French, M.A.

M.A. Degree

The following streams 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. Registration in three (3) graduate half courses in Term 1 is mandatory for all M.A. students, independent of the stream pursued.

A. M.A. with Project

The candidate is required to:

obtain a grade of at least B- in each of six half courses, one of which, FRENCH 705 Introduction to Literary and Critical Theory, is mandatory. Exceptionally, after consultation with the Department, one graduate course at the 700-level may be taken outside of the Department in a subject related to student’s research. With the approval of the Graduate Program Committee a student may select a course of study under: FRENCH 730 Lectures Dirigées.
write in French, under the supervision of a member of the Department of French, a Major Research Paper (MRP) normally amounting to 35-45 double-spaced typewritten pages (excluding bibliography). The paper must be on an approved subject, present solid research and critical analysis. The student must successfully defend this project at an oral examination conducted in French.

B. M.A. with Thesis

Admission to the M.A. thesis stream is not automatic with admission to the M.A. program. By the end of the first term and after submitting a formal request, students will require approval in writing from their prospective supervisor, submission of a formal thesis proposal and approval by the Departmental Graduate Studies Committee.

The candidate is required to:

obtain a grade of at least B- in each of four half courses, one of which, FRENCH 705 Introduction to Literary and Critical Theory, is mandatory. Exceptionally, after consultation with the Department, one graduate course at the 700-level may be taken outside of the Department in a subject related to a student’s research. With the approval of the Graduate Program Committee a student may also select a course of study under: FRENCH 730 Lectures Dirigées.
write, under the supervision of a member of the Department of French, 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 judgment. The student must successfully defend this thesis at an oral examination normally conducted in French.

Additional Information

All M.A. students must pass the workshop on Instruments and Methods of Research in French Literary Studies (Pass/Fail). In addition, students are expected to participate in four other professionalization workshops offered during the academic year.

All graduate students, including part time students, must also complete coursesSGS 101 Academic Research Integrity and Ethics and SGS 201 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Please refer to section 2.6.5 for more information. A graduate student may not obtain a graduate degree at McMaster without having passed these courses.

FRENCH 730 / Lectures Dirigées

Registration in Program

By January 15 of the academic year of initial registration, full-time M.A. students must declare their choice of Program A or B. Students opting for either program must have a thesis or MRP subject and a thesis or MRP committee approved by January 31. Part-time graduate students must declare their choice of Program A (M.A. with Thesis) or B (M.A. with MRP) on completion of four half courses and must, before registering in their final courses, have their thesis or MRP subject and examining committee approved by the Department.