French (PhD)

Department Website

Program Description

The PhD program in French prepares students to teach in all areas of French and Francophone literature, stressing both breadth and depth through research seminars and qualifying exams. PhD students in French will complete coursework in all seven fields--Medieval, Renaissance, 17th century, 18th century, 19th century, and 20th century and Francophone literatures--as well as a proseminar in textual analysis. The program also trains students to be outstanding researchers and important contributors in the field which best speaks to their intellectual passions.
Students in the French track are allowed to take on an interdisciplinary approach to their studies that will enable them to conjoin the study of literature with cinema, fine arts, music or with the social and human sciences (history, linguistics, politics, sociology, anthropology). Students design a course of doctoral study that reflects their special interests and takes advantage of the exceptionally rich resources of New York University (Institute of French Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Dramatic Literature, Theatre History, Cinema Studies, etc.). Interested students should meet with the Director of Graduate Studies to discuss their desired track.

Admissions

All applicants to the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) are required to submit the general application requirements, which include:

• Academic Transcripts
• Test Scores (if required)
• Applicant Statements
• Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
• Letters of Recommendation, and
• A non-refundable application fee.

See French Literature, Thought, and Culture for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Dual Degree

The French Literature, Thought, and Culture Department offers a dual degree with the NYU School of Law: French PhD/Law JD.

See French Literature, Thought, and Culture for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

The program requires the completion of 72 credits, and offers a concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Studies. See concentration details below.

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Major Requirements
FREN-GA 1012	Teaching French as a World Language	2
FREN-GA 1101	Proseminar / Textual Analysis	4
Electives
French Literature Area Electives		28
Literary Theory Elective		4
PhD Electives		34
Total Credits		72

¹

In consultation with the director of graduate studies, doctoral students may enroll in a limited number of courses outside the department in areas related to their interests, or they may choose a field of study of up to five courses in another discipline: linguistics, art history, cinema studies, performance studies, or comparative literature.

Concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Studies

The concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Studies is interdisciplinary in nature and creates a framework and community for diverse approaches to the study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. It complements doctoral students’ work in their home departments with interdisciplinary study of the broad range of culture in the medieval and early modern periods, as well as of the theories and methods that attend them. The concentration is designed to train specialists who are firmly based in a traditional discipline but who can work across disciplinary boundaries, making use of varied theoretical approaches and methodological practices. The concentration consists of twenty credits distributed under the following courses:

Course List

Course	Title	Credits
Required Courses		Credits
FREN-GA 1012	Teaching French as a World Language	1-4
MEDI-GA 1101		4
MEDI-GA 2000	Medieval & Renaissance Workshop 1	4
MEDI-GA 2100		4
French Literature Area Electives		28
Literary Theory Elective		4
PhD Electives		26
Total Credits		72

¹

2 credits per semester taken twice in an academic year.

At least one course, not counting either the Proseminar or Workshop, must be taken outside a student’s home department. In addition, students pursuing the concentration will present a paper at least once either in the Workshop or in a conference offered by the Medieval and Renaissance Center.

Additional Program Requirements

Foreign Language Requirement

Knowledge of a second foreign language is required by the French department for the doctorate and must be demonstrated before completion of 60 credits by any of the methods described in the Degree Requirements section of this bulletin or by passing with a grade of B or better a graduate course taught in that language. To have approved a language other than German, Italian, Spanish, or Latin as the second foreign language a student must meet with the Director of Graduate Studies. Decision is taken on the basis of the need of that language for the student’s work.

Qualifying Exam

An examination composed of a two-hour oral portion and a take-home written portion is taken on completion of the required course work. This examination is structured as a series of inquiries selected by the candidate, in consultation with the faculty. As soon as possible, but no later than two semesters after the successful completion of the PhD qualifying examination, the student must submit a dissertation prospectus on which he or she will be orally examined for one hour. When the student has completed at least one year in residence and all course and language requirements, and passed the PhD qualifying examination and the dissertation proposal examination, the student is formally admitted to candidacy for the doctorate. When the dissertation is completed and approved by the adviser and readers, an oral examination is held at which the candidate presents and defends research results to a faculty committee of five.

Dissertation Proposal

Students must submit a dissertation proposal in which they will be orally examined for one hour.

Dissertation Defense, Submission and Approval

Students must successfully defend their dissertation, and submit for approval.

Departmental Approval

All Graduate School of Arts & Science doctoral candidates must be approved for graduation by their department for the degree to be awarded.

Sample Plan of Study

Plan of Study Grid

1st Semester/Term		Credits
FREN-GA 1101	Proseminar / Textual Analysis	4
French Literature Area Elective		4
PhD Elective		4
PhD Elective		4
	Credits	16
2nd Semester/Term
French Literature Area Elective		4
French Literature Area Elective		4
PhD Elective		3
PhD Elective		3
	Credits	14
3rd Semester/Term
French Literature Area Elective		4
PhD Elective		4
PhD Elective		4
	Credits	12
4th Semester/Term
FREN-GA 1012	Teaching French as a World Language	1-4
French Literature Area Elective		4
PhD Elective		4
	Credits	10
5th Semester/Term
French Literature Area Elective		4
French Literature Area Elective		4
PhD Elective		4
	Credits	12
6th Semester/Term
PhD Elective		4
PhD Elective		4
	Credits	8
	Total Credits	72

Following completion of the required coursework for the PhD, students are expected to maintain active status at New York University by enrolling in a research/writing course or a Maintain Matriculation (MAINT-GA 4747) course.  All non-course requirements must be fulfilled prior to degree conferral, although the specific timing of completion may vary from student-to-student.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have:

1. In-depth understanding of major works of French-language literature from the medieval period to the present.
2. Familiarity with diverse approaches to theorizing literature and culture (for example, structuralist, poststructuralist, feminist, postcolonial, ecocritical), and the ability to deploy the methodologies best suited to the object in question.
3. Development of one’s own critical style and authority as a commentator on texts, and ability to express oneself in sophisticated English and French in both written and oral forms.
4. Energy and commitment to continue contributing to the field (through teaching, conferences, and publications) new ideas, literary discoveries, and fresh approaches which come from continuous reading across disciplines.
5. Solid familiarity with the key archives, libraries, research centers and tools, bibliographies, internet sites and digital information that make research possible.

Policies

NYU Policies

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages.

Graduate School of Arts and Science Policies

Academic Policies for the Graduate School of Arts and Science can be found on the Academic Policies page.