M.A. with a Major in French
Students must complete a minimum of 30 semester credit hours for the master of arts and a minimum of 30 semester credit hours for the master of arts and education.
For the degree of master of arts or master of arts and education with a major in French, students must meet the following departmental requirements:
- present an undergraduate major in the language of interest from an accredited college or university;
- satisfactorily complete at least 18 hours of graduate credit in the major language (including courses FREN 5010 and FREN 5020);
- satisfactorily complete an additional 12 hours in the major language or in approved, cognate courses;
- pass a comprehensive examination; and
- demonstrate a reading proficiency in a foreign language other than the major. This may be done either by earning a passing grade in a foreign language course at or above the 3000 level, by passing an examination administered by the Department of Foreign Languages, or by successfully completing a graduate reading course offered by the department.
A thesis may be presented for an additional six hours of credit in lieu of the comprehensive examination.
1. Speaking objectives. French MA students are able to handle a variety of communicative tasks, including those required in university classes which are taught entirely in the target language. French masters students are able to converse in French about academic, professional, and social topics in a formal setting as well as in informal context. They can express and defend their opinions in the target language; they can discuss abstract topics and articulate hypotheses. They can narrate and describe in all major time frames (past, present and future) in paragraph length discourse. They can handle appropriately the linguistic challenges presented by a complication or unexpected turn of events that occurs within the context of a routine situation or communicative task with which they are otherwise familiar. They contribute to the conversation with sufficient accuracy, clarity, and precision to convey their intended message without misrepresentation or confusion, and it can be understood by native speakers unaccustomed to dealing with non-natives.
2. Writing objectives. French masters students are able to write extensive factual and analytical texts on a variety of topics for academic, professional or personal purposes. They demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe in major time frames and demonstrate a high degree of control of tense aspect. They are able to combine and link sentences into texts of paragraph length and structure. They demonstrate an ability to incorporate cohesive transitional devices. Subordination in the expression of ideas is present, structurally coherent and regularly correct. Their writing is understood by natives not used to the writing of non-natives although some additional effort may be required in the reading of the text.
3. Grammar objectives. Masters students in French demonstrate mastery of sophisticated and subtle grammatical topics. Students are able to communicate clearly and correctly in the target language. Clear communication is based on the accurate use and understanding of correct forms and structures. Students are able to identify forms and structures that they have mastered.
4. Literature Objectives. Masters students in French demonstrate a broad reading knowledge of literary periods, genres and styles. They give evidence of intensive critical reading skills or literary analysis of a given text. They also give evidence of comprehension of basic literary theories.
a) Literary history. Students are able to situate literary texts into their literary, political and social-historical contexts and to classify literary texts according to historical genres (essay, novel, lyric poetry, drama etc.) and style periods (Renaissance, Classicism, Romanticism, etc.). They are able to indicate which texts do not easily fit into given generic or stylistic categories and why. Masters students are able to use the library as well as electronic sources to gain access to relevant materials in and about literature in the target language.
b) Critical reading. Students are able to respond coherently and react critically to texts they have read, formulate relevant questions and problems, and show how these concerns may be clarified. They are able to identify, understand, and analyze the texts they have read.
5. Culture Objectives. Masters students in French demonstrate advanced knowledge of cultural differences among selected francophone cultures as manifested in literature and film. Students can identify a number of texts, artifacts, monuments, terms, names, places, concepts, behavior, dates, and other cultural facts from periods of the target culture s history, geography, and institutions. They can establish these concepts within relevant contexts and explain in the target language their meaning or importance. Students can use the library and electronic sources to gain access to relevant materials on the target civilization.
2. Writing objectives. French masters students are able to write extensive factual and analytical texts on a variety of topics for academic, professional or personal purposes. They demonstrate the ability to narrate and describe in major time frames and demonstrate a high degree of control of tense aspect. They are able to combine and link sentences into texts of paragraph length and structure. They demonstrate an ability to incorporate cohesive transitional devices. Subordination in the expression of ideas is present, structurally coherent and regularly correct. Their writing is understood by natives not used to the writing of non-natives although some additional effort may be required in the reading of the text.
3. Grammar objectives. Masters students in French demonstrate mastery of sophisticated and subtle grammatical topics. Students are able to communicate clearly and correctly in the target language. Clear communication is based on the accurate use and understanding of correct forms and structures. Students are able to identify forms and structures that they have mastered.
4. Literature Objectives. Masters students in French demonstrate a broad reading knowledge of literary periods, genres and styles. They give evidence of intensive critical reading skills or literary analysis of a given text. They also give evidence of comprehension of basic literary theories.
a) Literary history. Students are able to situate literary texts into their literary, political and social-historical contexts and to classify literary texts according to historical genres (essay, novel, lyric poetry, drama etc.) and style periods (Renaissance, Classicism, Romanticism, etc.). They are able to indicate which texts do not easily fit into given generic or stylistic categories and why. Masters students are able to use the library as well as electronic sources to gain access to relevant materials in and about literature in the target language.
b) Critical reading. Students are able to respond coherently and react critically to texts they have read, formulate relevant questions and problems, and show how these concerns may be clarified. They are able to identify, understand, and analyze the texts they have read.
5. Culture Objectives. Masters students in French demonstrate advanced knowledge of cultural differences among selected francophone cultures as manifested in literature and film. Students can identify a number of texts, artifacts, monuments, terms, names, places, concepts, behavior, dates, and other cultural facts from periods of the target culture s history, geography, and institutions. They can establish these concepts within relevant contexts and explain in the target language their meaning or importance. Students can use the library and electronic sources to gain access to relevant materials on the target civilization.