Master of Arts in French
Program Requirements
Classified Graduate Standing
Course Requirements
Advancement to Candidacy
Final Requirements

 

Faculty.

 

I. Classified Graduate Standing

The general requirements for admission to Graduate Study at SDSU are described in the Graduate Bulletin. For admission to the program leading to the M.A. in French Language and Literature the requirements include:
bullet A B.A. in French Language and Literature or the equivalent.
bullet A GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in all upper-division French courses taken.
bullet Three letters of recommendation from professors, at least two of which should be from professors of French at the institution where the B.A. degree was granted.
bullet Combined score of 950 on GRE (500 verbal; 450 math).
If admitted with Conditionally Classified Graduate Standing, a student should fulfill the requirements for Classified Graduate Standing as soon as possible, so as to be able to proceed in due order towards fulfillment of other requirements for completion of the M.A. degree.

II. Course Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 units which include at least 24 units in French, of which at least 18 units must be in 600- and 700-numbered courses, including French 799A, Thesis, for those following Plan A.

III. Advancement to Candidacy

The general requirements for Advancement to Candidacy are described in Part III of the Graduate Bulletin. For the M.A. in French Language and Literature these requirements include:
  
bullet achieving classified graduate standing.
bullet an official program approved by the Graduate Advisor of the Department and by the Graduate Division.
bullet passing a 2-hour examination any time after the first semester and prior to the last 9 units of the degree. The examination consists of an analyse de texte and is designed to test a general knowledge of French literary history and a specific ability for textual analysis as well as the ability to write French clearly and accurately. If failed, this examination may be repeated one time only, at the next scheduled exam time. Students are strongly urged to take this examination during their second semester of graduate study. In all cases, this exam must be completed prior to the last 9 units of the degree.
bullet completing at least 12 units of courses applicable to the M.A. degree with a 3.0 GPA.

III. Course Requirements

Students must complete a minimum of 30 units which include at least 24 units in French, of which at least 18 units must be in 600- and 700-numbered courses, including French 799A, Thesis, for those following Plan A.

IV. Final Requirements:

Plan A: Thesis Option
Plan B: Exam Option

A candidate will choose one of the following two plans:
bullet  Plan A: Thesis Option
 A candidate desiring to follow Plan A must have a GPA of 3.6 based on a minimum of 12 units of graduate work and have passed the Advancement to Candidacy exam. This option is subject to the approval of the graduate staff, the main consideration being, in addition to the aforementioned requirements, that the student's background be sufficiently broad to warrant beginning work in a specialized area. This will be determined by the successful completion of a 2-hour written examination on the core list.

 The student following Plan A will choose a member of the department to act as chair of a committee, a thesis topic and then, in consultation with the chair, two more committee members, one from the graduate staff of the department and one from another department.

The thesis must be submitted and approved by the committee before preparing the final version.

In addition to the three copies of the thesis required by the Graduate Office, the department will require an additional copy for its own files.

bullet  Plan B: Exam Option

The examinations will be given in two parts, written and oral. The examinations will test the student's mastery of the department's core reading list and the two areas of concentration chosen by the student. The student will choose a member of the department to act as chair of the examination committee and then, in consultation with that chair, choose two more committee members, one from the graduate staff of the department and one from another department.

There are a total of three written examinations, each two hours long and written entirely in French. One examination will treat the core list. The other two will deal with the areas of concentration. The student will have a choice of one of two questions on each examination.

The oral examination is one hour long and covers the core list as well as the student's area of concentration and is addressed primarily to ascertaining the student's ability to synthesize the knowledge acquired. Since the written exams do not cover the "options" portion of the areas of concentration, more time will be devoted at the oral examination to testing knowledge in the "options" than to the areas covered in written examinations.

 A student who fails all or part of the examination may be re-examined, one time only, at the next scheduled M.A. examination.

 

For more information ......

 




Graduate Division :
Steps to the MA.

Courses
Offered

 

Program Requirements  

 

Teaching 
and Graduate Associates
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French and
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