French Studies/Études françaises

Admission Requirements

Admission Status

Admission to the M.A. program is granted after a recommendation from French Studies, approval from the Faculty of Arts and a complete application review by the Graduate Studies Office. Applicants who have completed an undergraduate program:

1. in French with a cumulative average of B (75%) in a recognized four-year Honours B.A. degree program in a Canadian university (or its equivalent) may be admitted to this program as regular students;
2. in a four-year Honours or equivalent undergraduate program of studies in French, but who have not attained a cumulative average of B (75%) overall may be recommended and admitted as probationary students if certain conditions are satisfied;
3. in an Honours program of studies in a discipline other than French, may seek admission as transitional students. Candidates for admission must have knowledge of French that is equivalent to French 400 at the University of Waterloo;
4. that is the equivalent of the three-year General B.A. program in French with at least a B (75%) average in a Canadian university may be accepted as qualifying students.

See Graduate Office web site for details and an on-line application form.

Note:
Full-time and Transitional M.A. candidates are eligible for entrance scholarships and for Teaching Assistantships. Qualifying and Probationary students are not eligible for either, but may be granted part-time, non-teaching, employment within the Department.

The application deadline for students wishing to be considered for financial support is February 1. Students who apply after February 1 and are offered admission may receive financial support (teaching and research assistantships, and/or scholarships), subject to availability.

Degree Requirements

Prior to graduation, students will indicate to the Department that they possess a reasonable general knowledge of the literature of France and of French Canada, and a good command of the French language.

There are three routes to the M.A. in French. Students should discuss their preferred route with the Graduate Officer early in their programs, preferably during their first term. These routes are:

Course Route

FR 600 (Research methods in French Studies) plus a minimum of seven one-term (0.5 unit weight) courses are required. Courses must be approved by the Graduate Officer, and may be completed successfully in three terms. A student receiving one course grade below 70% may be asked to withdraw from the program. The minimum average required for graduation is 72%. Students are automatically enrolled in the Course Route during their first term in the M.A. Program.

Research Paper (Mémoire) Route

FR600 (Research methods in French Studies) plus a minimum of five one-term (0.5 unit weight) courses and a research paper (mémoire) (1.0 unit) of approximately 50 pages are required. No more than one course with a grade lower than 70% is permitted.

The M.A. research paper (mémoire), written in French under the supervision of a professor of the Department, is a research paper (mémoire) of about 50 typewritten pages on a subject approved by the Graduate Committee of the Department. The research paper (mémoire) must be read and approved by a Reading Committee of two professors, the supervisor and an internal reader. The student will normally be notified within two weeks of submission of the research paper (mémoire) of its approval/rejection by the Reading Committee.

Thesis Route

FR 600 (Research methods in French Studies) plus a minimum of three courses, the thesis, and a defence are required.

To be admitted to this route, the student must first complete two graduate courses with at least an 80% average. A student receiving a course grade lower than 78% must revert to the course route. A thesis of a minimum of about 20,000 words or 100 typewritten pages involving original research is written in French on a topic approved by the Graduate Committee of the Department, and under the direction of a supervisor who is a member of the Department. The thesis must be approved by two readers other than the thesis director (normally two other faculty members), and must be defended orally before a committee of three faculty members.