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Head of the Department: Jean-Philippe Mathy
Director of Graduate Studies: Karen Fresco
2090 Foreign Languages Building
707 South Mathews Avenue
Urbana, IL 61801
(217) 333-2022
E-mail:
french@uiuc.edu
Graduate Degree Programs
The Department of French offers graduate programs leading to the master
of arts and the doctor of philosophy degrees. Candidates for the master’s
degree may specialize in literature, in interdisciplinary French studies,
in French linguistics, or in the learning/teaching of French. Candidates
for the doctoral degree may choose one of four specializations: literature,
interdisciplinary French studies, French linguistics, or second-language
learning and teaching.
Admission
Students considered for admission to the master’s program usually
have an overall undergraduate admission average of 3.0 (A = 4.0) with
an average in French of 3.5. Students should usually have had a college
major in French. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are recommended.
Applicants should also submit a statement of purpose and two samples
of their writing in French. International applicants must present
a minimum paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
score of 550 (213 on the computer-based test). Admission for the spring
semester is rare. Entering students are given a diagnostic test to
determine whether remedial study in French language 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 3.5 grade point average
in graduate coursework. 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
a Master of Arts in Teaching degree.
Graduate Teaching Experience
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.
Master of Arts
Candidates in all master’s programs must complete 32 graduate
hours of coursework and pass a master’s examination. Candidates
in literature must take an examination based on a reading list covering
the field of French literature. The examination in interdisciplinary
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 64 graduate hours beyond
the master’s degree, including a minimum of 32 graduate hours
of coursework beyond the master’s degree, and must pass a preliminary
examination and write an acceptable thesis.
Specialization in Literature
This program is designed to prepare literary scholars and teachers.
Candidates are required to include courses in textual criticism, linguistics
or linguistically oriented textual theory, Old French, and French
literature. Also required are reading proficiency in one language
other than French or English and one year of college Latin or the
equivalent.
Specialization in Interdisciplinary French Studies
The doctoral program in interdisciplinary French studies allows for
research in francophone literature or in the relation of French literature
to some nonliterary discipline. Eight of the required 32 graduate
hours of coursework beyond the master’s 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.
Specialization in French Linguistics
This graduate curriculum offers training in French descriptive linguistics
and philology. Students in this program are required to take 12 graduate
hours in French literature and may elect up to 8 graduate hours of
related work in other departments, in addition to required courses
in the structure of French, history of the French language, and 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.
Specialization 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. in French
or M.A.T. 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 and/or 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 64 graduate hours of credit beyond the master’s degree.
Financial Aid
Assistantships and University fellowships are awarded. Several graduate
students each year spend the academic year in France under exchange
agreements with universities in France, Belgium, and Canada.
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