French Master of Arts Program
Department of French | Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
丁香园AV Calendar 2012 Spring
The French Graduate program, with its breadth of topics in literature and linguistics, offers an interdisciplinary curriculum. The linguistics component consists of the study of a variety of linguistic theories and their specific application to the analysis of French. The literature option includes a comprehensive genre- and period-oriented set of courses. Since a major goal of all students enrolled in a French program is mastery of the language, all courses are given in French.
For information about FREN course disciplines, visit
丁香园AV Requirements
Candidates must satisfy the general admission requirements as shown in the Graduate General Regulations.
Program admission requires a sound background in French literature or French linguistics, as well as a good command of both oral and written French. Candidates lacking these must remedy the deficiency before admission is granted through satisfactory completion of one or two terms as a qualifying student.
Upon admission, each student will be assigned a temporary supervisor.
The program鈥檚 degree requirements may be completed 鈥榳ith thesis,鈥� 鈥榳ith project鈥� or 鈥榳ithout thesis.鈥� In each case, the student works under a supervisory committee鈥檚 direction that has been appointed by the end of the second term.
Initially, students are admitted to the MA without thesis option. Transfer to the MA with thesis or MA with project option may be permitted after completion of the second term on supervisory committee recommendation, and subject to graduate studies committee approval. Required course work, thesis topic, project topic or area of field examination and other requirements are approved by the supervisory committee and graduate studies committee.
Program Requirements
Students may be required to complete additional courses to remedy deficiencies or to ensure suitable thesis preparation or project research. The following are the minimum requirements.
MA with Thesis
Students in the MA with thesis option successfully complete 15 units of graduate courses from their chosen concentration, either in linguistics or literature. Within the 15 units, with senior supervisor approval, students may complete up to five units outside the department. In addition, students complete a thesis of about 100 pages that is defended at an oral exam as described in 1.9 and 1.10 of the Graduate General Regulations. Students submit a written thesis proposal no later than one term following the completion of course work. Substantive thesis work may proceed only after approval of the thesis proposal by the supervisory committee.
MA with Project
This option requires a minimum of 20 graduate units, 15 of which are completed within the department. With senior supervisor approval, up to five units may be from outside the department. Also, students complete a project that contributes to French linguistics, French/ Francophone literature or FSL pedagogy which is submitted for oral examination. The project may have a practical component in a non-traditional format. A written proposal is submitted no later than one term after course work completion. Substantive project work may proceed only after project proposal approval by the supervisory committee and the graduate studies committee.
MA without Thesis
Students selecting this option are required to complete a minimum of 30 graduate work units. With the senior supervisor鈥檚 approval, up to 10 units may be completed by completing courses outside the department. In addition, students must complete a field examination based on three completed courses. Field examination preparation will be undertaken on the supervisory committee鈥檚 advice.
Language Requirement
Students must demonstrate to the graduate program committee an acceptable competence in written and oral French and must show at least a reading knowledge of one language other than English or French that is acceptable to the supervisory committee. This requirement is fulfilled by completing two courses in that language or by passing an exam of translation of a 250 word text into English.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the graduate general regulations (residence, course work, academic progress, supervision, research competence requirement, completion time, and degree completion), as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled, as shown above.