M.A. Degree Tracks

M.A. Degree Requirements

Candidacy for the M.A. degree is confirmed upon successful completion of a six-week summer session. To receive the M.A. degree, a student must complete a total of twelve units. These may be obtained in one of the following four ways.

a) By completing the required twelve units in a series of summer sessions on the Vermont campus;

b) By completing the required twelve units in a series of summer sessions on the Vermont campus and one summer in our new program hosted by the University of Poitiers, France. This program is open to M.A. students in their second, third or fourth summer.

c) By completing three units during an initial summer session on the Vermont campus followed by six or seven units during a full academic year in Paris, and the remaining units during a final summer session on the Vermont campus.

d) By completing three units during an initial summer session on the Vermont campus and the remaining seven units during a full academic year in Paris. While this option allows students to complete all the degree requirements in one year, some students find the course load of this accelerated track to be very challenging.

Regarding study in Paris, we strongly recommend option c above for students who need more time for research and study and who would find the course load of seven units in Paris along with the redaction of the thesis to be too heavy.

Middlebury charges full tuition even for lesser course loads, but financial aid may be available for qualified students. Both the c and d options, above, result in graduation on the same date, during August of the year following admission.

M.A. Degree Tracks

VERMONT
(entirely or with one summer in Poitiers)

PARIS

FREN 6509 and FREN 6514 (summer 1) , depending on the graduate placement-exam results;
FREN 6525 Introduction to Discourse Analysis or equivalent (summer 1)
FREN 6611 (advanced composition in Paris) depending on the graduate placement-exam results and/or by decision of the French School faculty (Fall Paris)
3 course units in Literature
3 course units in Civilization, Culture, and Society

FREN 6509 and FREN 6514 (summer 1) , depending on the graduate placement-exam results;
FREN 6525 Introduction to Discourse Analysis or equivalent (summer 1)
FREN 6611 (advanced composition in Paris) depending on the graduate placement-exam results and/or by decision of the French School faculty (Fall Paris)
2 course units in Literature
2 course units in Civilization, Culture, and Society
2 units for thesis, either in Literature, in Civilization, Culture, and Society, or in Linguistics and/or Pedagogy

M.A. in French with Specialization:

As an alternative to the traditional M.A. program, students may decide, both in Vermont and in Paris, to prepare an M.A. with a specialized focus in Literature; in Civilization, Culture, and Society; or in Linguistics and/or Pedagogy.

Specialization in Literature

3 units in Language and Linguistics, including
FR 6525 (Intro. to Discourse Analysis) and, based on the placement testing, both or one of the following:
FR 6514 (Oral Production) and
FR 6509 (Applied Stylistics I)
5 units in Literature
2 units in Civilization, Culture, and Society

6525 (Intro. to Discourse Analysis)
based on the placement testing, both or only one of the following:
6514 (Oral Production) and
6509 (Applied Stylistics I)
Advanced Composition, if indicated by the placement testing and/or by decision of the French School faculty
6 units in Literature, including 2 for the thesis
2 units in Civilization, Culture, and Society

Specialization in Civilization, Culture, and Society

3 units in Language and Linguistics, including FR 6525 (Intro. to Discourse Analysis) and, based on the placement testing, both or one of the following: FR 6514 (Oral Production) and FR 6509 (Applied Stylistics I)

5 units in Civilization, Culture, and Society

2 units in Literature

6525 (Intro. to Discourse Analysis)

based on the placement testing, both or only one of the following: 6514 (Oral Production) and 6509 (Applied Stylistics I)

Advanced Composition, if indicated by the placement testing and/or by decision of the French School faculty

6 units in Civilization, Culture, and Society, including 2 units for the thesis

2 units in Literature

Specialization in Linguistics and/or Pedagogy

3 units in Language and Linguistics, including FR 6525 (Intro. to Discourse Analysis) and, based on the placement testing, both or one of the following: FR 6514 (Oral Production) and FR 6509 (Applied Stylistics I)
5 units in Linguistics and/or Pedagogy
1 unit in Literature

1 unit in Civilization, Culture, and Society

6525 (Intro. to Discourse Analysis)
based on the placement testing, both or only one of the following: 6514 (Oral Production) and 6509 (Applied Stylistics I)
Advanced Composition, if indicated by the placement testing and/or by decision of the French School faculty
6 units in Linguistics and/or Pedagogy, including 2 for the thesis
1 unit in Literature
1 unit in Civilization, Culture and Society

NB: Students who specialize in pedagogy must have taken at least one general course on the methods of teaching foreign languages either prior to coming to the French School or at the French School.