Graduate Degrees

Graduate Degrees

M.A. Degree Program in French and Francophone Studies

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers a Master’s program in French and Francophone designed to improve students’ understanding of French language, literature, and culture beyond the levels of competency expected of undergraduate majors. To realize these goals, students will read literary and cultural texts, learn theoretical issues in the study of literature and culture, and develop their  analytical, critical, and methodological skills in the French language.

M.A. Program in French and Francophone and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

The dual M.A. program in French and Francophone and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies allows students to enrich their study of the French and Francophone language, literature, and culture with the addition of feminist theories and research methods. The Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major focuses on feminist analyses of women’s lives; of women’s social, cultural, and scientific contributions; and on the structure of sex/gender systems.

Ph.D. Program in French and Francophone Studies

The Department of French and Francophone Studies offers a Ph.D. degree with specializations in culture & society and literature as well as dual degrees in French and Francophone Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, in French and Francophone Studies and African Studies and in French and Francophone Studies and Visual Studies. Graduate students accepted into the Department’s Ph.D. program are expected to acquire a broad factual and theoretical background in French Studies, advanced proficiency in oral and writing skills, and a thorough grasp of research and teaching methodologies. Students select one specialization and may add other subspecialties. Many of our graduate students also pursue minors, such as the Social Thought minor.

Ph.D. Specialization in Culture & Society

The Specialization in Culture & Society is designed for students who seek an academic or non-academic career in which they combine advanced training in culture, language, and literature with interdisciplinary study in a related field, such as anthropology, art, architecture, history, economics, philosophy, political science, or sociology.

Ph.D. Specialization in Literature

The Specialization in Literature offers numerous courses in the different periods and genres of metropolitan and non-metropolitan literature. Candidates also choose electives in French and related subjects to ensure breadth of training as well as depth.

Ph.D. Program in French and Francophone and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

In conjunction with the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, the Department of French and Francophone Studies offers a dual Ph.D. degree with specializations in civilization or literature. Graduate students accepted into the dual Ph.D. program are expected to acquire a broad factual and theoretical background in French Studies, advanced proficiency in oral and writing skills, and a thorough grasp of research and teaching methodologies while enhancing their work through the study of feminist theory and research methods.

Ph.D. Program in French and Francophone and African Studies

The Ph.D. programs in French and Francophone and African Studies allow students to enrich their study of French and Francophone language, literature, and culture. African Studies provides a framework within which doctoral students can pursue an integrated suite of regional/thematic courses to complement their specialization in French and Francophone Studies; use African Studies graduate faculty to enrich the multidisciplinary training and research activities of graduate students who have an interest in Africa; and, enhance the marketability of Penn State doctoral students by making it possible for them to acquire a unique qualification, which can attract a wide range of employers in academia, the US government, bilateral and multilateral international organizations, and international non-governmental organizations.

Ph.D. Program in French and Francophone and Visual Studies

French and Francophone Studies graduate students who have research and educational interests in global visual culture may apply to the Dual-Title Doctoral Program in Visual Studies. The program aims to (a) provide students with the conceptual and methodological tools they will use to interpret literature, culture and society in French, Francophone and global contexts; (b) generate and analyze ground-breaking research at the intersection of such disciplines as cultural anthropology, philosophy, socio-cultural and literary history, stylistics, urbanism, visual studies, and women’s and gender studies; and (c) guide students in using their specialized knowledge and skills to produce research of publishable quality on varied sites of analysis (city, library, archive, classroom, stage, environment, among others). The program prepares graduates for college and university teaching, and careers in other related fields.