Department of French, Classics and Italian - Department of French

GRADUATE (TEACHING) ASSISTANSHIPS ARE AWARDED ON A ROLLING BASSIS. STUDENTS ARE ENCURRAGED TO APPLY EARLY FOR FULLEST CONSIDERATION. WE RECOMMEND THAT APPLICANTS ASKING FOR FINANCIAL AID SUBMIT REQUIRED MATERIAL BY JANUARY 1ST. THE UNIVERSITY HAS SEVERAL FELLOWSHIPS FOR OUTSTANDING APPLICANTS; FOR THESE AWARDS, APPLICATIONSMUST BE RECEIVED BY DECEMBER 1ST.

I .Admissions to the M.A. Program

A. Minimum admission requirement for the M.A. program includes a bachelor’s degree in French from a four -year college; preparation in French equivalent to a B.A. in French at Michigan State University; superior grades in college coursework (normally, at least 3.0 in undergraduate French language and literature courses at the third – and fourth – year level). The following documents are needed to apply for the M.A. (Application Checklist)

Application (http://www.msu.edu/~gradschl/apply.htm).
Personal statement explaining the candidate’s motivation for enrolling in a graduate program in French, and his or her ultimate goals.
Three letters of recommendation, of which at least two must be from instructors holding the doctorate and who have taught the candidate in French courses in college
Transcripts – candidates must verify their preparation in French by having an official transcript(s) of all relevant course work sent to the department of French, Classics, and Italian, including proof that they have a B.A. or equivalent in French.
A writing sample in French
Test scores from the GRE are strongly recommended
Non-native language proficiency (except for native French speakers)

Non-Native Language proficiency form

8. TOEFEL – candidates for teaching assistantships, and who are not first-language speaker of English, must take and pass the TOEFL examination. Any award of a teaching assistantship is contingent of a candidate’s achieving a passing grade on the TOEFL.

9.Financial Statement (International Students only) if no teaching assistantship is awarded the student must have a financial statement for the amount specified by the University

B. Transfer Credits: You can transfer a maximum of 9 semester credits of graduate course work (excluding research and thesis credits) into the M.A. Program.

II Admission to the Ph.D. Program

A.) Minimum admission requirement for the Ph.D. Program is an M.A. in French or a least 30 credits of approved graduate level work in French studies.(Application Checklist)

Application (http://www.msu.edu/~gradschl/apply.htm).
Personal statement explaining the candidate’s motivation for enrolling in a graduate program in French, and his or her ultimate goals.
Three letters of recommendations from professors who are qualified to assess the applicant’s ability to pursue advanced graduate study in French.
Transcripts – candidates must verify their preparation in French by having an official transcript (s) of all relevant course work sent to the department of French, Classics, and Italian. Including proof that they have a M.A. or equivalent in French.
A writing sample in French
Test scores from the GRE are strongly recommended
Non-native language proficiency (except for native French speakers)

Non-Native Language proficiency form

8 TOEFEL – candidates for teaching assistantships, and who are not first-language speaker of English, must take and pass the TOEFL examination. Any award of a teaching assistantship is contingent of a candidate’s achieving a passing grade on the TOEFL.

9. Financial Statement (International Students only) if no teaching assistantship is awarded the student must have a financial statement for the amount specified by the University (website here)

B.) Transfer Credit: A maximum of 6 semester credits may be transferred (excluding research and thesis credits) from other recognized institutions or foreign institutions upon approval by the student’s adviser if they are appropriate to a student’s program and provided they were completed within the time limits approved for the earning of the degree desired at Michigan State University.

III. M.A. Degree Requirements

A.) Candidates for the Masters degree must be in residence for at least three semesters.

B.) The Master’s candidate in French must complete both FRN 850 and ROM 803 and at least one course in each of the following four fields (12 credits): Medieval French Studies; Early Modern French Studies; Post-Revolutionary and Modern French Studies; Contemporary French and Francophone Studies. Additionally, four elective courses are required, totaling at least 30 credits at the 400-level or above, over four semesters of the academic year or summer session. At least 18 of these credits must be at the 800 levels or above. The electives provide the flexibility to emphasize linguistics, second language acquisition, and cultural studies; interdisciplinary studies; or French literature, depending on the student’s interests and career goals. The Graduate Adviser in French must approve all course enrollments. With such approval, the student may complete a cognate field outside the department, which will include at least two graduate courses for which the student has had suitable preparation. Courses in a language other than French, if taken at the 400-level or above, may constitute a cognate area. Because Teaching Assistants can take 9 credits per semester tuition-free, they can accumulate up to 36 credits during the two years of Master’s candidacy, opening possibilities for a total of four electives outside the department.

C.) There is no thesis requirement for the Master’s degree in French.

D.) Students in the Masters program have an opportunity to apply for appointment as a teaching assistant. Teaching assistantship appointments typically involve teaching one or two supervised language courses per semester at the 100 or 200 level.

E.) Students who have been awarded teaching assistantships and who have not already completed a similar course as determined by the Coordinator, must complete ROM 803, “Current Approaches to Foreign Language Instruction,” or equivalent the first time it is offered.

F.) M.A. candidates must pass the M.A./PhD. Qualifying Examination in French. Generally, students will take this examination early in the second semester of their second year of enrollment in this program. The examination is offered in January. A student who does not pass this examination may retake it only once, in March. Students who fail the exam a second time will not be awarded a Masters degree. Reading lists for the exam and sample questions are available.

IV. Requirements for the Ph.D. Degree

A.) Candidates for the Ph. D. degree must be in residence for at least four semesters.

B.) Candidates who wish to continue from the M.A. program to the Ph.D. program must pass the M.A./PhD. Qualifying Examination in French, described above, in second semester of residency. Students who fail the exam a second time cannot continue in the program. Sample questions are available.

C.) Students who have been awarded a teaching assistantship and who have not already completed a similar course as determined by the Coordinator, must complete ROM 803, “Current Approaches to Foreign Language Instruction,” or equivalent, the first time it is offered.

D.). The candidate must complete one of the four emphases listed below. Courses completed prior to enrollment in the Doctoral program in French may be used to satisfy this requirement:

1. Emphasis in French Literature. At least two courses at the 800 level in each of the traditional six periods of French literature and culture (Medieval literature and Old French Language; The Renaissance; Classicism; The Enlightenment; The 19th Century; The 20th and 21st Centuries, including the Francophone World).
2. Emphasis in the Romance Languages and Literatures. 1) At least two courses at the 800 levels in each of four of the six fields of French literature listed above. 2) At least two courses in each of two of the traditional fields in a minor literature.
3. Emphasis in Interdisciplinary Studies. 1) At least six courses at the 800 level from the six fields of French literature listed above, including a—At least two courses in each of two fields; and b—At least one course in each of two of the remaining fields. 2) At least two courses in a cognate area related to French literature. 3) At least four courses from one or more of the following areas: linguistics, pedagogy, and cultural studies.
4. Emphasis in Comparative Literature. 1) At least six courses at the 800 level or above from the six fields of French literature listed above, including a—At least two courses in each of two fields; and b—At least one course in each of two of the remaining fields. 2) At least two courses in a cognate area related to French literature. 3) At least two courses in comparative literature. 4) At least two courses in critical theory. 4) Additional credits in at least two courses in a second literature, as needed to meet the requirement of at least 12 total courses for this emphasis.

E.) The candidate must complete additional courses as required by his or her guidance committee.

F.) The candidate must demonstrate reading proficiency in two languages other than French or English that are relevant to the student’s area of specialization, as determined by the student’s advisor. The language proficiency requirement may be met by a grade of 3.0 or above in a fourth semester course, as approved by the advisor, or by examination. The proficiency requirement must be completed at least one month before the students take their comprehensive exam.

G.) Candidates for the Ph.D. must teach at least one college-level course in French.

H.) The candidate must pass a set of Comprehensive Examinations. The examination is based on the student’s course work, on the reading lists worked out with members of the committee, and on the candidate’s dissertation prospectus document submitted at least three weeks before the first written exam.

The four parts include:

A three-hour written examination in the student’s primary field, as defined by the student and the guidance committee in consultation.
A three-hour written examination in the student’s secondary field, defined by the student and the guidance committee in consultation.
A 25-page dissertation prospectus, plus an extensive bibliography (minimum: 100 items). A rationale for the choice of the dissertation project, a defense of its potential for making an original contribution to scholarship, a description of the problems anticipated during the course of research, and a clear justification for the choice of methodology to be employed shall be included in the prospectus.
An oral examination of one hour or more, related to parts 1), 2), and 3). These parts must all be completed before the oral examination may be taken

The written answers, the oral examination, and the prospectus must demonstrate a sophisticated, thorough knowledge of French language, literature, and culture, and show promise for the candidate’s being able to achieve an original, coherent dissertation of potentially publishable quality.

Candidates who fail any one of these sections may retake the section once in the same semester. Candidates who fail any two sections, or who fail the one section that has been attempted a second time, cannot continue in the program.

I.) The candidate must submit a book-length doctoral dissertation based on original research that demonstrates sound critical judgment, and mastery of subject matter.