Coursework Requirements

Coursework

Consult the Graduate Catalog for details on minimum credit and grade requirements, transfer credits (Continuing Education classes taken before entering the graduate program are considered transfer courses), and other regulations. Also note that a course cannot fulfill more than one requirement.

M.A. Course Requirements 

Plan B: 30 credits 

  • Pro-seminar (FREN 5265) (2 credits) 
  • 6 seminars in the major (18 credits) 
    • One seminar in each of the four periods: pre-1500; 1500-1800; 1800-present; Francophone/Global French 
  • 2 seminars outside the major (6 credits) 
  • The pedagogy seminar (FRIT 5999) and practicum (FREN 5995) (4 credits) 

Plan A: 34 credits 

  • Pro-seminar (FREN 5265) (2 credits) 
  • 4 seminars in the major (12 credits) 
    • One seminar in three of the four following periods: pre-1500; 1500-1800;  1800-present; Francophone/Global French 
  • 2 seminars outside the major (6 credits) 
  • 10 Thesis credits 
  • The pedagogy seminar (FRIT 5999) and practicum (FREN 5995) (4 credits) 

Plan B Papers 

These papers are usually developed in graduate courses. When a student wishes a course paper to be assessed as a Plan B paper, they should inform the instructor upon submitting it. Usually some rewriting and expansion will be required, as well as a relevant bibliography, since a Plan B project represents the quality but not the range of a Master’s thesis. Each instructor signs off to accept a Plan B paper on the basis of quality  rather than length. 

For either Plan, workload is generally the same: 

  • Graduate instructors take on average 3 seminars per semester. 
  • Students balance seminars, teaching, event attendance, and exam preparation.
  • All courses in the M.A. count toward the Ph.D., including courses beyond the requirement. In general, when students plan their M.A. work, they should keep in mind the requirements, structure, and goals of the Ph.D. program. For instance, some Ph.D. language requirements may take longer for a given student to satisfy and may thus have to be started at the M.A. level. 

Coursework 
Courses should be selected in consultation with the advisor, the DGS, and/or members  of the Advisory Committee, keeping in mind that the M.A. examination requires  knowledge of the full literary tradition in its historical and generic range. If a student wishes to study a topic not covered by current course offerings, they can contact the DGS to inquire about the possibility of a directed reading course (subject to guidelines  given under Directed Readings). Permission for directed reading courses at the M.A. level must be obtained from the DGS and the Chair. 

Ph.D. Course Requirements 

Coursework involves: 

  • 45 credits (minimum) in the major field, which includes: 
    • At least one seminar in each of the three periods: premodern, modern, Francophone (3 credits each) 
    • The pedagogy seminar (FRIT 5999) and practicum (FREN 5995) (4 credits)
    • Pro-seminar (2 credits) 
  • 9 credits outside the major (either a minor or courses in other related fields) 
  • 24 thesis credits (FREN 8888). Thesis credits should be taken starting from a student’s very first semester, when beginning on the M.A./Ph.D. track or when beginning the Ph.D. Please consult with the GPC with any questions that you  may have. 
  • Language requirement 

Please note that courses taken during the M.A. count toward these Ph.D. requirements.