Introduction

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a wide range of programs in language study to meet the varying needs of today's students. The ability to communicate effectively is essential for success-oriented graduates, and acquiring the competence to communicate in a language other than English can often provide a competitive edge in today's global economy.

Communicating effectively in a second language is more than the acquisition of language skills. Students also gain insight into another culture which often provides invaluable perspectives and a greater sense of appreciation for alternate ways of life and thought. The department views language, culture and literature as integrally related facets of communication that help us better understand ourselves and others in the rapidly changing world we live in.

The Master of Arts in French is a practical program for people planning to teach or work in such fields as international business, travel, diplomacy, to go on to doctoral studies, or for those who simply desire to open themselves to alternate ways of life and thought.

Our program is designed to deepen awareness of the rich human reality expressed by the French language and develop in-depth insights into this fascinating culture. The French M.A. program is on the cutting edge of cultural and literary studies with innovative and interdisciplinary perspectives which appeal to students with a wide variety of backgrounds and interests.

The graduate faculty hold Ph.D. degrees from renowned universities and are nationally published researchers with numerous interests, yet they are primarily dedicated teachers with extensive teaching experience at all university levels. They will guide you in your professional and intellectual development.

Included in the M.A. curriculum are linguistic, stylistic, literary, intellectual, and socio-cultural perspectives on how this beautiful language and the major world culture it embodies evolved. Our courses trace the development of French language and thought, provide for interdisciplinary perspectives and offer training in cultural criticism. They provide intensive use (reading, speaking, writing) of the whole range of the language.

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Career Opportunities

Many interesting professional avenues can be open to you. You may teach French in a high school or community college—California estimates a need for thousands of new teachers in all fields within the next ten years!! You could find work in translation services, or you can continue in a Ph.D. program to teach at the university level. French is an official language used by 40 countries, including 22 countries in Africa. Other job opportunities exist in international non-profit organizations, travel companies, tour operators, public international organizations like the World Bank, United Nations, U.S. agencies with international missions, overseas companies and multinationals, museums and bi-cultural organizations, international experiential education, global sporting events, etc.

Alumni have achieved high positions in academia as well as the business world. Occasionally they go on to earn diplomas in French universities and develop careers and residence in France or Francophone countries.

Advisement

Academic and career advisement is provided by the department graduate adviser. Advisement takes place during regularly scheduled office hours. All students must meet with the adviser within the first semester of graduate coursework to develop the study plan. No more than nine (9) units may be counted toward the Master’s degree before developing an approved study plan.

Graduate Adviser

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to begin work in the department’s graduate program must first apply for admission and declare their objective as a Master of Arts in French. Applications may be obtained from the Office of Admissions & Records at any California State University campus. An electronic version of the CSU application is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/.

Classified Graduate Standing
A student who meets the requirements for conditionally classified graduate standing, as well as the following requirements, may be granted classified graduate standing upon the development of an approved study plan:

To qualify for admission to conditionally classified standing, applicants must meet the following university and departmental requirements:

a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution;

minimum GPA of 2.5 in the last 60 semester units attempted;

good standing at the last college attended;

proficiency in English as demonstrated by either an examination or a three-unit upper-division course in English grammar, e.g., Modern Language (MLNG) 301 (or equivalent) with a grade of "C" or better;

a major in French consisting of 24 units (or equivalent) of upper-division studies with above-average scholarship*; oral and written proficiency.

* A candidate presenting a Bachelor of Arts which has fewer than 24 upper-division units in the language, or is otherwise inadequate, will be required to take additional courses to build a full undergraduate major before beginning the graduate program.

Adaptations of certain admission requirements may be made for promising foreign students.

See the section of the CSUF catalog on admission of graduates for the complete statement and procedures.

Study Plan

The study plan consists of 30 units of graduate study (at least 15 units in 500-level courses), distributed as follows:
Core Course (3 units)
French 500 Graduate Seminar: Advanced Structure and Style (3)
Linguistics Seminar (3 units)
French 520 Graduate Seminar: Old French (3)
OR French 530 Graduate Seminar: Historical Linguistics (3)

Literature Seminars (9 units)
Chosen from the following:
French 557 Graduate Seminar: French Poetry (3)
French 571 Graduate Seminar: French Prose (3)
French 575 Graduate Seminar: French Drama (3)
French 576T Graduate Seminar: Major Writers (3)
French 579 Francophone Literature (3)

Electives (15 units)
Additional electives are to be chosen in consultation with the graduate adviser. A maximum of six units may be taken, with approval of the graduate committee, in a related field, at the 300, 400, or 500 level.
French 407 French Film (3)
French 408 Advanced Writing: Syntax and Morphology (3)
French 409 Techniques of French-English Translation (3)
French 435T Topics in French / Francophone Culture (3)
French 466 Introduction to French Linguistics (3)
French 470 French Literature & Power (3)
French 471 Literature and the Human Psyche (3)
French 472 Philosophical Exploration in Literature (3)
French 475 Seminar in 20th Century French Literature (3)
French 485 Senior Seminar in French Studies (3)
French 520 Graduate Seminar: Old French (3)
French 530 Graduate Seminar: Historical Linguistics (3)
French 557 Graduate Seminar: French Poetry (3)
French 571 Graduate Seminar: French Prose (3)
French 575 Graduate Seminar: French Drama (3)
French 576T Graduate Seminar: Major Writers (3)
French 579 Francophone Literature (3)
French 598 Thesis (3-6)
French 599 Independent Graduate Research (1-3)

Comprehensive Exam
Final evaluation is by comprehensive written and oral examination, including advanced competency in the French language. The candidate may, with the approval of the graduate committee, repeat the examination, but once only, within two years.
For further information, consult the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures.