Masters Degrees in French Literature & Language, USA

Our M.A. programs offer training in the areas of French and Francophone Literature and Culture, Applied and Descriptive Linguistics, and Second-language Pedagogy. Our programs are designed to promote professional development and preparation for the job market. To that end, qualified students awarded Graduate Teaching Assistantships learn to teach at the undergraduate level at the same time that they complete requirements toward the advanced degree. Many of them also present research at local and national conferences and publish their findings.

Students choose either the Standard (Literature) Track or the Applied Linguistics Track, each with or without thesis.

Standard (Literature) Track Degree requirements

33 credit hours of coursework without thesis; or 27 credit hours of coursework and 6 credit hours of thesis research (FR 599) resulting in a completed and approved thesis. Find out more information on thesis procedures.
At least one course in five of six fields:
- Medieval and Renaissance
- Early Modern (17th and 18th centuries)
- 19th century
- 20th and 21st centuries
- Francophone and French studies
- French linguistics
A comprehensive exam with written and oral components based on coursework completed in the five fields.*

*On the written portion of the comprehensive exam for the Standard Track, candidates may be exempted from examination in a maximum of two fields: by writing a thesis in a field; by presenting a research paper in a field at a professional conference; or by earning a grade of “A” or “B” in two courses in a field. For the oral portion of the exam, students present a topic assigned in advance.

Applied Linguistics Track Degree requirements

36 credit hours of coursework without thesis; or 30 credit hours of coursework and 6 credit hours of thesis research (FR 599) resulting in a completed and approved thesis. Find out more information on thesis procedures and consult the special instructions for French Linguistics students.

Coursework in three areas (French Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, French electives) as follows:
- French descriptive linguistics course for 3 credit hours (FR 561)
- 12 credit hours in SLA, pedagogy, and research (FR 512 and other approved courses)
- 21 credit hours of French electives (language, literature, film, culture, linguistics, etc.) for the non-thesis track; 15 credit hours of French electives for the thesis track.

A comprehensive written exam, based on the coursework.

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Master of Arts

The Master of Arts in French, Italian and Spanish follow a 9 course requirement in two plans. Prospective graduate students are encouraged to seek academic advise early in their planning to ensure sequences that best reflect expectations and future career choices and interests.
The Romance Languages and Literatures Department provides instruction in the French, Italian and Spanish languages and their literatures with the programs leading to the master of arts degree. A candidate for the MA is expected to acquire oral and written proficiency in one Romance language, sound knowledge of the principal aspects of the literature in that language; and familiarity with various methods of scholarship and criticism. An elementary knowledge of a second Romance language and of Latin is desirable.
The master of arts degree in each of the three languages follows a similar structure: nine (9) graduate courses (36 credits). Two of the nine are considered electives, selected with the student's adviser or department graduate director and tailored to the student's needs and future objectives, in closely related subject matter within the general framework of the Master's program. Of the remaining seven courses, the student is immersed in the literature and canon of the language being studied. A parallel program is available whereby one course substitution of a Thesis may be selected. All students are required to take Comprehensive Examinations. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude test scores are required for admission. The requirements for the MA in French, Italian or Spanish may be satisfied according to Plan A or Plan B described below.

The Romance Languages and Literatures Department provides instruction in French language and literature leading to the master of arts degree. Students have the option of pursuing a track of study culminating in a master's thesis or may pursue a track of study whereby one course may be selected in substitution of the thesis.

The program at Binghamton University allows students to work closely with the accomplished members of our faculty throughout their academic careers, and also affords students the opportunity to participate in a joint MA/PhD program offered in collaboration with the Comparative Literature Department. The flexible programs and options for work done outside the department make Binghamton University a unique educational institution.

All applicants must submit the following:

- Online graduate degree application and application fee
- Transcripts from each college/university which you attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal statement (2-3 pages) describing your reasons for pursuing graduate study, your career aspirations, your special interests within your field, and any unusual features of your background that might need explanation or be of interest to your program's admissions committee.
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae (max. 2 pages)
- Official GRE scores

And, for international applicants:
- International Student Financial Statement form
- Official bank statement/proof of support
- Official TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic scores

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Study and teach at the same time with the Foreign Language Master of Teaching (M.A.T.) program. This degree is designed to give students the best possible preparation for teaching a foreign language. Three languages are offered: French, German, and Spanish. Candidates select from two course tracks: licensure for students seeking public school certification or non-licensure for those who may already have an elementary or other certificate. Classes cover education, theories of language acquisition, foreign language teaching methods, linguistics, and the literature and culture of the chosen language. The intensive teaching internship, a unique aspect of the program, pairs students with a faculty supervisor to teach an introductory language course at MTSU or with an experienced educator in a country where the language of emphasis is spoken. Classes also are offered in late afternoon or evening for the convenience of currently employed teachers.

Career

Graduates from the MTSU program have had an exceptionally high placement rate in both public and private schools as foreign language educators. Some may go on to teach at the community college level if they take more courses in the content area than required.

Employers of MTSU alumni include:

Brentwood High School
Centennial High School
Middle Tennessee State University
Montgomery Bell Academy
Notre Dame High School
Tennessee State University
Webb

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West Chester and Millersville Universities launched a new combined graduate degree program, the Master of Arts in Languages and Cultures in French.

The 11 courses of the 33-credit degree program may be completed in from 2-5 years.

The program contains three required core seminars totaling 9 credits to be taken by all students enrolled for the degree program: LNC 501 on linguistics, LNC 502 on interpretive strategies, and LNC 503 on cultural studies. These seminars will all be offered each academic calendar year, shared by both schools, and will be taught online, to allow students in all languages to create a forum together.

Additionally there is a general curriculum of 12 semester hours in French, which includes courses in communicative proficiencies and cultural competencies.

Courses may be offered in all six academic sessions of each calendar year, including both semesters, the three summer sessions, and the winter session.

To complete the master’s degree experience, students also choose 12 semester credit hours from elective options, in accord with their experience, needs, and future professional career plans. These may include courses in other fields such as nursing, marketing, criminal justice, etc., study abroad, an internship, courses in pedagogy, or selected courses from the PA K-12 Graduate Certification in French curriculum. The elective courses may also include all 12 credits in French or another program language at the graduate level.

Exit requirements for all students are uniform: the choice of an exit capstone project of a specialized written and oral exam, or a research project, or portfolio of three projects, defended at an oral exam with the faculty.

Internships

The Department of Languages and Cultures offers a three, six, nine or twelve credit-hour internship to junior or senior majors and minors in languages or linguistics and to graduate students in French, German and Spanish who wish to enhance their study of a world language in communication, culture, and linguistics with an educational experience directly in the workplace, either in the United States or abroad.

Interns are expected to engage in written and oral experience in the studied language on a regular basis. Internships help students test and develop their skills of expression and communication in the world language or in English, if the internship involves the Teaching of English as a Second Language or English linguistics. Internships may be salaried, but unpaid or volunteer positions also qualify.

Students who seek to pursue this type of elective credit-bearing on-the-job experience by teaching a world language, Teaching English as a Second Language or by working for a company that conducts business in one of our languages or in areas related to English linguistics should contact their advisor to review information regarding job search, company contacts, contractual procedures and semester credit evaluation and approval. Graduate level LAN 525 internships may be arranged as the elective component of the Master of Arts in Languages and Cultures, for up to 12 credits.

Please visit the website for more information:

https://wcupa.edu/arts-humanities/languagesCultures/gradLAN525.aspx

Careers

Our program graduates pursue many careers using French, including teaching at all levels, further graduate study, law, international relations, marketing, banking, travel, and services in a wide variety of regional and national companies. The high-quality professional training and multicultural perspectives you will acquire will enrich your personal future as well.

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