M.A. French

About the Program

Faculty expertise allows for a wide range of areas of study, from the history of the French language to the many variations of French; from the literature of medieval France to contemporary francophone literature.  For a more detailed description of faculty members’ areas of research and supervision, please see the departmental website.

Academic Regulations

  • See the General Regulations section of this Calendar.
  • Academic Standing: a grade of B- or higher must be obtained in each course counted towards the master's degree.
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Admission Requirements

  • The normal requirement for admission into the master's program is a B.A.(Honours) in French with at least high honours standing (normally B+ or better in Honours subject; B- or better overall).

  • Qualifying Year - Applicants who hold a general (3-year) bachelor's degree with at least B standing or higher, with a major in French, are required to register in the qualifying-year program (normally 5.0 credits in French chosen from those numbered at the 4000-level), and maintain at least B+ standing overall, before proceeding to the M.A. program.

  • Qualifying-year students should consult the Undergraduate Calendar and the departmental website for a listing of 4000-level courses.

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Program Requirements

  • The requirement for the Master of Arts in French is 4.5 credits.
  • FREN 5300 and FREN 5301 are mandatory for all students and are to be taken in the first and second terms of study.
  • Candidates select from one of three program options, chosen in consultation with an adviser from the Department, normally the Supervisor of Graduate Studies.

Comprehensive Examination Program

  • 1.0 credit in FREN 5907 Comprehensive Examination
  • 0.5 credit in FREN 5300 Méthodologie de la recherche
  • 0.5 credit in FREN 5301
  • 2.5 credits at the 5000-level

Research Essay Program

  • 1.0 credit in FREN 5908 Research Essay (Mémoire de recherche)
  • 0.5 credit in FREN 5300 Méthodologie de la recherche
  • 0.5 credit in FREN 5301
  • 2.5 credits at the 5000-level

Thesis Program

  • 2.0 credits in FREN 5909
  • 0.5 credit in FREN 5300 Méthodologie de la recherche
  • 0.5 credit in FREN 5301
  • 1.5 credits at the 5000-level

With the approval of the Supervisor of Graduate Studies, M.A. students in French may select the equivalent of 1.0 credit at the graduate or 4000- level in French and at the 4000- or 5000-level in another department.

Students are restricted to a maximum of 0.5 credit in directed readings FREN 5800 (Lectures dirigées).

 Guidelines for Completion of Master's Degree

  • Full-time students in the comprehensive examination and research essay options should be able to complete their program within three terms.  Full-time students in the thesis option should be able to complete their program within five terms.

  • Students are required to submit a detailed proposal of their thesis, research essay or comprehensive exam. Full-time master's candidates are required to submit this proposal by the end of the ninth month of full-time registration.

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