French, M.A.

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M.A. Degree

The following programs are available for the M.A. in French on a full- or part-time basis. Admission requirements conform to the general University regulations. Applicants whose specialization is in linguistics, French or Francophone literatures and cultures, are encouraged to apply to the M.A. program. The M.A. degree normally requires a full year to complete.

A. M.A. with Thesis

The candidate is required:

to obtain a grade of at least B- in each of four half courses. Exceptionally, after consultation with the Department, one graduate course at the 700-level may be taken outside of the Department in a related subject.
to write, under the supervision of a member of the Department, a thesis that would normally amount to 80-120 double-spaced typewritten pages. The thesis should be on an approved subject, embodying the results of original research and showing independent critical judgement. The student must successfully defend this thesis at an oral examination normally conducted in French.

B. M.A. with Project

The candidate is required:

to obtain a grade of at least B- in each of six half courses. Exceptionally, after consultation with the Department, one graduate course at the 700-level may be taken outside of the Department in a related subject.
and to write in French, under the supervision of a member of the Department, a project that would normally consist of an essay amounting to approximately 25 double- spaced typewritten pages. The project must be on an approved subject. The student must successfully defend this project at an oral examination conducted in French.

Additional Information

Additionally, all M.A. students must pass the workshop on Instruments and Methods of Research in French Literary Studies. This compulsory workshop introduces students to the methods of bibliography. A “Pass” or “Fail” will be recorded on students’ transcripts for the workshop.

With the approval of the Graduate Program Committee a student may select a course of study under:

FRENCH 730 / Lectures Dirigées

Registration in Program

By January 15 of the academic year of initial registration, full-time graduate students must declare their choice of Program A or B. Students opting for Program A must have a thesis subject and thesis committee approved by January 31. Students opting for Program B must have their project subject or comprehensive subject areas as well as their examining committees approved by April 15.

Part-time graduate students must declare their choice of Program A (M.A. with Thesis) or B (M.A. with Project) on completion of four half courses and must, before registering in their final courses, have their thesis subject, project or comprehensive subject areas, and examining committee approved by the Department.