Program> MA in French

The Department of European Studies, in the College of Arts and Letters, offers graduate study leading to the Master of Arts degree in French.

Research areas of the graduate faculty cover all periods of French and Francophone literature and culture. linguistics. In particular, the department includes specialists in fields such as Francophone literature and cultural studies, Medieval and Renaissance cultural studies, modern French poetry and theatre, eighteenth century literature, film studies, Quebec, Business French, and Second Language Acquisition and Technology.

We have a state of the art research library. In addition, SDSU houses a federally-funded National Language Resource Centers, which conduct research and dissemination projects in all areas of language and culture.

An MA degree earned in the program can provide students with university-level teaching experience and access to community college level teaching positions.

Students who earn an MA in French at SDSU may also continue on to a Ph.D. program or pursue a variety of careers in areas where knowledge of French language and culture are necessary.

We invite prospective graduate students to visit our Graduate Access Page, or MyGAP. Using MyGAP you can build a customized web page containing personalized information about SDSU graduate programs of specific interest to you. Please click on the icon to create your own MyGAP web site.

If you are in the San Diego area, please stop by the department to meet with our faculty.
For more information you may contact the Graduate Adviser, Ann Donadey or the Program Director, Edith J Benkov.

>>On-line application at CSU Mentor

For all general information regarding graduate admission requirements: Graduate Division

Program Requirements

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:

A B.A. in French Language and Literature or the equivalent.
A GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in all upper-division French courses taken.
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.
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:

achieving classified graduate standing.
an official program approved by the Graduate Advisor of the Department and by the Graduate Division.
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.
completing at least 12 units of courses applicable to the M.A. degree with a 3.0 GPA.

III. Course Requirements

IV. Final Requirements:

A candidate will choose one of the following two plans:

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.

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.

>>Graduate Division: Steps to the MA.

Teaching and Graduate Associates

Teaching Assistanships

Teaching Assistantships are available for qualified students enrolled in the program for the M.A. in French and Francophone Studies. These positions are renewable for a total of four semesters. The positions may be obtained by students with conditionally Classified Status, but may be renewed for the second semester only if the student has attained Classified Status. Renewal of these positions is additionally dependent on:

satisfactory teaching performance.
being enrolled in at least 6 units of course work on the official program, except during the terminal semester.
maintaining a 3.0 GPA in courses applicable towards the M.A. degree.
removal of any Incomplete grades before the beginning of classes in a given semester's appointment.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are primarily research or technology positions and are available on a limited basis, generally in conjunction with a faculty project. Please contact the department for further details.

Teaching in France

Qualified graduate students participating in a study abroad program or who are doing research on an MA thesis may have the opportunity to serve as an assistant in a French lycée or as a GTA on the SDSU Paris Semester program.

Undergraduate and students may also apply for positions in France through a French Government sponsored program.

For further information on teaching opportunities in France while pursuing an MA at SDSU, contact Edith Benkov, International Programs Coordinator.