French Studies, M.A.

A. MA distribution requirements

(15 credit hours out of the 36 total credit hours required for the degree). For their 21 elective credit hours, students should follow a curriculum designed to meet their particular needs and to suit their special interests. This curriculum will be developed by the student in consultation with the director of graduate studies and the student’s major professor and/or MA examining committee.

Students shall take at least one course from each of the following five areas:

B. MA exams format

An essential component of the MA exam is the reading list, which will be the basis of the written exam (in French). Students will answer one question about any author on the reading list. The reading list will comprise five essential books for each of the five core areas plus four essential secondary works for each of the five core areas (for a total of 45 book and work). A standard (“default”) list, drawn up by professors who specialize in the core areas, will be provided by the department. Students may choose to use the standard list or, in consultation with their major professor and/or MA examining committee, to substitute works of their choice for any or all of the works on the standard list.

The graduate student will have two options to choose from for the Master of Arts Examination:

1. Non-thesis option: 36 regular course credit hours are required (no more than half at the 4000-level) required.
   The student will complete two 2500-word written essay about any author of the reading list.
   The question will be determined by the student’s major professor in consultation with the student’s MA Examining Committee.
   • The student has four days to research and write each essay (eight days total).
   • Oral exam: One week after submitting the 2500-word essay to the M.A. Examining Committee, the student will meet with the committee to discuss the written exam. During the oral exam, the committee may ask questions about any authors or works included on the student’s reading list.
2. Thesis option: Thirty regular course credit hours (no more than half at the 4000-level) plus six hours of FREN 8000 Thesis Research (1-12 per sem.)  and a 50-75 page (including bibliography) master’s thesis and an oral defense of the master’s thesis are required. The thesis may be written in French or English.
   Oral exam:
   1. Written Exam: a 2500-word essay about any author on the reading list. The question will be determined by the student’s major professor in consultation with the student’s M.A. Examining Committee.  The student will have 4 days to research and write the essay.
   2. Oral Exam: one week after submitting the 2500-word essay to the M.A. Examining Committee, the student will meet with the committee to discuss the written exam.  During the oral exam, the committee may ask questions about any authors or works included on the student’s reading list.