≡

MA French Studies Handbook: Overview

Purpose

This program offers, as a terminal degree, preparation to students seeking careers in foreign language education, business, the legal profession, or the Foreign Service. The degree can also serve as a step towards studies at the doctoral level.

Requirements

  • Complete 24 hours of course work & 6 hrs. of thesis credit
  • Pass an exam based on the MA reading list
  • Write and defend a thesis

Course work

  • All students must meet with their advisor before registering for classes each semester. The departmental Advisement Form must be signed and returned to the department secretary (see dept. secretary for all forms) before any financial aid will be dispersed to you.
  • A B minus or higher is required for the class to count toward the 24 hr. total
  • Up to 3 credit hours of 400-level course work may count
  • Complete FR 510, 511, 512, 660R (critical theory), and 699R
  • If you are planning on being a Student Instructor (SI) in the department, you should take the French 690R course cross-referenced with French 377, French Language Teaching Procedures, your first semester.

MA exam

  • Students must pass the MA exam prior to their third semester in the program in order to remain eligible for financial aid and a Student Instructor position.
  • Written and oral components based on a reading list established with your advisor
  • You are responsible for scheduling a time for the exam with your advisor and the MA exam committee chair person (your advisor can tell you who this is)
  • Allow for at least a week between the written and oral portions of the exam
  • Written portion generally consists of 3-5 questions that may be specific to one work or movement or more general (cross century, genre, etc.) in nature
  • Oral portion consists of an explication de texte (request the text from your advisor or the MA exam committee chair 2 days before the oral), questions concerning your written responses and general questions about works or periods not covered in the written portion
  • Evaluation: Pass; Pass with reservations; Pending pass (you would be required to retake specific portions of the exam before officially passing); Fail

Thesis

  • Students must submit a signed prospectus to the department office prior to their fourth semester in the program in order to remain eligible for financial aid and a Student Instructor position.
  • Select a thesis topic, a thesis advisor from a member of the graduate faculty in our department, and two other faculty members to serve on your thesis committee
  • Complete a Thesis Prospectus (an overview and defense of the thesis project that proposes, outlines, justifies, and surveys the project, and includes a working bibliography), with signatures of approval from the advisory committee chair and graduate coordinator
  • Gain approval of your advisor and committee members as the work progresses
  • Defend the completed thesis in front of your committee
  • Submit necessary paperwork to graduate college (see dept. secretary)

Program of Study and Regular Evaluations

  • A Program of Study must be completed during the student's second semester. These forms are available in the department office.
  • Students are required to meet each semester with the graduate coordinator. Students will be evaluated based on the progress they are making toward the degree. Two unsatisfactory evaluations in a row will result in dismissal from the program.