Graduate

M.A. French

The Graduate Program in French at the University of South Florida offers solid academic and practical training in the language, literature and culture of France and the French-speaking world. The graduate with a Master's degree in French from USF will be prepared for advanced academic study in a variety of disciplines as well as entry in to fields such as education, international affairs and business.

Graduate students who so desire and are qualified are encouraged to apply for a Graduate Assistantship. This position provides a generous tuition waiver and allows them to teach elementary French under the supervision of a professional classroom instructor.

For additional information concerning the Master of Arts in French and other opportunities for graduate study in French, please direct all inquiries to the Graduate Director Martine Wagner.

FAQ

Why the French program at USF?

The Graduate Program in French at the University of South Florida offers solid academic and practical training in the language, literature and culture of the French-speaking world. The graduate with a Master’s degree in French from USF will be prepared for advanced academic study in a variety of disciplines as well as entry into fields such as education, international affairs, and business.

COURSEWORK

The Master’s program in French at USF aims to offer a wide variety of courses in French and Francophone literature and culture, including literary criticism, film, and linguistics.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Candidates select from three program options: 1) nine courses and a thesis 2) twelve courses with no thesis, or, 3) with the prior approval of the graduate director, a combination of French courses and courses in another field with direct bearing on the student’s major interest, with no thesis. At the end of the program, all students take a comprehensive examination.

EXAMPLES OF COURSES

  • French Literary Criticism and Theory
  • Love & War in the Renaissance
  • French Phonetics
  • French Linguistics
  • Monsters & Marvels in Premodern France
  • The 20th-Century Novel
  • Migration & Exile in French Cinema
  • Classical Drama
  • African & Caribbean Literature & Thought
  • Old French
  • 20th-Century Drama & Poetry
  • French Women Writers
  • Scandal & Seduction, 1715-1900
  • Fables, Fairy Tales, & Philosophy
  • Medieval France

FUNDING

Graduate students who so desire and are qualified are encouraged to apply for a Graduate Teaching Assistantship. This position provides a tuition waiver, a stipend, and the option for health insurance coverage. GAs receive expert training while they teach their own classes of elementary and sometimes intermediate French under the supervision of a faculty member.

BEYOND THE DEGREE

Graduates of our program meet with considerable professional success. Many have gone on to teach in schools (including International Baccalaureate institutions) and community colleges in Florida and elsewhere. Others have continued their doctoral studies at universities such as Brown, NYU, Cornell, Rice, Laval, Tulane, North Carolina, LSU, UF, FSU, and Vanderbilt, and are today professors of French at a number of colleges and universities. Other program participants are now working in fields such as international relations, international business, and law.

FRENCH IN THE TAMPA BAY AREA

Students at the University of South Florida enjoy many cultural offerings in the community. For instance, multiple international film festivals around the area provide weeks of impressive screenings and symposia. Closer to home, organizations such as FRAMCO (French American Business Council of West Florida) and the Tampa Bay chapters of the Alliance Française sponsor a year-round schedule of lectures, films and other cultural programming complemented by artistic exchanges between Tampa and its sister city Le Havre.

Prospective Graduate Students

What are the requirements to apply to the program? Graduate Admission Requirements

How do I apply for a TAship to teach French?

Applications for a Teaching Assistantship are considered by the graduate director after admission to the program. 

Admission Information

Must meet University Admission and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below.

  • 2-3 letters of recommendation,
  • A writing sample in French, and
  • An oral interview in French (can be done by phone).
  • GRE is not required.

For questions or further information contact:

Martine Wagner, PhD
Director of Graduate Studies for French MA
Dept. of World Languages - USF Tampa Campus, CPR 417
University of South Florida
4202 East Fowler Avenue
Tampa, FL 33620

or visit/contact the USF Office of Admissions

Prospective International Students

Applications for a Teaching Assistantship are considered by the graduate director after admission to the program.