French, French Studies Concentration (M.A.) - Graduate - 2009 University Catalog

You are viewing the 2009 University Catalog. Please see the newest version of the University Catalog for the most current version of this program's requirements.

The graduate program in French is designed to prepare students for both teaching and research in language and literature. A Master of Arts degree opens opportunities to teach in both community colleges and high schools, and provides a solid foundation for students interested in continuing their studies toward a Doctor of Philosophy degree. Graduate training in French is also increasingly useful for positions in government and industries concerned with French-speaking areas of the world.

ADMISSIONS

Admission is open to students who hold a bachelor's degree and have completed at least 24 semester hours of undergraduate French or its equivalent. Students applying for admission must satisfy the standard University requirements for admission to graduate study.

After acceptance, the candidates will consult the Graduate Program Coordinator to plan their programs. The course program must be approved by the Graduate Program Coordinator each semester before registration. Courses will be offered on a rotating basis to allow diversity of offerings. Please consult department chairperson for details.

Individuals holding the bachelor's degree and showing an adequate proficiency in French may enroll in graduate courses, even though they do not wish to enter the Master of Arts program.

FRENCH w/CONC: French Studies

Complete 33 semester hours including the following 6 requirement(s):

  1. Required Courses

    1. Complete to earn 3 semester hours

      FREN 603 Research Seminar 3

    2. Complete 1 course from the following list to earn 3 semester hours

      FREN 548 Contemporary French Civilization-Selected Topics 3
      FREN 549 Contemporary Francophone Civilization Seminar 3

  2. French Language Today

    Complete 2 courses from the following list

    FREN 419 Teaching French in P-12: Practice 3
    FREN 501 Graduate Study Abroad 3-6
    FREN 504 Politics of the French Language 3
    FREN 505 History of the French Language 3
    FREN 506 Advanced French Phonetics 3
    FREN 507 Practicum in Translation 3
    FREN 508 Explication de Texte and Stylistic Analysis 3
    FREN 510 Topics in French Linguistics 3

  3. Approaches to Francophone Societies

    Complete 2 courses from the following list

    FREN 514 Medieval French Seminar 3
    FREN 518 16th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 525 Moralists of the 17th Century 3
    FREN 530 Philosophy and Politics in 18th Century France 3
    FREN 532 18th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 536 The Romantic Movement 3
    FREN 541 19th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 546 20th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 548 Contemporary French Civilization-Selected Topics 3
    FREN 549 Contemporary Francophone Civilization Seminar 3
    FREN 550 Introduction to French Colonialism 3

  4. Expressions of Francophone Culture

    Complete 2 courses from the following list

    FREN 509 Critical Approaches to Literature 3
    FREN 511 Medieval French Literature 3
    FREN 513 Medieval French Theatre 3
    FREN 516 French Humanism in 16th Century 3
    FREN 517 Poetry of the Renaissance 3
    FREN 526 Corneille, Racine and Moliere 3
    FREN 527 Selected Topics in 17th Century French Literature 3
    FREN 531 The Development of the Novel in 18th Century France 3
    FREN 537 19th Century French Theatre 3
    FREN 538 French Novel of 19th Century I 3
    FREN 539 French Novel of 19th Century II 3
    FREN 540 19th Century French Poetry 3
    FREN 542 20th Century French Theatre 3
    FREN 543 20th Century French Poets 3
    FREN 544 20th Century French Novel I 3
    FREN 545 20th Century French Novel II 3
    FREN 547 Francophone Literature 3
    FREN 551 Women Writers from North Africa 3

  5. Required Electives

    9 semester hours of electives are required if the the Comp Exam is taken. The Thesis Option requires 6 semester hours. Choose from the following list

    FREN 501 Graduate Study Abroad 3-6
    FREN 504 Politics of the French Language 3
    FREN 505 History of the French Language 3
    FREN 506 Advanced French Phonetics 3
    FREN 507 Practicum in Translation 3
    FREN 508 Explication de Texte and Stylistic Analysis 3
    FREN 509 Critical Approaches to Literature 3
    FREN 510 Topics in French Linguistics 3
    FREN 511 Medieval French Literature 3
    FREN 513 Medieval French Theatre 3
    FREN 514 Medieval French Seminar 3
    FREN 516 French Humanism in 16th Century 3
    FREN 517 Poetry of the Renaissance 3
    FREN 518 16th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 525 Moralists of the 17th Century 3
    FREN 526 Corneille, Racine and Moliere 3
    FREN 527 Selected Topics in 17th Century French Literature 3
    FREN 530 Philosophy and Politics in 18th Century France 3
    FREN 531 The Development of the Novel in 18th Century France 3
    FREN 532 18th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 536 The Romantic Movement 3
    FREN 537 19th Century French Theatre 3
    FREN 538 French Novel of 19th Century I 3
    FREN 539 French Novel of 19th Century II 3
    FREN 540 19th Century French Poetry 3
    FREN 541 19th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 542 20th Century French Theatre 3
    FREN 543 20th Century French Poets 3
    FREN 544 20th Century French Novel I 3
    FREN 545 20th Century French Novel II 3
    FREN 546 20th Century Seminar 3
    FREN 547 Francophone Literature 3
    FREN 548 Contemporary French Civilization-Selected Topics 3
    FREN 549 Contemporary Francophone Civilization Seminar 3
    FREN 550 Introduction to French Colonialism 3
    FREN 551 Women Writers from North Africa 3

  6. Culminating Experience

    Complete 1 of the following options:

    1. Thesis Option

      1. To complete the Thesis and earn 4 semester hours, register for the following course (See note in Required Electives Section)

        FREN 698 Master's Thesis 4

      2. Submit the completed Thesis Original and one copy to the Graduate School Office. See Thesis Guidelines for details.

    2. Successfully complete the Comprehensive Examination.

Course Descriptions:

FREN419: Teaching French in P-12: Practice

The second half of a two-semester sequential course conducted entirely in French. Application of various teaching techniques; development of mini lesson plans and a unit plan by integrating state and national standards; and application of appropriate performance-based assessment. 3 sh.

Prerequisites: FREN 418.

FREN501: Graduate Study Abroad

Study at a university in a French-speaking country to gain first-hand knowledge of the historical, social, economic, and cultural life of the country. Credit by evaluation. May be taken twice for a total of 6 credits. 3 - 6 sh.

Prerequisites: Permission of graduate program coordinator.

FREN504: Politics of the French Language

Presenting an overview of the social history and politics of France and Francophone societies, this course provides a context in which to analyze the particular relationship that exists between French language and national identity. It will examine issues such as the status and role of the French language outside France, language policy and planning measures, and ideologies connected to issues such as gender, race, identity, and class. 3 sh.

FREN505: History of the French Language

Structures of modern French as outcome of linguistic and cultural processes over 2,000 years. 3 sh.

FREN506: Advanced French Phonetics

Principles of general and experimental phonetics. Previous knowledge of phonetics desirable. 3 sh.

FREN507: Practicum in Translation

Basic principles and theory of translation with emphasis on research techniques. 3 sh.

FREN508: Explication de Texte and Stylistic Analysis

Techniques of "explication de texte and stylistic analysis" as an instrument for development of critical reading ability, and as pedagogical tool for teaching literature as well as language through literature. 3 sh.

FREN509: Critical Approaches to Literature

Fundamental notions of contemporary French literary criticism; theory and practice. 3 sh.

FREN510: Topics in French Linguistics

Changing topics to include in-depth studies of subjects in French sociolinguistics, syntax, pragmatics, and applied linguistics. May be repeated without limit as long as the topic is different. 3 sh.

FREN511: Medieval French Literature

French literature from ninth through fifteenth centuries emphasizing the "Chanson de geste" and the "Roman courtois." 3 sh.

FREN513: Medieval French Theatre

Origins and development of theatre in France during the Middle Ages. 3 sh.

FREN514: Medieval French Seminar

Changing topics to include in-depth studies of individual authors, themes, and genres from the Middle Ages as they relate to historical and cultural events. Examples include "Francois Villon and His Time," "Courtly Culture of the Middle Ages," and Knights, Taverns and Romance." This course may be repeated twice for a total of nine credits as long as the seminar topic is different each time. 3 sh.

FREN516: French Humanism in 16th Century

Humanistic ideals as reflected in the works of Rabelais, Montaigne and other authors. 3 sh.

FREN517: Poetry of the Renaissance

Major works of Marot, Ronsard, Du Bellay and other poets of the Pleiade. 3 sh.

FREN518: 16th Century Seminar

Changing topics to include in-depth studies of individual authors, themes, and genres from the 16th century as they relate to historical and cultural events. Examples include "Women Writers of Renaissance France," "Religion and Politics in Sixteenth-Century French Literature," and "Storytelling in its Cultural Context." This course may be repeated twice for a total of nine credits as long as the seminar topic is different each time. 3 sh.

FREN525: Moralists of the 17th Century

Representative works of Descartes, Pascal, La Rochefoucauld, Saint Simon, La Bruyere, and other authors. 3 sh.

FREN526: Corneille, Racine and Moliere

Dramatic art as reflected in representative plays of the three authors. Taught in French. 3 sh.

FREN527: Selected Topics in 17th Century French Literature

Changing topics to include in-depth studies of individual authors and themes. May be repeated without limit as long as the topic is different. 3 sh.

FREN530: Philosophy and Politics in 18th Century France

Impact of the "philosophes" on religious, political and sociological thought. 3 sh.

FREN531: The Development of the Novel in 18th Century France

Study of the social and historical context of a novel and its particular form (e.g. epistolary, episodic, etc.). 3 sh.

FREN532: 18th Century Seminar

Changing topics to include in-depth studies of individual authors, themes, and genre topics. 3 sh.

FREN536: The Romantic Movement

The origins and development of Romanticism in England and Germany are compared with the later triumph of the movement in France. Representative works of Chateaubriand, Goethe, Novalis, Kleist, Hoffmann, Heine, Musset, and Nerval are studied, and their themes compared with those of the English romantics. (Taught in English. Recommended to French majors as a free elective.) Cross listed with English, ENLT 536. 3 sh.

FREN537: 19th Century French Theatre

Hugo's dramatic theories and their application in representative plays. 3 sh.

FREN538: French Novel of 19th Century I

Insight into major works of Balzac and Stendhal. 3 sh.

FREN539: French Novel of 19th Century II

Insight into major works of Flaubert and Zola. 3 sh.

FREN540: 19th Century French Poetry

Development of French poetry from Romanticism to Symbolism. 3 sh.

FREN541: 19th Century Seminar

Changing topics to include in-depth studies of individual authors, themes, and genres from the 19th century as they relate to historical and cultural events. Examples include "Victor Hugo's Nineteenth Century," "The Belle Epoch," and "The Creation of National Identity." This course may be repeated twice for a total of nine credits as long as the seminar topic is different each time. 3 sh.

FREN542: 20th Century French Theatre

Major modern currents and trends in drama. 3 sh.

FREN543: 20th Century French Poets

Within a general developmental context, emphasis upon thematics and structural analysis of work of Apollinaire, Reverdy, Char, Eluard and Bonnefoy. 3 sh.

FREN544: 20th Century French Novel I

Evolution of the French novel from Proust to Camus. 3 sh.

FREN545: 20th Century French Novel II

Evolution of the French novel from the "New Novel" of the 50's to contemporary French writing. 3 sh.

FREN546: 20th Century Seminar

Changing topics on twentieth century French literature. 3 sh.

FREN547: Francophone Literature

Major Francophone writings outside continental France. 3 sh.

FREN548: Contemporary French Civilization-Selected Topics

Study of institutions and culture of contemporary France. May be repeated once for a maximum of 6.0 credits. 3 sh.

FREN549: Contemporary Francophone Civilization Seminar

Changing topics addressing contemporary issues affecting the Francophone world. Topics might include "Gender, Women and Society," "French Rap and Black Culture in France," "The Scourge of AIDS in Francophone Africa: Causes and Remedies." May be repeated twice for a total of nine credits. 3 sh.

FREN550: Introduction to French Colonialism

This course introduces students to the history of French colonialism in Africa (North and Sub-Saharan), the Americas, the Middle East, and the various islands of Oceania and the Pacific. It offers an overview of the French imperial process from the fifteenth century and studies the various cultural, political, and economic impacts of French civilization on its (former) colonies. 3 sh.

FREN551: Women Writers from North Africa

This course is based on a selection of works by Francophone women writers from North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia) including Assia Djebar, Malika Mokaddem, Nouzha Fassi, Badia Hadj Nasser, Leila Houari, Hele Beji, and Emna Bel Haj Yahia. 3 sh.

FREN603: Research Seminar

Opportunity to apply research techniques to a specific topic of the student's choice. 3 sh.

FREN698: Master's Thesis

Independent research project done under faculty advisement. Students must follow the MSU Thesis Guidelines, which may be obtained from the Graduate School. Students should take FREN 699 if they don't complete FREN 698 within the semester. 4 sh.

Prerequisites: Departmental approval.

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