Dual Degree in French and Women's Studies

Admission Requirements

Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are highly recommended. Applicants for Graduate School fellowships are required to submit GRE verbal, quantitative, and analytical test scores, or other accepted test scores approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Requirements listed here are in addition to general Graduate School requirements stated in the General Information section of the Graduate Bulletin.

A speech sample in French or English is required of all applicants (in French for anglophones and speakers of other foreign languages, in English for francophones). This three-to-five minute tape recording (a C-30 cassette) should demonstrate the applicant's ability to speak extemporaneously and coherently about his/her study and career goals. In addition, a written text must be submitted (in French for anglophone and speakers of other foreign languages and in English for francophones) on a literary or cultural topic. An M.S. paper or thesis could also be appended. Both the oral and the written samples must accompany the application. The best-qualified applicants will be accepted up to the number of spaces that are available for new students. Exceptions to the minimum 3.20 grade-point average may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests.

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Degree Requirements

The M.S. Degree (30 credits plus a Master's Paper)

• French 502: Introduction to French Linguistics (3)
• French 580: Approaches to French Civilization (3)
• French 581: Theory and Techniques of Teaching French (1-6)
• French 571: Literary Theory and Criticism (3)
• Women's Studies 501: Feminist Perspectives in Research and Teaching (3)
• Women's Studies 597: Special Topics in Women's Studies (3)
• Women's Studies 507: Feminist Theory (3)
• 9 credit hours in literature (6 of those credit hours in Women's Studies approved courses)
• Reading proficiency in a second language
• Master's Examination
• Candidacy: See Department of French Handbook. Research plan to be Women's Studies related.

The Ph.D. Degree with Concentration in Literature (30-42 credits beyond MA degree)

• French 500: History of the French Language (3)
• French 571: Literary Theory and Criticism (3)
• Women's Studies 501: Feminist Perspectives in Research and Teaching (3)
• Women's Studies 597: Special Topics in Women's Studies (3)
• Women's Studies 507: Feminist Theory (3)
• A further twenty-one credits in Literature courses of which nine credits must be Women's Studies approved
• Six credits of elective study
• Comprehensive exams: See Department of French Handbook. The four area reading lists will incorporate the student's focus on Women's Studies.

The Ph.D. Degree with Concentration in Civilization (42 credits beyond the MA degree)

• French 571: Literary Theory and Criticism (3)
• French 580: Approaches to French Civilization (3)
• Women's Studies 501: Feminist Perspectives in Research and Teaching (3)
• Women's Studies 597: Special Topics in Women's Studies (3)
• Women's Studies 507: Feminist Theory (3)
• A further nine credits in Civilization courses of which six credits must be Women's Studies approved
• A further nine credits in Literature courses of which three credits must be Women's Studies approved
• An additional nine credits in a related area
• Comprehensive exams: See Department of French Handbook. The four area reading lists will incorporate the student's focus on Women's Studies.
• Language requirements: English language proficiency; Foreign Language Reading proficiency in two languages, or advanced level in one foreign language.

Committee composition: In the hypothetical situation where proficiency in French might become an issue, and with the approval of the committee chair and the Women's Studies Director, an exception could be made to the 2/4 committee composition and allow for one out of three (instead of two out of four) members to be Women's Studies affiliated.