French (M.A.)

Another Degree of Success
French (M.A.)

French (M.A.)

The Master of Arts in French is designed to provide mastery of French language and writing skills as well as a broad knowledge of Francophone literature and culture.

Students explore a variety of periods and regions of the Francophone world including Francophone Europe, Quebec, Acadia, Louisiana, the Antilles and Haiti, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Maghreb. The program also offers graduate seminars on Translation: Theory and Practice, Language Pedagogy, and Folklore.

Both thesis and non-thesis tracks are available. Prerequisite courses are required as well as oral and written proficiency in French.

Related Programs

Francophone Studies (Ph.D.)

Francophone Studies at UL Lafayette

Immersion in Louisiana Francophonie

Louisiana is a major Francophone region in the United States, allowing you to participate in Francophone culture in your own backyard. Converse with local Cajun French speakers at Tables Françaises in the area, enjoy Cajun and Creole culinary delights, and take in Lafayette’s two massive annual music festivals: and .

Community Connections

There are many opportunities to share your knowledge of French with the ŷ��Ƭ and the Lafayette community. Help with the conservation, understanding, and expansion of local cultures with and . Our community activities include outreach to Lafayette Parish schools' immersion programs and continued partnership with the and .

Global Scholars

Students from all over the francophone world come together at UL to explore the rich variety, hybridity, and créolisation of the global Francophonie using a variety of approaches: literary, linguistic, critical, ethnographic, cinematographic, historical, culture and folklore studies.

In-House Publications

Twice annually, the department publishes , a refereed scholarly journal devoted to all aspects of Francophone Studies. You can also publish your creative work in the , the department’s student-run literary and artistic review.

Application Information

Application Deadlines (for Admission Only)

Fall: June 30 (Domestic)
May 15 (International)

Spring: November 1 (Domestic)
October 1 (International)

Note: Separate deadlines apply for funding consideration.

Funding

Funding opportunities such as assistantships and fellowships can help pay for your degree while letting you earn valuable experience for your career. Assistants can tutor, teach, or help with research while benefiting from a waiver of tuition and fees as well as a monthly stipend.

UL graduate student at commencement ceremony

Assistantship Application Deadlines

Note: admission and assistantship requests may still be accepted after these dates, however applicants are strongly advised to adhere to these deadlines in order to be considered for assistantship funding.

Fall: February 15

Spring: October 1

Contact

For more information about the program and funding availability, please contact:

Dr. Nathan Rabalais, Graduate Coordinator
Phone: 337-482-6816
Griffin Hall 461
Email: nathan.rabalais@louisiana.edu

Francophone Studies According to Grad Students and Faculty

Enrichment Leadership Camaraderie Versatility

French M.A.

“The program offered me not only excellent knowledge but also valuable skills that will serve me well in my future endeavors. Our faculty members are always available to answer any questions or provide feedback, and their expertise helped me gain a deeper understanding in my area of study. I feel very lucky to be a part of UL French Master’s program.”

Yueyan “Chloe” Zhu, French M.A. Student

French M.A.

"The French and Francophone Studies graduate program at the ŷ��Ƭ offers a truly unique chance to explore the rich and diverse literatures and cultures of the French-speaking world, right in the heart of the vibrant French culture of Louisiana.”

Dr. Nathan Rabalais, Associate Professor and Graduate Coordinator for French and Francophone Studies

Careers in Francophone Studies

Resources

We offer a variety of professionalization workshops at the ŷ��Ƭ, as well as professional workshops in French and Francophone Studies to prepare our students for careers both in and outside of academia. Our program also boasts a new audio/transcription studio space, ideal for students working on field interviews or podcasting. We are also accredited to proctor the Paris Chamber of Commerce’s internationally recognized TEF (Test d’évaluation de français) exams in Professional French and in Hospitality and Tourism.

Career Opportunities

Language Teacher/Professor
Translation and Interpretation
International Business
Tourism and Hospitality
Foreign Service/Diplomacy
Cultural Organizations
Publishing and Editing
Corporate Communications

Program Requirements

In addition to satisfying the Graduate School application and admission requirements you must also submit:

Statement of Academic Purpose (approx. 2 pages in English or French)
Writing Sample (approx. 30 pages total in French)
Audio Recording (for non-native French speakers) of a few minutes describing your background in French and research interests. Please send an audio file to Nathan.rabalais@louisiana.edu

Students may proceed in one of three ways:

Thesis Option
Students planning to continue studies at the Ph.D. level must take a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit, including at least 30 credits in French and Francophone courses, and a minimum of 6 thesis hours. Eighteen of the semester hours in French and Francophone courses must be in courses limited to graduate students.

Non-Thesis Option
Alternately, students may take a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit without writing a thesis. A student may schedule 36 semester hours in French and Francophone courses or 30 semester hours in French and Francophone courses, plus 6 semester hours in a related field approved by the Graduate Faculty of the Department. Eighteen semester hours must be in courses limited to graduate students.

Bilingual M.A. Concentration
A third option is the M.A. program in French and Spanish. For this option, students take a minimum of 36 semester hours of graduate credit with 18 hours in French and 18 hours in Spanish. Eighteen semester hours must be in courses limited to graduate students. The M.A. in French and Spanish includes both the thesis option and the non-thesis option.

Learn more about the M.A. in French curriculum in the .

Resources

Apply Now

ŷ��Ƭ

French (M.A.)

Related Programs