaching profession or for business and government careers. All language, culture and literature courses leading to the B.A. in French are taught in French.<br><br>France has one of the richest European histories, cultures and literatures, and its artistic and philosophical thought has had a great impact on Western civilization. French was for a long time the language of international diplomacy and continues to be widely spoken throughout the world. It is the official language of more than 20 countries and is, with English, the only language spoken on all five continents. Historically, France and the French language have had an enormous influence on American society.