Head of the Department: Douglas Kibbee
Director of Graduate Studies: Karen Fresco
Correspondence and Information: Department of French, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2090 Foreign Language Building , 707 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801; (217) 244-2721
GRADUATE FACULTY
Professors: E. Accad, H. De Ley, P. Gaeng, A. Hadley, J. Jahiel, A.K.
Mortimer, S. Savignon, E. Talbot
Associate Professors: K. Fresco, F. Jenkins, D. Kibbee, J. P. Mathy
Assistant Professors: L. Mall, N. Popescu, S. Shinall, Y. Smith
GRADUATE PROGRAMS
The Department of French offers graduate courses leading to the master of arts
and the doctor of philosophy degrees. Candidates for the M.A. degree may
specialize in literature, in expanded French studies, in French linguistics, or
in the learning/teaching of French. Candidates for the Ph.D. degree may choose
one of four specializations: literature, expanded French studies, French
linguistics, or second-language learning and teaching.
ADMISSION
Students usually considered for admission to the M.A. program have an overall
undergraduate admission average of 4.0 (A = 5.0) with an average in French of
4.5. Students should usually have had a college major in French. Entering
students are given a diagnostic test to determine whether remedial study in
French language courses is necessary. Some knowledge of other Romance languages
and literatures is desirable. Students seeking admission to the Ph.D. program
with a master of arts degree earned elsewhere are expected to have a 4.5
grade-point average in graduate courses. The master's degree should be in
French literature or in French studies. Candidates seeking admission to the
Ph.D. concentration in second-language learning and teaching may hold an M.A.T.
degree.
MASTER OF ARTS
Candidates in all master's programs must complete 8 units of course work and
pass an M.A. examination. Candidates in literature must take an M.A.
examination based on a reading list covering the field of French literature.
The examination in expanded French studies covers, in addition to readings in
the field of French literature, material bearing on the candidate's field of
specialization in French culture or related disciplines. The examination in
linguistics is based on a list of readings in linguistics and in literature.
The examination in French learning/teaching includes readings in
second-language acquisition and teaching methods in addition to selected
readings in French literature and/or civilization. Candidates in all programs
are required to demonstrate, at the time of the master's examination, an
ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral French.
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
Candidates in all programs must complete 16 units beyond the master's degree,
including a minimum of 8 units of course work beyond the M.A. degree, and must
pass a preliminary examination and write an acceptable thesis. Although
teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, the Department of
French requires Ph.D. candidates to do some teaching as part of their academic
work, because such experience is considered a vital part of the graduate
program.
PH.D IN LITERATURE
This program is designed to prepare literary scholars and teachers. Candidates
are required to include courses in research methods and textual criticism,
linguistics or linguistically oriented textual theory, Old French, and French
literature. Also required are 1) reading proficiency in one language other than
French or English, and 2) one year of college Latin or the equivalent.
PH.D IN EXPANDED FRENCH STUDIES
The doctoral program in expanded French studies allows for research in
francophone literature or in the relation of French literature to some
nonliterary discipline. Two of the required 8 units of course work beyond the
M.A. degree may be taken in other departments or programs when available and
approved by the graduate adviser. Candidates are required to include courses in
French literature. Reading proficiency in one language other than French or
English and one year of college Latin or the equivalent are required; or
students may demonstrate high proficiency in one foreign language.
PH.D IN FRENCH LINGUISTICS
This is a graduate curriculum that offers training in French historical and
descriptive linguistics and philology. Students in this program are required to
take 3 units in French literature and may elect up to 2 units of related work
in other departments, in addition to a required course in the structure of
French and either the history of French or a course in Old French. At the
doctoral level, a concentration in Romance linguistics is available in
cooperation with the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese; the
Department of Linguistics; and the Department of the Classics.
PH.D IN SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION/TEACHER EDUCATION
The multidisciplinary Ph.D. concentration in second-language acquisition and
teacher education is available to candidates with an M.A. or M.A.T. degree in
French and at least one year of experience in teaching French as a second
language. Candidates selecting this option are required to complete courses in
linguistic theory, psycholinguistics and the psychology of language,
sociolinguistics and sociocultural analysis, curriculum development, research
methodology, advanced study in French language and culture, and selected
courses from a group of rotating topics related to the individual's particular
interests. Minimum requirements for the degree in all the participating
departments are 16 units of credit beyond the master's degree.
FINANCIAL AID
Assistantships and University fellowships are awarded. Several graduate
students each year spend the school year in France under a graduate exchange
agreement with the French government. The department has also initiated
exchange programs with the Universities of Dijon, Metz and Poitiers, France,
the University of Liege, Belgium, and Laval University, Quebec.
Go to Graduate Programs Index
Go to Programs of Study Table of Contents
Go to Graduate College Home Page
Go to University of Illinois Home Page