phd french linguistics

Ph.D. Program in Modern French Studies (FRMS)

Our Ph.D. program combines training in literary, cultural and language studies with individualized research to open new, innovative understandings of the French-speaking world of yesterday and today. 

Related Links

• Application fee waiver
• Ph.D. Handbook (PDF)
• French Program Graduate Funding
• French Graduate Placement

The Ph.D. in modern French studies at the University of Maryland offers comprehensive training in French and Francophone studies, including teaching, research and professionalization. The program offers seminars in French and Francophone literature, culture and film, in addition to French language and linguistics. With the guidance of internationally recognized faculty specializing in a range of genres and issues and reflective of the diversity and complexity of the French-speaking world, students develop competencies in innovative research methods and approaches such as critical theory, gender and sexuality studies, colonial and post-colonial studies, cultural and media criticism, ecocriticism and digital humanities, among others. The French Ph.D. program fosters collaborative work across disciplines, languages, media, centuries and fields. Students may pursue graduate certificates in affiliated programs such as women, gender and sexuality studies, comparative literature and digital humanities, as well as participate in Graduate School field committees in film studies and in medieval and early modern studies. Students are encouraged to pursue independent and innovative thinking through individualized curricula and research projects with the support of the French program’s intellectual community.

Students are normally granted full funding for four years, with the possibility of an additional year, contingent upon availability of funds. Annual renewal of financial support is based on satisfactory performance and progress in the program. The program also provides thorough pedagogical training and teaching experience in French language, literature and culture courses.

Students who have graduated from our program have pursued careers in higher education and beyond. For a complete list of Ph.D. graduate placements .

Admissions Information

Entry into the Ph.D. program is open to students who have already completed an M.A. in a field related to French studies. Students with a B.A. in French or a related field should begin with the M.A.

All foreign applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL examination (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Course Requirements

Ph.D. students are required to take for credit a minimum of eight courses beyond the M.A. at the 600-level or above.

All students must take one course in each of the three following core categories: 1. History of Ideas 2. Issues in Literature 3. History of the French Language

Apart from those core courses, with the help of the director of graduate studies and their advisor, students will create an individually-tailored program of study that best matches their interests to complete the course requirements towards their degree.

Additionally, graduate teaching assistants are expected to take a 1-credit practicum in their first semester (FREN709) and FREN611 (The Structure of the French Language) in their second (spring) semester.

For additional information, please see the Graduate Student Handbook.

Language Requirement

All Ph.D. students are required to demonstrate a sound reading knowledge of one other language in addition to French and English. Students should choose a language that provides an appropriate background for the projected dissertation. The fulfillment of this requirement is one of the prerequisites for advancement to candidacy.

For additional information on how to fulfill this requirement, please see the Graduate Student Handbook.

Entering students are advised in their first semester by the director of graduate studies or by some other designated professor. By the end of their second semester, students should choose a permanent advisor and register this choice with the director of graduate studies. Final responsibility for meeting Graduate School requirements and deadlines rests solely with the student.

Qualifying Examinations

In order to advance to candidacy, Ph.D. students are required to pass two Qualifying Examinations consisting of:

 a) one two-part Comprehensive Examination; and  b) one Prospectus Defense.

In both cases, the committee will be composed of three members of the French faculty. An additional fourth member from outside the department is possible for the prospectus defense if the topic warrants it.

A ) The first Qualifying Examination is a two-part comprehensive exam, first written, then oral, taken over two consecutive days. It assesses whether students have acquired sufficiently broad knowledge of French and Francophone literature as well as of a range of theoretical approaches to be able to successfully take on the dissertation project. This exam should be taken by the end of the student’s third semester in the Ph.D. program. If students choose to submit their written response in English, the oral portion will be in French, and vice versa.

For the written part of the examination, students will have four hours to respond to one of two questions based on the standard Ph.D. reading list. The exam is taken without notes, in an examination room with a computer provided by the department.

For the oral part of the examination, which lasts approximately an hour, students will be asked to discuss their written response and the reading list with their committee.

To obtain the current reading list for the Ph.D. examination, contact the director of graduate studies.

B) The second Qualifying Examination is the oral defense of a written dissertation prospectus (approx. 5,000 words) and accompanying bibliography. The prospectus is a formal project proposal for the dissertation. The prospectus should lay out the proposed area and object of study, explain the relevant context, a research question, how your project is inscribed within the larger field (what has and has not been done in this area), a theoretical approach and a description of the methodology to be adopted, as well as a bibliography.

*Please note that, following a successful prospectus defense, doctoral students are required to submit the most recent version of their dissertation draft as an email attachment to the three departmental members of their Dissertation Committee one year date-to-date after their prospectus defense, and every six months thereafter until the submission of the final version of their dissertation two weeks prior to the defense date. As a rule, students will receive written feedback on these drafts within four to six weeks.

Dissertation

Doctoral dissertations must receive the preliminary approval of the three departmental members of the Dissertation Committee before being submitted to other readers. All readers must be given at least two weeks in which to read the dissertation. At the beginning of the semester in which the dissertation will be defended, the dissertation director will ask the dean of the Graduate School to approve the Examining Committee. At least one member of this five-person committee (normally the dean's representative) will be external to the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, and one may be drawn from another university. A date will then be set for the oral defense, which can be expected to last about two hours.

Application Instructions

Application deadline is January 15 for admission in the fall and may be submitted here . Before completing the application, applicants are asked to check the Admissions Requirements site for specific instructions about the Ph.D. program .  

As required by the Graduate School, all application materials must be submitted electronically through the Graduate Application Portal :

• Non-refundable application fee for each program
• Statement of Purpose. The statement should address relevant aspects of your educational experience, the focus of your academic interests and reasons for applying to our program.
• Unofficial transcripts of your entire college/university record (undergraduate and graduate), including records of any advanced work done at another institution. Electronic copies of these unofficial transcripts must be uploaded along with your online application.
• Three letters of recommendation. In your online application, please fully complete the information requested for your recommenders and ask them to submit their letters electronically.
• Two samples of critical writing in French. While we encourage you to submit your best writing sample, we prefer a writing sample in your declared field of interest. If you are submitting an excerpted selection, please include a brief description or introduction to the selection. The MLA citation format is preferred.
• Description of Research/Work Experience (optional)
• Publications/Presentations (optional)
• Academic CV/Resume

  Completed applications are reviewed by an admissions committee in each graduate degree program. The recommendations of the committees are submitted to the Dean of the Graduate School, who will make the final admission decision. To ensure the integrity of the application process, the University of Maryland authenticates submitted materials through TurnItIn for Admissions .   For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact the Graduate School.

Information for International Graduate Students

The University of Maryland is dedicated to maintaining a vibrant international graduate student community. International applicants are encouraged to contact the office of International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS), a valuable source of information and assistance for prospective and current international students. Admitted international students will receive instructions about obtaining the appropriate visa to study at the University of Maryland which will require submission of additional documents. International students admitted by the Graduate School are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visa in order to enroll.

English Proficiency Requirement

Non-native speakers of English must submit TOEFL exam results to the Graduate School with their application. Based on these results, students may be advised to take a written expression course from the Maryland English Institute or a basic writing course given by the English Department. This course will not count towards the degree.

Please see the Graduate Admissions Process for International applicants for more information.

Program Contact

Director of graduate studies, sarah benharrech.

Associate Professor, French Affiliate, Classics Associate Professor, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

3104 Jiménez Hall College Park MD, 20742

• ENLIGHTEN THE FUTURE

Linguistics

The aim of the Graduate School of Linguistics is to offer a comprehensive curriculum integrating advanced study and research covering all areas of language science, in close connection with PhD programs. Research plays a central part in the program, with a multidisciplinary outlook.

Presentation

The Graduate School of Linguistics offers a two years’ Master’s degree that prepares students for doctoral research. Over the course of their training, students must design a scientific project with the faculty and researchers of the graduate program. Students work closely with an academic advisor and participate in university seminars and research projects. These experiences prepare students to carry out independent doctoral research, either in the affiliated doctoral program or elsewhere.

The Graduate School of Linguistics brings together 8 Master’s programs at Université Paris Cité, as well as a joint program at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and Inalco . This consortium creates a unique combination of perspectives for the study of language with cutting-edge research units in computational, theoretical and historical linguistics, as well as in sociolinguistics and descriptive linguistics, with unique fieldwork expertise on more than 200 languages in the world.

 Students can choose one of the following programs:

• Theoretical and experimental linguistics
• Computational linguistics
• Teaching of French as a foreign language
• Phonetics and Phonology
• Signs, Speech, Society
• English linguistics
• Languages for Specific Purposes, Corpora and Translation Studies
• East Asian Linguistics and Applied Linguistics
• Linguistic diversity: language, text, society

www.paris-gsl.org

Anne abeillé [email protected], aimée lahaussois [email protected].

A good command of English is required to be eligible for the Masters.

Languages, literatures and foreign and regional civilisations:

• East Asian linguistics and applied linguistics (LAOFLE)
• Languages for specific purposes, corpora, and translation science (LSCT)

Language sciences:

• Computational linguistics (LI)
• Phonetics and phonology (PhPh)
• Theoretical and experimental linguistics (LTE)
• Teaching French as a foreign language
• Signs, discourses and society (SDS)
• Semiotics and communication expertise (SDL)

The Graduate School Linguistics brings together 15 cutting-edge research units in all areas of  linguistics (with access to state-of-the-art equipment such as EEG and eye-tracking, two phonetics laboratories, and a “baby lab” for research on new-borns and infants).

Laboratories

• CEPED – Centre Population et Développement (UMR 196)
• CERLIS – Centre de recherches sur les liens sociaux (UMR 8070)
• CERMI – Centre d’études et de recherches sur le monde iranien (UMR 8041)
• CLILLAC-ARP – Centre de Linguistique Inter-Langues, de Lexicologie, de Linguistique Anglaise et de Corpus-Atelier de Recherche sur la Parole
• CLESTHIA – Langage, systèmes, discours (EA 7345)
• CRLAO – Centre de recherches linguistiques sur l’Asie orientale (UMR 8563)
• EDA – Laboratoire Éducation, discours et apprentissages (EA 4071)
• HTL – Laboratoire Histoire des théories linguistiques (UMR 7597)
• INCC – Integrative Neuroscience & Cognition Center (UMR 8002)
• LACITO – Laboratoire Langues et civilisations à tradition orale (UMR 7107)
• LATTICE – Laboratoire Langues, textes, traitement informatiques, cognition (UMR 8096)
• LLACAN – Laboratoire Langage, Langues et Cultures d’Afrique (UMR 8135)
• LLF – Laboratoire de Linguistique formelle (UMR 7110)
• LPP – Laboratoire de phonétique et phonologie (UMR 7018)
• SEDYL – Laboratoire Structures et dynamique des langues (UMR 8202)

Doctoral schools

• 3C – Cerveau, cognition, comportement (ED 158)
• FIRE – Frontières de l’Innovation en Recherche et Éducation (DS 474)
• Sciences du Langage (DS 622)

The Graduate School of Linguistics is led by two directors and an executive committee including the heads of each Master’s programme as well as international scientific advisors. The committee meets 4 times a year to select recipients of Master’s grants and other scholarships.

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Paris Graduate School of Linguistics

The Paris Graduate School of Linguistics (PGSL) is a Paris-area graduate school covering all areas of language science. It offers a comprehensive curriculum integrating advanced study and research, in close connection with PhD programs as well as with the Empirical Foundations of Linguistics consortium. Research plays a central part in the curriculum, and students also take elective courses to develop an interdisciplinary outlook. Prior knowledge of French is not required for many of the MA tracks.

A two-year Master's track to prepare students for doctoral research and beyond

Upon entering the Master’s program, students will devise a scientific project with the graduate program's faculty and researchers. Throughout the program, students are expected to work closely with an academic advisor and to participate actively in academic seminars and research projects. This will provide students with solid preparation to carry out subsequent doctoral research, either in the affiliated doctoral program or elsewhere.

A Master’s degree with many options in order to create an individualized academic path

PGSL draws on the Master’s programs at Université Paris Cité, and has long-term institutional partnerships with other universties and research groups in Paris area. It is designed as a feeder for the associated doctoral program .

Students must choose one of the following MA tracks:

Theoretical and Experimental Linguistics (Linguistics department)

Computational Linguistics (Linguistics department)

Teaching French as a foreign Language (Linguistics department; French required)

Phonetics and Phonology (Linguistics department; in partnership with Université Sorbonne Nouvelle)

Signs, Discourse, Society (Department of Humanities and Social Sciences: Linguistics; French required)

English linguistics (Department of English and American Studies)

Languages for Specific Purposes, Corpora and Translation Studies (Department of Intercultural Studies and Applied Languages; French Required)

East Asian Linguistics and Applied Linguistics (Linguistics deparment & Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations; French required)

Logos interdisciplinary programme in Philosophy, Linguistics, Logic, and Computer Science (Multiple departments)

Semiotics and communication (Department of Humanities and Social Sciences: Linguistics; French required)

French Linguistics

This caption describes the image above.

The graduate degree program in French Linguistics combines substantial course work with increased emphasis on independent study. The aim is to provide the student with a broad overview of his/her field as well as a professional specialization within that field.

Students in the French Linguistics program gain a strong comprehensive background in both applied and theoretical linguistics. Main areas include phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Subfields include historical linguistics, sociolinguistics, dialectology, second language acquisition, and psycholinguistics. Our program aims to train future linguists who intend to pursue a career in academic research and teaching in universities and colleges.

The graduate program in French Linguistics is a PhD program. The MA degree may be obtained  en passant  to the PhD at the end of the second year of course work provided a student has earned a sufficient number of credits and has maintained the minimum grade point average required by the Graduate School.

Admission to PhD Program:

Students entering the program with an MA are admitted directly into the PhD program. Students entering with a BA who are completing their first two years of graduate coursework in French Linguistics here and who wish to continue toward the PhD will demonstrate their competency to continue toward the PhD through coursework and research. Students must submit a request to be considered for admission to a doctoral program in writing to the Chairman of the Graduate Studies Committee. In evaluating such requests, the Committee will take into account the student's progress, defined in part by classroom performance, term papers, examinations, and one 10-12 page scholarly paper from a completed course, either in French or in English (revised, if necessary). The Committee will also take into consideration input from faculty members in the student’s area as well as input provided by the student’s own performance report. The applicant must submit the paper to a vetting committee appointed by the Graduate Studies Committee Chair in consultation with the Graduate Adviser, approximately one month before papers are due for consideration by the entire GSC.

• Coursework and Language Reguirements:

The Comprehensive Exam:

• Candidacy and Prospectus:
• Pre-defense Meeting:
• Dissertation and Dissertation Defense:

Students are expected to take courses that provide a thorough understanding of both the theory and the practice of their subject. Coursework for the PhD normally consists of 60 semester credit hours of graduate content courses. Students who transfer with an MA in French from another institution should expect to take a minimum of 30-36 semester hours beyond the MA level.

Students who decide to switch disciplines (e.g., from literature to linguistics) should expect to take additional coursework to ensure adequate preparation for the Comprehensive Exam and satisfactory coverage of the field, to be determined by the Graduate Adviser in the student’s field.

The precise nature of the courses will vary with the needs of the individual student, and must be approved in consultation with the Graduate Adviser.

Recommended Core Courses Students pursuing the PhD program in French Linguistics arestrongly recommended to take at least two of the following courses which will provide themwith a solid foundation descriptive and theoretical linguistics. Ideally, these courses will betaken within the students’ first two years of graduate study.

• Approaches to Romance Phonology (FR396K)
• Romance Morphology (FR396K)
• Romance Morphosyntax (FR396K)
• Romance Syntax (ILA 386)

Coursework Policies:

Credit/No Credit . Students may take no more than two graduate courses on a CR/NC basis, neither of which can count for any core or area degree requirement.

Incompletes.  All grades of X on a transcript must be made up within one semester or they become permanent incompletes [I] on the transcript. Students with an I on their record become ineligible for funding reappointment.

FR398T Supervised Teaching for Graduate Students.  All Teaching Assistants planning to become Assistant Instructors MUST take FR 398T. French 398T may count for 3 credits towards the degree but not towards the core or area requirements.

Courses Outside the Department.  Students should plan to 5-7 courses in related disciplines. Note that University rules require that at least two graduate courses be taken outside the Department of French and Italian.

Admission to PhD Program. Students entering the program with an MA are admitted directlyinto the PhD program. Students entering with a BA who are completing their first two years of graduate coursework in French Linguistics at UT and who wish to continue toward the PhD will demonstrate their competency to continue toward the PhD through coursework and research.

Language Competency Requirements.  Students must demonstrate competency in Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Arabic, or any other modern language approved by the Graduate Advisor at a fourth semester level. Competency can be demonstrated in various ways. It is strongly advised that students acquire these language skills before beginning graduate study at UT or over the summers. Lower-division language courses will not count toward the degree requirements and will slow the student down in completion of requirements. The language requirement must be fulfilled before the student undertakes the Comprehensive Exam for the PhD.

• O ption 1: Coursework.  A student may demonstrate competence through coursework in a language equivalent to the 4th semester (~12 credit) level. When relevant, the language requirement may be satisfied with two semesters of Latin (~6 credits).
• Option 2: Placement examination. A student may opt to demonstrate competence by passing a departmental placement examination or a foreign language placement exam administered through Testing and Evaluation Services. Students are advised that these exams may only be offered at specific intervals throughout the year and they should plan accordingly.
• Option 3:  Graduate reading course. A student may demonstrate competence by passing an intensive graduate reading course in another language (e.g., GER380C, ITL380C).
• Option 4: The translation exam. In lieu of coursework, a student may opt to complete the language requirement by completing a translation exam. The candidate must demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the idiomatic and grammatical structure of one language and a thorough understanding of the technical vocabulary of the field. This knowledge will be tested by a written examination consisting of a translation of a passage of about 500 words on a subject appropriate to the student’s major field of interest. The passage will be chosen by members of the GSC in the candidate’s area. In the event that the student wishes to be tested in a language that is not spoken or signed by members of the GSC, the passage will be chosen in consultation with an external faculty member who speaks or signs the language to be tested. The examination is limited to one hour and the translation is to be made without the aid of a dictionary. The process will be administered by the Graduate Advisor and the Graduate Coordinator.

Your comprehensive exam is designed to determine your competence to interpret the theoretical assumptions and the research findings in your area of specialization and your preparation to do research on the topic you have proposed. The content of the Comprehensive Exam will be established by the members of your committee in accordance with degree requirements and consist of two research papers based on problems proposed by members of the committee.

For further details about the Comprehensive Exam, please click here .  

When the student has fulfilled all PhD coursework and foreign language requirements, has passed the Comprehensive Exam, and has chosen a dissertation director and a supervising committee of at least three other faculty members, then he or she will file for doctoral candidacy with the Graduate School and begin registering for the dissertation course. The student must fill out the Graduate School candidacy form online, and more information about the Candidacy application can be found online .  After submitted, the application will require approval from the director, the Graduate Adviser, the Graduate Studies Committee Chair of the Program, and the Graduate Dean. Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for all rules governing progress and completion of the dissertation.

Prospectus:

By the end of the long semester following the Comprehensive Exam, the student, working with the dissertation adviser, will write a dissertation prospectus of a length agreed upon with the dissertation committee (generally from 15 to 25 pages). The prospectus should be a carefully argued written presentation of the basis for the student’s dissertation research. It should explain the significance of the project in relation to work in the field, justify the research methodology or approach, and set forth the questions to be answered and the conclusions expected. This should be followed by brief summaries of each chapter. The prospectus should demonstrate the student’s ability to undertake research on a topic within the context of current scholarship and critical methodologies, and give evidence of the student’s breadth of knowledge and potential for future success as a scholar.

The prospectus must be submitted to the student’s dissertation committee through the dissertation adviser. Within one month after submission, the committee will either give its approval or request that the prospectus be revised. The student will have one additional month to rework the prospectus in accordance with the committee’s recommendations. The final approved prospectus will be placed in the student’s file and constitute evidence of satisfactory progress.

A pre-defense meeting will gather together the candidate and the full committee, at a date to be determined in consultation with the dissertation director. It should not take place too early, i.e. before the candidate has completed all the basic research and definite results are beginning to emerge. It should not take place too late either, if the correcting and redirecting process is to be meaningful. The purpose of the pre-defense meeting is to enhance the intellectual exchange between all parties concerned, provide students with an opportunity to generate enthusiasm for the project, allow for concerted advice and generally diffuse the stress that often accompanies the defense itself.

It is expected that the dissertation will make a substantial contribution to existing scholarship in the field. The Graduate School requires that dissertations be written in English, unless special permission is granted prior to undertaking the project. Progress on the dissertation is regularly monitored. The dissertation is expected to be completed and defended within two years after admission to candidacy. If it is not, the student’s case will be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Dissertation Defense:

The supervisory committee is responsible for approving the dissertation, which the student defends in an oral examination between one and two hours in length. This examination is conducted by the committee (at least four of its members must attend) and is open to the university community. The defense covers the dissertation, the general field of the dissertation, and other parts of the student's program, as determined by the committee. Forms are available from the Graduate School both to apply for the granting of the PhD and to request the official scheduling of the defense (called the "Final Oral"). The dissertation committee should be given at least one month to read the dissertation before the “Final Oral.” The student should arrange with the Graduate Coordinator to arrange a date, time, and place to conduct the defense.

Recommended Core Courses The PhD program in French Linguistics has two recommended core courses that provide students with a solid descriptive and theoretical base in French linguistics. Ideally, these courses should be taken within a student’s first two years of graduate study. • Phonology I (LIN 380K) • Syntax I (LIN 380L)

Following the Prospectus Defense, students will normally spend one to two semesters doing research in  directly related to their dissertation research. This research could be done abroad or elsewhere. Typically, this is done in the fifth year of the program , but it may take place at a different point in the student’s career with the approval of his/her advisor. 

Students are encouraged to consider adding a Portfolio Program to their degree plan. The Portfolio Program provides opportunities for students to obtain credentials in a cross-disciplinary academic area of inquiry while they are completing the requirements for a master's or doctor's degree in a particular discipline. A Portfolio Program usually consists of four thematically related graduate courses and a research presentation; possible Portfolio Programs of interest might include Language Teaching and Program Coordination (LTC) and Romance Linguistics. For a complete list and description of all Graduate Portfolio Programs at UT, click  here .

All students must make satisfactory progress toward their degree goals in order to continue in the program toward the PhD Satisfactory progress is defined as follows:

• A minimum 3.7 grade point average for those with Walther, Pre-Emptive, or Continuing scholarships and a minimum 3.4 grade point average for all other students.

• A minimum average of 3.5 out of 5 for “quality of instructor” on the student generated Course Instructor Survey (CIS) and a satisfactory rating from the supervisor of lower division instruction for AIs.

• The completion of all coursework, foreign language requirements, and examinations by the end of the fourth year of the program.

• The successful defense of the dissertation research proposal before a properly established supervisory committee within six months of the completion of the comprehensive exams.

• The demonstrated potential to conduct sustained and innovative independent research, deemed relevant to the discipline.

Progress will be measured not only in terms of objective grades, but also by feedback from faculty and statements by the students themselves via their annual progress report. The Graduate Studies Committee will continually evaluate each student for evidence of his/her potential to complete the Doctor of Philosophy. Should a student’s scholarly progress in the program be deemed unsatisfactory for continuation, the student may receive a terminal MA degree after four or more semesters of coursework, as long as he/she meets all of the degree requirements and maintains the minimum average grade point average of 3.0 required by the Graduate School.

• Accordion 5 Panel 5. Add body text in this space.

Graduate Coordinator Shelby Oxenford 512-471-5712

Graduate Advisor, French Linguistics Barbara Bullock, PhD

Related Programs

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Doctoral Program

  I. Requirements for the Ph.D.

• Course Work
• Required Courses
• Foreign Language Requirement
• Credit for graduate work done elsewhere
• Master's examination
• Qualifying evaluation
• Field Statement
• Ph.D. examination
• Dissertation

II. Advising and Evaluation of Students

Iii. study and teaching abroad, iv. funding, i. requirements for the ph.d., 1. course work ..

Students will be required to complete satisfactorily 17 courses, for a total of 17 course units (CUs). All students should take at least one course in each period of French literature. The choice of courses should also reflect a diversity of theoretical, critical, and methodological approaches. Papers should be presented following MLA guidelines and, in at least half of the French courses, should be written in French. Students may take up to three courses outside of French, either in another language or in another field pertinent to the prospective area of specialization. Comparative literature courses that are not cross-listed with French but partially deal with French texts should be discussed with the instructor and the Graduate Chair; such courses may be given French credit, depending on the amount of reading and writing done in French. Students are expected to meet each semester with the Graduate Chair to discuss seminar selection and for approval of extra-departmental courses. 

Normally a student will register for eight courses in the first year and three courses per semester for four additional semesters, or until all course requirements are met. Please find below a typical breakdown of coursework, including seminar electives and required courses covering exam preparation and pedagogical training. 

Typical format:

Year 1- Educational Fellow

Fall Semester: 4 courses (including the FIGS proseminar, FREN 7770)

Spring Semester: 4 courses (including the M.A. exam preparation course (FIGS 5000) and the FIGS anchor course)

M.A. Exam (end of the Spring semester)

Students are strongly encouraged to satisfy one of their language requirements in their first year.

Year 2- Teaching/Research Fellow

Fall Semester: 3 courses (including a Literary Theory course and FREN 5990)

Spring Semester: 3 courses 

Year 3- Teaching/Research Fellow

PhD exam (beginning of the Fall semester)

Fall Semester: 3 courses

Spring Semester: no mandatory courses

Dissertation proposal

Students should have earned 17 course units by the end of their 3rd year.

Year 4- Educational Fellow

Dissertation research and writing

Year 5- Educational Fellow

Dissertation writing and completion 

Dissertation Defense

2. Required courses .

As indicated above, five specific courses are required of all graduate students: FIGS 5000 ("Reading for the M.A. Exam"), FIGS 7770 (the FIGS Proseminar), French 5990 "Applied Linguistics and Language Teaching"), and a Literary Theory course. 

A total of seventeen (17) graduate courses are required for the Ph.D., to be distributed as follows:

1. The FIGS Proseminar, FIGS 7770, an introduction to graduate life—a course taken in the first semester of the first year.

2. A FIGS anchor course—a content course (topic varies every year) taken in the second semester of the first year.

3. The M.A. Exam Preparation Course, FIGS 5000—taken in the second semester of the student's first year.

4. FREN 5990 (Teaching and Learning)—a course taken during the first semester of the student's second year to support and implement their service as teaching fellows.

4. A Literary Theory course— taken in the student's first or second year.

6. A minimum of 9 electives in French & Francophone studies is needed (cross-listed courses included). Courses will be chosen in consultation with the Graduate Chair. Depending on their content, courses from other departments may also count, with the approval of the Graduate Chair.

7. Up to 3 courses outside French & Francophone studies in another field pertinent to the student's area of specialization.

Students are permitted to continue coursework past 17 course units with Graduate Chair approval. 

3. Foreign language requirement . 

In addition to French, students are required to demonstrate reading knowledge of another foreign language, normally one that is used significantly in their chosen field of specialization. The foreign language must be selected with the approval of the Graduate Chair. Students are encouraged to satisfy the foreign language requirement early in the program and in any case before they sit for the Ph.D. exam at the end of the third year.

This requirement may be satisfied one of three ways:

• A reading examination in a modern language, which will consist of a translation of about thirty lines of prose from a literary text and thirty lines of modern criticism (two hours with a dictionary). Reading exams are offered twice a year, once in October and once in March. The dates will be announced by the Graduate Coordinator. 
• Successful completion of a one-semester Latin course, in which the student has fulfilled all course requirements such as tests, quizzes, and homework assignments. The student will need to produce a letter from his or her instructor that attests to satisfactory performance in the course.
• Successful completion of a summer course for reading knowledge, offered tuition free by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences during the first summer session of each year. Reading courses are usually given in French, German, Spanish, and they are sometimes given in Latin. Students are expected to complete all course assignments and pass the final exam in order to fulfill the language requirement.

Alternative options to satisfying the   language requirement may be approved by the Graduate Chair on a case-by-case basis.

Please note: Students specializing in Medieval or Renaissance studies need to fulfill a Latin requirement in addition to the other language. The Latin requirement may be fulfilled one of two ways:

• Successful completion of a one-semester Latin course, in which the student has fulfilled all course requirements such as tests, quizzes, and homework assignments. The student will need to produce a letter from his or her instructor that attests to satisfactory performance in the course.
• A translation exam in Latin, which will consist of one passage by a classical author and one passage by a Medieval/Renaissance author.

4. Credit for graduate work done elsewhere .

After his or her first year in the program, a student should make a request to the Graduate Chair to receive credit for graduate courses taken at another institution. Such students may follow an accelerated schedule with respect to course work, exams, and dissertation preparation. The number of credits to be received by an incoming student for work done in another institution will be determined on an ad hoc basis, but will not exceed four course units. The fulfillment of requirements listed in items 1-3 above must be taken into consideration when awarding credit to a student for courses taken elsewhere. That is, a student may receive credit for graduate course work done at another institution in the terms specified by the Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania; but the above departmental requirements must be satisfied either by courses taken previously, by course work pursued at the University of Pennsylvania, or by a combination thereof.

5. Master's examination .

An oral exam based on the Master's Reading List (a corpus of 25 texts) will be given at the conclusion of the spring semester of the student’s first year (2nd semester). Students are granted one credit unit to prepare for the exam. 

The oral exam will last approximately one hour and will be conducted by the examining committee partially in French and partially in English. It is designed to test students' general knowledge of the Masters Reading List and attendant sociohistorical contexts. The grade for the oral exam will be pass/fail.

6. Qualifying evaluation .

In order to be admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree, students must pass successfully a qualifying evaluation. At the beginning of the second year, the faculty will evaluate all aspects of the student's performance during his or her first year in the program, namely:

• All written assignments completed for courses
• Contribution to class discussion
• Performance on Master's examination

After all criteria are considered by the graduate faculty, the student will be informed that he or she has:

- Passed the evaluation and is invited to continue studies toward the doctorate. If all Graduate School requirements have been met, the student will be awarded a Master's degree in his or her second year.

- Passed the evaluation and is eligible for a terminal Master's degree. A student who is judged eligible for a terminal Master's degree will be required to finish the third semester of coursework in order to receive the degree.

- Failed the evaluation and is asked to withdraw from the program at the end of the semester in which the evaluation takes place.

7. Ph.D. examination .

The Ph.D. exam will be taken in fall of the third year (or the 5th semester). It will be devised by an examination committee organized by the student in consultation with the student’s primary advisor and the Graduate Chair. It will consist of the following:

• A take-home exam essay, to be completed within four days. The exam will be on a topic formulated by the student’s advisor (in consultation with the committee).  The topic will be in the student's field but will not be directly related to the proposed dissertation topic.  It will be based on the texts from the student’s field of specialization on the Ph.D. reading list (e.g. 17th-century Theater, 19th-century realist novel, 20th-century poetry). It will be written in the language to be used for the student’s dissertation and the length of the answer will be approximately 15-20 pages. The grade for the written Ph.D. examination will be pass/fail.
•  An oral exam to follow within one week will further probe questions from the written exam and also address texts from the Ph.D. Reading List, which will consist of the comprehensive general list as well as 20-25 texts relating to the student's chosen specialized field. The exam will last about one and one-half hours and will be conducted mainly in French. The grade for the oral Ph.D. examination will be pass/fail.

8. Dissertation Process .

The presentation of a dissertation is the final requirement for the Ph.D. Candidates must be thoroughly acquainted with all University regulations governing the writing and presentation of a dissertation and should refer to the Doctoral Dissertation Manual .

a. Dissertation Proposal

Following successful fulfillment of the Ph.D. Examination, the candidate will shape a dissertation project and writing schedule. A Dissertation Chair and a Dissertation Committee will be chosen through a selection process involving the candidate, the FIGS Graduate Chair, and the French & Francophone faculty. The committee will consist of faculty members and at least 2 of which have to belong to the Graduate group. Whatever the composition of their Committee, all students are encouraged to consult informally and widely with the faculty beyond the Committee, both inside and outside the department. In consultation with the Committee, the candidate will prepare a draft of the dissertation proposal, which will serve as the basis for an informal oral presentation of the dissertation topic to the French & Francophone faculty in the Spring of their third year.

b. Dissertation

The presentation of a dissertation is the final requirement for the Ph.D. The dissertation must represent the organized result of an investigation into some area or aspect of literature or culture that was previously unknown or at least insufficiently explored. Candidates must be thoroughly acquainted with all University regulations governing the writing and presentation of a dissertation, and should refer to the Doctoral Dissertation Manual. (Copies are available at the Graduate Division, 3401 Walnut Street, Suite 322A, or from the Graduate Coordinator.)

c. Dissertation Defense

A public, oral presentation of the dissertation will take place during the semester in which the student will graduate. The defense is open to all members of the University community. The defense will include both a short presentation given by the student and an oral examination of the thesis material.

Upon entering the graduate program in French and Francophone Studies, each student will be advised by the Graduate Chair for French and Francophone Studies. Thereafter, the Graduate Chair will continue to review graduate student course registration and give general advice, but students are encouraged to consult other faculty members as well. When a general area of concentration is identified as a possible source of a dissertation topic, the appropriate professor will become, de facto, the student's principal advisor, and, normally, the dissertation supervisor.

After each course, students will receive a "Graduate Progress Report" which will evaluate their work in the course and will also record whether they wrote their papers in French or in English. In addition, the faculty may meet with students individually each year to provide an assessment of overall performance with respect to grades, class participation, quality of written material, and teaching. Because the faculty does not wish to encourage any student who may not be able to complete the degree with distinction, students who have not shown adequate command of oral and/or written French, have failed a course, have a grade point average lower than 3.5, or have generally performed below expectations may be placed on departmental probation, asked to finish the requirements for a terminal M.A., or asked to leave the program.

It is expected that graduate students in French and Francophone Studies will take advantage of our exchange programs with the Universities of Paris and Geneva. In most cases, students will spend their fourth or fifth year abroad according to whichever exchange program best fits their research needs. The exchange program with the University of Geneva allows students to take course work and write a substantial paper in fulfillment of the D.E.S. degree. The exchange programs with the Universities of Paris generally require students to teach and allow for independent research. Information on the different programs is available from the Graduate Coordinator. While abroad, students are expected to make steady progress on their dissertation research and writing and to maintain regular contact with the Graduate Chair and the dissertation advisor.

First-year students are invited to apply for competitive selection to attend Bryn Mawr College's Institut d'Études Françaises d'Avignon. The Avignon program, held in June and July, is a six-week course of study in which students take two graduate-level seminars: http://www.institutdavignon.fr

Students in their third year and above are invited to apply for competitive selection to attend Dartmouth's Institute of French Cultural Studies. The Dartmouth program, held every other year, is a summer program organized around a specific topic and designed for advanced graduate students and junior faculty:  http://www.frenchculturalstudies.com

Students interested in applying to the Avignon or Dartmouth programs should consult with the Graduate Coordinator and the Graduate Chair.

All students admitted to the Graduate Program in French & Francophone Studies receive a Benjamin Franklin Fellowship, which guarantees five years of financial support (tuition remission, Penn's health insurance, and a 12-month stipend) to students who continue in good academic standing. The fellowship requires a two-year teaching assistantship as service to the department.

In addition, the Graduate School has made funds available to the Department to subsidize students' travel and research expenses as follows:

• Up to $500 per conference for a limited number of students delivering papers at scholarly conferences, to be awarded competitively on a yearly basis. A student may receive up to three such awards from the department during his/her graduate career. Students should first apply for Graduate Student Travel Subvention through the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), which grants a maximum of $500. Students are then eligible for up to $500 beyond the SAS award if their travel expenses exceed that award.
• Financial assistance for a limited number of students undertaking short-term research abroad or summer academic programs to be awarded competitively on a yearly basis. Funds may not be used solely for the purposes of enhancing language proficiency.
• Up to $600 each for students attending the MLA Convention for the purpose of job interviews (awarded once to all such students).

Please see the Graduate Coordinator for application details.

Students can also apply for travel grants from GAPSA .

Students who have finished all pre-dissertation requirements and who no longer receive fellowship support are eligible for a lectureship. These awards provide a stipend for every course taught and may cover the dissertation tuition. The Department also has a small number of one-year, non-renewable full-time lectureships reserved for recent graduates.

Both forms of financial support described above are awarded on the basis of academic merit.  For need-based financial assistance, such as student loans, please contact Student Financial Services at (215) 898-1988; E-mail:  [email protected] .

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Graduate Program

Department life.

The Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture at NYU is part of a network of intellectual sites grouped within the Center for French Civilization and Culture. The Center branches into the University's four significant spheres of activity in French Studies: the Department, the Institute of French Studies, NYU Paris, and La Maison Française. These form the most comprehensive American academic complex devoted to the culture of France, past and present.

The Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture currently has 20 faculty members, representing a broad spectrum of specialization in all areas of French literature and civilization, and 15 full-time language lecturers. In addition, the Department offers courses by eminent visiting professors, including Réda Bensmaïa, François Cornillat, Marielle Macé, Christian Biet, Yves Citton, Philippe Roger, and François Noudelmann. 

The Department offers approximately 8 graduate seminars each semester, with enrollments ranging from five to fifteen students. Thus, students are able to choose from the rich offerings of a large department, yet also enjoy the opportunity for close, personal interaction with professors.

Mini-seminars are another important feature of the department's program (See  Upcoming Events ). Some who have headed seminars in recent years are: Michel Zink, Michel Deguy, Jacques Darras, Guy Scarpetta, Jean Milly, Jacqueline Cerquiglini-Toulet, Jacques Roubaud, Danièle Sallenave, Claude Simon, Jacques Derrida, Jacques Garelli, Robert Abirached, Erik Arnoult, Viviane Forrester.

Contact Information

Professor hannah freed-thall, useful links.

• NYU French PhD Program Handbook 2023-2024
• GSAS Dissertation Submission Guidelines
• GSAS Admissions and Application Resource Center

Programs of Study

Graduate student community, applying to nyu.

Doctoral students must complete 72 points of post-undergraduate coursework (about 18 courses). This may include credits earned during M.A. work or transfer credits from another graduate institution. The department only offers Ph.D. programs of study at this time, M.A. programs are not offered.

PhD and Master's Programs

PHD IN FRENCH The Ph.D. 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. Ph.D. 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. JOINT PHD IN FRENCH STUDIES AND FRENCH The Institute of French Studies (IFS) at NYU is an interdisciplinary program devoted to the study of modern and contemporary France and francophone countries. The Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture and the IFS offer a joint Ph.D. in French Studies and French that is designed for students interested in developing research expertise in the history and analysis of literary texts closely linked to their social, cultural, and political contexts. It prepares students to teach both literature and civilization in French departments, and gives them the scholarly expertise to integrate the two. The Joint program combines strong training in literary analysis with substantial exposure to the study of France, Europe, and the Francophone world, offered by historians and social scientists. The program covers 19th and 20th-Century France and French literature, although students ordinarily develop a narrower research specialty within this time period. The specific focus--and challenge--of the joint degree is the marrying of a social science research approach with a literary one. Students applying to the program should have a background both in French literature and in history and the social sciences. Admission to the joint Ph.D. program must be granted by both the IFS and the Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture.

M.A. in French Literature 

The course of studies leading to the M.A. in French Literature is comprehensive in that candidates are expected to acquire a broad knowledge of all areas of French literature. The program of study includes satisfactory completion of graduate studies totaling at least 32 points and a Comprehensive Examination. Students in French Literature are expected to acquire a solid background in critical practice and a broad knowledge of all periods of French literature by completing at least one course each in six of seven areas (Middle Ages; Renaissance; 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries; Francophone).

BA/MA in French Literature, Thought and Culture

If you are an undergraduate in the College of Arts and Science (CAS) who is interested in French literature and culture, you may be eligible to earn credit towards a Master's degree while still pursuing your Bachelor's. These graduate credits cannot double-count towards any requirement (major, minor, Core, total credits) for your Bachelor's degree - they need to be reserved for your Master's degree. Undergraduates begin taking graduate courses in their junior or senior year and then fulfill remaining requirements after obtaining their B.A. degree. 

French Literature Department Students are Eligible to Apply for Certificates in:

Poetics and Theory :  (MA and PhD) Public Humanities :  (PhD) Museum Studies :  (MA and PhD) Management and Leadership of Public Service Organizations :  (PhD) Certificate of Achievement in French Studies :   (PhD)  

PHD FUNDING All students admitted to Ph.D. programs at the Graduate School of Arts and Science (GSAS) will receive a Henry M. MacCracken Fellowship, for a period of five years. This fellowship includes full tuition remission, waiver of registration and services fees, and health insurance through NYU, as well as a competitive fellowship stipend toward your expenses. GSAS also provides a one-time start-up stipend for first-year students. Students who enter with external funding may still be awarded a MacCracken fellowship to ensure that they are receiving full-funding from both sources combined. Following the MacCracken Fellowship, students are encouraged to apply for both internal and external fellowships. In addition to the stipend, our doctoral students are strongly encouraged to teach for four semesters to gain invaluable experience for their careers. And with the implementation of Financial Aid Reform (FAR4), teaching as an adjunct instructor provides compensation over and above the MacCracken stipend. SCHOLARSHIPS AND LOANS We have partnered with the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) to provide scholarships to qualified alumni in recognition of their commitment to language and cross-cultural exchange. Former TAPIF participants who are accepted to one of our PhD programs will receive a $3,000 scholarship to be paid as start-up funds. To apply and receive the TAPIF scholarship, submit your application for one of our degree programs by the application deadline. When you apply, please indicate that you're affiliated with TAPIF and include your experience on your resume or curriculum vitae.  Additional information on Financial Aid and Fellowships is available through the GSAS website  and through the NYU Office of Financial Aid .

CREDIT TRANSFER Students may transfer credit earned from a master's degree towards doctoral coursework in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and pending approval from the Graduate School. FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT Native or near-native fluency in French is expected of all graduate students in the NYU Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture. This requirement is filled by passing any graduate-level course taught in French. Doctoral students in French are also required to fulfill a requirement for a second foreign language apart from French or English, preferably by the end of the second year. This can be fulfilled in several ways: (1) having taken and passed an intermediate-level language course no more than two years prior to matriculation into the graduate program, (2) taking and passing such a course while in residence at NYU, (3) passing a GSAS-administered foreign language exam. If a student is a native speaker of a language other than French or English, he or she may petition the Director of Graduate Studies for a waiver of this requirement. Students in the Joint Ph.D. in French – French Studies program do not have a second foreign language requirement. COURSES The Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture offers at least 8 graduate seminars each semester, covering a broad spectrum of topics in French literature and civilization, critical theory, the history of ideas, cultural studies, film, Francophone studies, and translation. See current course offerings  and the bulletin course descriptions . INTER-UNIVERSITY DOCTORAL CONSORTIUM Even if not formally enrolled in an interdisciplinary program, students in the Department are welcome and encouraged to take courses outside the department and through the Inter-University Doctoral Consortium which are germane to their research interests. The Inter-University Doctoral Consortium (IUDC) offers eligible GSAS students the opportunity to take graduate courses at distinguished universities throughout the greater New York area. The IUDC has been in existence for over 25 years and offers students an enormous array of courses and opportunities for contact with faculty and students in their fields. Participating schools are: Columbia University, Princeton University, CUNY Graduate Center, Rutgers University, Fordham University, SUNY Stony Brook, the Graduate Faculty at New School University, Teachers College at Columbia University, and New York University. The IUDC is open to doctoral students from participating schools who have completed at least one year of full time study toward the Ph.D. Terminal master's students and non-GSAS students are not eligible. CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS Students are encouraged to take courses at the IFS--or any department--that pertain to their research interests. Doctoral students in the Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture may complete a Certificate of Achievement in French Studies by completing four courses at the IFS while in residence at NYU. Students may also apply to earn a certificate in Poetics and Theory, certificate in the Digital Humanities or a concentration in Medieval and Renaissance Studies .

Studying in France and Abroad

NYU PARIS At NYU Paris, students in graduate studies have the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in French intellectual and cultural life. Students join a rich and stimulating academic community that is small enough to provide individual attention yet is made up of some of the very best scholars in French literature, history, and civilization. Host to a series of conferences and lectures that bring together artists, filmmakers, politicians, and writers, NYU Paris is a thriving center of intellectual and cultural exchange. See the NYU Paris site for more information. Ph.D. students   may elect to take courses at NYU Paris in the summer. Students may also apply to hold a resident assistant position at NYU Paris in the summer, perhaps coupled with study there. There are also opportunities for students to teach summer language courses and, during the academic year, one student is needed to teach a literature course in the Anglophone program, as well. Students may also find it fruitful to participate in the Provost's Global Research Initiatives  program. The Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture also has an agreement with the Ecole Normale Supérieure in both Lyon and Paris that allows up to two doctoral students to spend a year or semester at the ENS and participate fully in its seminars. After finishing coursework, doctoral students may choose to conduct research for their dissertation in France or other relevant locations. They may continue to draw on their MacCracken fellowship as it is available and may also be eligible for supplementary funding through additional competitive fellowships at NYU or externally. The faculty will make every effort to assist students in making contact with relevant universities, libraries, archives, and other resources.

There are approximately 40 graduate students based in our department here at NYU Washington Square. All graduate students are invited to take part in the French Graduate Students' Association (FGSA), which serves as a forum for students on both the master’s and doctoral level. Through meetings and a regular dialogue with the Director of Graduate Studies, the FGSA provides an organized channel through which graduate students voice their interests and concerns and make suggestions to the faculty. The Graduate Student Association also organizes a series of “brown-bag lunches,” including work-in-progress discussions. Individual students have also convened dissertation writing groups, the teaching and training committee, and other initiatives. In addition to this, graduate students participate in a series of Teaching and Training workshops organized by the graduate student instructors and Language Lecturers and take responsibility for organizing events for undergraduate students such as the monthly Ciné-Club, and Café et Conversation conversational hours. 

Job Placement

In 2018, current and recent graduates obtained tenure-track positions at Georgetown University and St. Francis College in Brooklyn. Students have also accepted one-year appointments at NYU and Sarah Lawrence College; as well as a 5-year renewable position at Robinson College, University of Cambridge. See  Job Placements  page for more information.

NYU Resources

LIBRARY NYU's Bobst Library houses over 3.3 million volumes, twenty thousand journals, and over 3 million microforms. NYU also has reciprocal borrowing privileges with several other nearby university libraries and reciprocal on-site access with Columbia's Butler Library. In addition, the New York Public Library  is freely available and boasts four major research centers and myriad local lending branches throughout the City. The Avery Fisher Center for Music and Media  at Bobst Library offers an impressive selection of French film; the Department also houses a small collection of films  of its own. The Department of French Literature, Thought and Culture is housed at 19 University Place, just north of Washington Square Park and just across the street from La Maison Française and the Institute for French Studies on the historic Washington Mews. LA MAISON FRANÇAISE La Maison Française  is one of the most active centers of French-American cultural exchange on any American campus. Founded in 1957 on the historic Washington Mews just north of Washington Square Park, the Maison offers a year-round program of activities, including lectures, roundtables, conferences, film and video screenings, art exhibits, concerts, and special presentations. All events are free and open to the public. INSTITUTE OF FRENCH STUDIES Established in 1978 through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of French Studies  (IFS) offers degree programs for Ph.D. students for careers in higher education and master's programs to prepare students for careers in international business, banking, the media, cultural organizations, and government. In addition to its teaching programs, the Institute of French Studies fosters research by faculty, doctoral students, research associates, and a wide array of visiting scholars, who share their research through the French Studies Colloquia public lecture series and weekly luncheon seminars.

Please visit the GSAS Application Resource Center to access the online application for admission; for further information on program requirements and deadlines, please visit Programs, Requirements and Deadlines . If you should have any questions about the application process, please see our  Frequently Asked Questions .

If you have more questions about the graduate programs in French at NYU, contact the graduate aide via e-mail at [email protected]. If you have questions about the online application, review the information found at the GSAS Application Resource Center .

University of South Florida

Department of World Languages

TAMPA | ST. PETERSBURG | SARASOTA-MANATEE

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Ph.d. linguistics and applied language studies (lals).

The Ph.D. program in Linguistics and Applied Language Studies (LALS) prepares students for research and teaching in the interdisciplinary field of Applied Linguistics. Applied linguists address a broad range of language-related issues, to better understand how language functions both in the lives of individuals and in society. The LALS program at the University of South Florida emphasizes multiple theoretical and methodological approaches.  We offer specializations in the following subdisciplines:  the analysis of spoken and written texts, multilingualism, second language acquisition, and sociolinguistics. Through its curriculum, as well as through close mentoring between faculty and students, the LALS program emphasizes real-world, practical applications to language-related problems and prepares students with the 21st century skills necessary to succeed in both academic and industry careers.

Why Study Here?

Faculty-Student Collaboration   Our faculty are committed to supporting student intellectual and professional development through active mentoring.  One form of mentoring is faculty-student collaborative research which allows students to work closely with faculty on research projects of common interests and to co-present/co-publish the findings with the faculty. Faculty-student collaborations have produced co-authored articles in journals as  CALICO Journal, CALL, Discourse, Context & Media, Ethnography and Education, Foreign Language Annals, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, Journal of Sociolinguistics, International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, International Journal of Multilingualism, International Journal of Studies in Applied Linguistics and ELT, Language Teaching Research, Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education, TESL–EJ, TESOL Journal, TESOL Quarterly, and  Writing Pedagogy.

Faculty-student collaborations have also produced dozens of presentations at international and national conferences such as the American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL) Conference, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Conference (ACTFL), Association for Business Communication conference, the CLIC Conference on Study Abroad (for 2017), the Georgetown University Round Table (GURT), the Language Teacher Education (LTE) Conference,  the Second Language Research Forum (SLRF), the Symposium on Second Language Writing, the Convention of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and the Teaching and Language Corpora Conference.

Location University of South Florida is located in the vibrant and diverse Greater Tampa Bay area with a population of more than four million. The Tampa Bay area offers a multitude of cultural and recreational activities year around and boasts of one of the best airports in the world. Local attractions include beautiful beaches in Clearwater and Saint Petersburg and the world-famous Disney parks are just a short drive away in Orlando. The Tampa Bay area has much to offer to those seeking professional development opportunities in Applied Linguistics and TESOL. In particular, BART, Bay Area Regional TESOL, offers a rich array of activities for professional networking and socializing.

Non-Traditional Career Trajectories   Our curriculum provides students a solid foundation in multiple theoretical and methodological approaches to studying both language use and second language learning.  Through coursework and guided and independent research which emphasize and examine language-related problems in real-world contexts, our students are well prepared to pursue academic as well as non-traditional careers.

Funding for Qualified Students    Our Ph.D. program receives strong support from the Department of World Languages (WLE). Qualified applicants are awarded teaching assistantships and teach foreign language or applied linguistics courses in WLE. Some students will be funded by teaching in INTO-USF's ELP. Qualified applicants may also compete for the University Graduate Fellowship.  Once in the program, students have the opportunity to complete for other awards. For example, the Dissertation Completion Fellowship is awarded by the Office of Graduate Studies to qualified doctoral students completing their dissertation research and writing.

Core Faculty

Core LALS Faculty Members Page

What kind of job will I be prepared for with the Ph.D. in LALS from USF?                         As members of an applied discipline, applied linguists are language scientists who address issues related to language use in diverse contexts, ranging from understanding language choice in professional writing, to analyzing the critical role of language in doctor-patient interactions, to understanding how people from different language backgrounds are able to communicate successfully in global business environments. Focusing on the rigorous empirical analysis of language data, applied linguists address problems such as how writers in various disciplines use language to construct professional expertise, how users of a second language can make their accent intelligible to others, how and why second language learners differ in their language learning journeys, and how to define and measure specific language abilities.  The program prepares graduate to work both in academic and non-academic positions. 

How long does it take to complete the Ph.D. degree?                                                              For the LALS program, the coursework requirements should take two years to complete with an additional two years for the qualifying exam and the dissertation. The program advisors will help each student determine the coursework sequence and timing.

Can I get financial aid or an assistantship?                                                                               Our goal is to help all students admitted to the LALS program find funding for a 4-year period (unless otherwise specified in the acceptance letter).  If a student should need longer than 4 years to finish the program, we will try to help with funding when possible; however, funding priority will be given to those students in their first 4 years of study.  Based on your application, the faculty will help identify potential funding opportunities, and you will likely be asked to complete additional applications and/or go through the interview process for these positions. For loans or other types of non-USF financial aid, please contact the Office of Financial Aid .

What are the research specializations of the Applied Linguistics faculty?        The faculty have a wide range of research interests and specializations. For details, see the “people” page.

Do I have to know exactly what my research specialization will be before I apply to the program?                                                                                                                                     You will submit a statement of purpose (SOP) as part of your application package. The SOP is a discussion of why you want to pursue the LALS Ph.D., including your current research interests and faculty that you could potentially work with at USF. In other words, you would need to have some sort of tentative plan of a research topic in Applied Linguistics that you would like to pursue for your Ph.D. studies. That being said, you might become inspired by a specific class, the research of a specific faculty member at USF, or a conference that you attend during the first part of your studies.  While the information in your SOP will be an indication to the faculty of whether or not you will be a good fit for the program, the project/topic you propose in your SOP is open to modification. 

Is it possible to waive the GRE requirement?                                                                            No, all applicants must submit a GRE score from a test taken within the past 5 years.

How do I know if I need to submit a TOEFL score?                                                                       If you are an international student, you will need a TOEFL score for both admission and funding. Please note that while admissions accepts the IELTS for admissions purposes, the Office of Graduate Studies does not accept it to show English proficiency for a TA position. As such, if you are requesting funding from USF (as we expect most Ph.D. applicants will do), we require a TOEFL be submitted at the time of application.  

There are so many Ph.D. programs in Applied Linguistics.  What makes USF special?     The faculty in the LALS program at USF pride themselves on the close mentoring they give to their students.  The faculty have a long history of advising doctoral students and have many co-authored papers and conference presentations with their graduate students. 

LALS Alumni page

Current Students

Current LALS Students 

Prospective Students

Applying for Admission                                                                                                            Applying for admission can take a surprisingly long time. The actual application document is not very long, but the other documents can be very time consuming. You are encouraged to plan your admissions packet with careful attention. Your packet represents you to the Linguistics Faculty Admissions Committee, so be sure that it reflects the quality of work that you intend to give your graduate studies. If you have any questions, please e-mail the graduate director, Camilla Vasquez, PhD . 

Deadline for applying for admission                                                                                                A deadline date means date of receipt by the Graduate Admissions office or International Admissions office. The deadline date presumes a completed application packet.

Note: Our program deadline January 15 precedes the University's application deadline.  In order to be considered for admission to LALS, we must receive ALL of your information on or before January 15. International students may have earlier university deadline requirements. Please inquire with the Office of Graduate Studies .

If you do not see our program listed in the drop-down menu of the application website , please contact the graduate director, Camilla Vasquez, PhD . Do NOT choose a different program (such as English Education). Thank you, and we look forward to receiving your application.

How to apply

A list of all documents required for application is located in the Graduate Course Catalog .

Please upload all documents to the application website .

Additional admissions requirements for International Applicants

For information about the process for International Applicants, including the online application, please contact the Office of International Admissions . 

• LALS Handbook
• Online Application
• Graduate Catalogue
• Residence Services - Housing

External Grants for Ph.D. Students

• American Association of University Women Grants (for US citizens and international students)
• Institute of International Education Funding Opportunities
• Linguistlist list of Funding
• NSF Dissertation Research Improvement Award
• Spenser Dissertation Fellowship
• TESOL Ruth Crymes Fellowship
• TESOL Mini Grant Awards
• TIRF Dissertation Grant
• TOEFL grant for doctoral research in assessment

Internal Grants for Ph.D. Students

• USF Dissertation completion grant

Financial Issues

• USF Office of Graduate Studies - Funding
• USF Scholarships & Financial Aid Services
• USF Tuition
• USF Testing Services

International Students

• Office of Admissions for International Students
• INTO - USF's Academic Pathway and English Language Programs

For questions regarding our PhD program, please contact:

Camilla Vasquez, Ph.D. PhD Director of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies (LALS) Office: USF Tampa campus, Cooper Hall 438 Email: [email protected] Phone: 813-974-2548                                                                             

School of Graduate Studies

French language and literature, program overview.

The Master of Arts (MA) program provides advanced academic development in either literature or linguistics, as well as outstanding training in research and communication skills in French, preparing students for doctoral studies and careers in such fields as teaching, government administration, and communications.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students receive rigorous research training in either literature or linguistics, culminating in original research for their doctoral thesis. While primarily training students for academic careers at the university or community college levels, the PhD in French can also lead to employment opportunities in editorial work and professions outside academia.

Quick Facts

Master of arts, program description.

The Master of Arts program is both a self-contained program and the first stage towards doctoral studies. It has two objectives:

to allow students to develop a thorough knowledge of the discipline through a program of coursework in French linguistics and

to develop an aptitude for research.

It is a 12-month program for full-time students; the program is available on a part-time basis.

At the beginning of their program, students meet individually with the Associate Chair, Graduate in order to determine course selection with the objective of ensuring that the student has a well-rounded program and broad knowledge of the discipline.

Field: French Linguistics

Minimum admission requirements.

Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of French Language and Literature's additional admission requirements stated below.

B+ average standing or better, with at least B+ in French. A B+ average does not automatically lead to admission.

Competence in French.

Concentration in French linguistics, with a minimum of seven full courses, or equivalent, in French. A minimum of three of the seven full courses, or equivalent, should be in the proposed area of study (i.e., linguistics).

Admission is based upon the evidence of the supporting letters and the applicant's academic record.

Program Requirements

Prerequisite work, if necessary.

Coursework. Students must successfully complete a total of 4.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) as follows:

FRE1103H Séminaire de linguistique I : Phonétique et phonologie (0.5 FCE);

FRE1104H Séminaire de linguistique II : Syntaxe (0.5 FCE);

FRE1141H Séminaire de linguistique III : Linguistique expérimentale et linguistique de corpus (0.5 FCE);

2.5 FCEs from the regular graduate offerings; or

2.0 FCEs and FRE5001H Research Essay (0.5 FCE), a mémoire of approximately 35 pages; or

1.5 FCEs and FRE5000Y Research Essay (1.0 FCE), a 65- to 75-page mémoire.

Students must maintain a B average in order to be recommended for the degree and must obtain a minimum of mid-B in the Research Essay if taken. Students must also obtain a minimum of mid-B for the graduate seminars in linguistics (FRE1103H, FRE1104H, and FRE1141H).

Up to 1.0 FCE may be taken outside the department, with the permission of the Associate Chair, Graduate.

Normally, part-time students take the graduate seminars in linguistics during Year 1.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S); 6 sessions part-time

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

to allow students to develop a thorough knowledge of the discipline through a program of coursework in French literary studies and

At the beginning of their course of study, students meet individually with the Associate Chair, Graduate in order to determine course selection with the objective of ensuring that the student has a well-rounded program and broad knowledge of the discipline.

Field: French Literature

Concentration in French literature, with a minimum of seven full courses, or equivalent, in French. A minimum of five of the seven full courses, or equivalent, should be in the proposed area of study (i.e., literature). Applicants may request that up to 2.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) of the 5.0 FCEs in the discipline come from cognate disciplines upon the department’s approval.

FRE1202H Séminaire de littérature 1 : théorie (0.5 FCE)

FRE1203H Séminaire de littérature 2 : période (0.5 FCE)

FRE1204H Séminaire de littérature 3 : genre (0.5 FCE)

2.5 FCEs from the regular graduate course offerings; or

Students must maintain a B average in order to be recommended for the degree and must obtain a minimum of mid-B in the Research Essay if taken. Students must also obtain a minimum of mid-B for the graduate seminars in literature (FRE1202H, FRE1203H, and FRE1204H).

Normally, part-time students take the graduate seminars in literature during Year 1.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy is necessary preparation for a career in higher education in Canada and abroad which will include teaching and research at an advanced academic level. The PhD includes a combination of advanced seminars, field examinations, a high amount of embedded professional experience in teaching and research, and the presentation of the results of a significant contribution to the discipline in the form of an original dissertation.

The PhD program engages students in a program of study and research in the field of French Linguistics approved by the department. At the beginning of their course of study, students meet individually with the Associate Chair, Graduate in order to determine course selection with a view to ensuring that the student has a well-rounded program and, considered in conjunction with the undergraduate degree, has a broad knowledge of the discipline.

Admission to the PhD program is available via one of two routes: 1) an appropriate master’s degree or 2) direct entry with an appropriate bachelor’s degree with high academic standing.

PhD Program

An appropriate master's degree in French linguistics with high academic standing from a recognized university, with an average grade of at least an A– in the applicant's overall program.

An A– average does not automatically lead to admission.

A formal application and a sample of written work in French completed as part of the applicant's bachelor's or master's program in French linguistics as appropriate. This written work should be a copy of the MA thesis if available.

Applicants holding a master's degree must submit a statement of purpose (maximum 500 words) in French that clearly outlines the area in which the applicant intends to pursue research in French linguistics.

Applicants must satisfy the department that they are capable of independent research in French linguistics at an advanced level.

Admission to all programs for post-graduate degrees is based on the evidence of the supporting letters and the applicant's academic record.

Coursework . Students must successfully complete a total of 3.5 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

FRE1104H Séminaire de linguistique II : Syntaxe (0.5 FCE); and

FRE1141H Séminaire de linguistique III : Linguistique expérimentale et linguistique de corpus (0.5 FCE) (unless already completed); and

FRE1201H Méthodes de recherche (Credit/No Credit; 0.5 FCE).

Students must maintain an average grade of at least an A– during Year 1 to remain in good academic standing and to continue in the PhD program. With the department's permission, students may take 1.0 FCE outside the department.

Constitution of thesis committee . Students must submit a form indicating the members of their thesis committee and the provisional title of the thesis. This form must be signed by the faculty member who has agreed to direct the thesis and by the two faculty members who will serve on the student’s supervisory committee. Deadline to submit: June 15 of Year 1.

Thesis topic . Students must register a thesis topic with the department. The proposal must be signed by the faculty member who has agreed to direct the thesis and by the two faculty members who will serve on the student's supervisory committee. Deadline to register the topic: September 15 of Year 2.

Thesis proposal . A written thesis proposal, of 15 to 20 pages plus bibliography, must be submitted one week before the date of the oral field examination in April (see below).

Language requirements . Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of Old French or of another language (excluding French or English), as approved by the department by the end of Year 1.

Field examination (written and oral components) .

Students must pass the field examination in Year 2.

By November 15 of Year 2, students will submit a text of 20 to 25 pages (double-spaced) in article or thesis chapter format, which outlines the state of current research in the primary domain of the dissertation. This text will form the basis of the short article (to be submitted by March 1) and will be assessed as Pass/Fail.

By March 1 of Year 2, students must successfully complete a document in the format of a short article which represents a pilot study or a theoretical puzzle in the field of study driven by data gathered by the student.

A student may not proceed to the oral part of the field examination until the written part has been successfully completed. In the case of a failure, the full supervisory committee will meet with the student in order to discuss the weaknesses that caused the failure and to make specific recommendations concerning the student's program. The committee may recommend that the written part of the field examination be retaken in whole or in part within a specific period of time; it may also recommend termination of the student's program.

The oral part of the field examination is to be taken by April 30 of Year 2. It is based on a 15- to 20-page (double-spaced) "thesis proposal" accompanied by an appropriate bibliography. In the case of a failure, the supervisory committee will meet with the student to discuss the weaknesses that caused the failure and to make specific recommendations concerning the student's program. The committee may recommend that the examination be retaken within a specific period of time; it may also recommend termination of the student's program. If the recommendation is to retake the exam, the student may retake the oral part of the examination once only.

Meet with supervisory committee . Between the completion of the written field examination, oral field examination, and the Doctoral Final Oral Examination on the thesis, students will meet with the supervisory committee at least once a year and more frequently if required.

Thesis and Doctoral Final Oral Examination on the thesis.

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

An appropriate bachelor's degree with high academic standing from a recognized university that includes at least 7.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in French language and linguistics, with an average grade of at least an A– in the overall program. A minimum of five of the seven full courses, or equivalent, should be in the proposed area of study (i.e., linguistics). Applicants may request that up to 2.0 FCEs of the 5.0 FCEs in the discipline come from cognate disciplines upon the department’s approval. Admission is limited to exceptionally qualified applicants.

A formal application and a sample of written work in French completed as part of the applicant's bachelor's program in French linguistics as appropriate.

Coursework . Students must successfully complete a total of 7.5 FCEs as follows:

In Year 1, complete 4.0 FCEs. In Year 2, complete 3.5 FCEs. These include:

FRE1103H Séminaire de linguistique I : Phonétique et phonologi e (0.5 FCE);

FRE1104H Séminaire de linguistique II : Syntax e (0.5 FCE);

FRE1141H Séminaire de linguistique III : Linguistique expérimentale et linguistique de corpu s (0.5 FCE);

Students must maintain an average grade of at least an A– in Year 1 and Year 2 to remain in good academic standing and to continue in the PhD program. With the department's permission, students may take up to 1.0 FCE outside the department in each of Year 1 and Year 2.

Constitution of thesis committee . Students must submit a form indicating the members of their thesis committee and the provisional title of the thesis. This form must be signed by the faculty member who has agreed to direct the thesis and by the two faculty members who will serve on the student’s supervisory committee. Deadline to submit: June 15 of Year 2.

Thesis topic . Students must register a thesis topic with the department. The proposal must be signed by the faculty member who has agreed to direct the thesis and by the two faculty members who will serve on the student's supervisory committee. Deadline to register the topic: September 15 of Year 3.

Language requirements . Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of Old French or of another language (excluding French or English), as approved by the department — by the end of Year 2.

Students must pass the field examination in Year 3.

By November 15 of Year 3, students will submit a text of 20 to 25 pages (double-spaced) in article or thesis chapter format, which outlines the state of current research in the primary domain of the dissertation. This text will form the basis of the short article (to be submitted by March 1) and will be assessed as Pass/Fail.

By March 1 of Year 3, students must successfully complete a document in the format of a short article which represents a pilot study or a theoretical puzzle in the field of study driven by data gathered by the student.

A student may not proceed to the oral part of the field examination until the written part has been successfully completed. In the case of a failure, the supervisory committee will meet with the student in order to discuss the weaknesses that caused the failure and to make specific recommendations concerning the student's program. The committee may recommend that the written part of the field examination be retaken in whole or in part within a specific period of time; it may also recommend termination of the student's program.

The oral part of the field examination is to be taken by April 30 of Year 3. It is based on a 15- to 20-page (double-spaced) "thesis proposal" accompanied by an appropriate bibliography. In the case of a failure, the supervisory committee will meet with the student to discuss the weaknesses that caused the failure and to make specific recommendations concerning the student's program. The committee may recommend that the examination be retaken within a specific period of time; it may also recommend termination of the student's program. If the recommendation is to retake the exam, the student may retake the oral part of the examination once only.

The PhD program engages students in a program of study and research in French literature approved by the department. At the beginning of their program, students meet individually with the Associate Chair, Graduate in order to determine course selection with the objective of ensuring that the student has a well-rounded program and broad knowledge of the discipline.

An appropriate master's degree in French literature with high academic standing from a recognized university, with an average grade of at least an A– in the applicant's overall program.

A formal application and a sample of written work in French completed as part of the applicant's bachelor's or master's program in French literature as appropriate. This written work should be a copy of the MA thesis if available.

Applicants holding a master's degree must submit a statement of purpose (maximum 500 words) in French that clearly outlines the area in which the applicant intends to pursue research in French literature.

Applicants must satisfy the department that they are capable of independent research in French literature at an advanced level.

FRE1202H Séminaire de littérature 1 : théorie (0.5 FCE);

FRE1203H Séminaire de littérature 2 : période (0.5 FCE);

FRE1204H Séminaire de littérature 3 : genre (0.5 FCE) (unless these courses or their equivalents have already been completed); and

By November 15 of Year 2, students will produce a written document of approximately 10 to 15 pages (double-spaced) outlining the major area — the literary corpus, the methodological and theoretical perspectives and approaches — from which the thesis will be derived, together with a thematically organized bibliography indicating the primary and secondary works relevant to this area that the student is expected to know in detail. The "outline of the major area" will form the basis for the written part of the field examination (to be submitted by March 1) and will be assessed as Pass/Fail.

By March 1 of Year 2, students must successfully complete a take-home examination designed to test the student's knowledge of the general area of their research; the examination questions are given to students a week ahead of the examination.

An appropriate bachelor's degree with high academic standing from a recognized university that includes at least 7.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in French language and literature, with an average grade of at least an A– in the overall program. A minimum of five of the seven full courses, or equivalent, should be in the proposed area of study (i.e., literature). Applicants may request that up to 2.0 FCEs of the 5.0 FCEs in the discipline come from cognate disciplines upon the department’s approval. Admission is limited to exceptionally qualified applicants.

A formal application and a sample of written work in French completed as part of the applicant's bachelor's program in French literature as appropriate.

FRE1204H Séminaire de littérature 3 : genre (0.5 FCE); and

Students must maintain an average grade of at least an A– in Year 1 and Year 2 to remain in good academic standing and to continue in the PhD program. With the department's permission, students may take up to 1.0 FCE outside the department in each of Year 1 and Year 2

By November 15 of Year 3, students will produce a written document of approximately 10 to 15 pages (double-spaced) outlining the major area — the literary corpus, the methodological and theoretical perspectives and approaches — from which the thesis will be derived, together with a thematically organized bibliography indicating the primary and secondary works relevant to this area that the student is expected to know in detail. The "outline of the major area" will form the basis for the written part of the field examination (to be submitted by March 1) and will be assessed as Pass/Fail.

By March 1 of Year 3, students must successfully complete a take-home examination designed to test the student's knowledge of the general area of their research; the examination questions are given to students a week ahead of the examination.

“My first year had confirmed I had chosen the right program.”

The French Department’s doctoral program reflects the interdisciplinary priorities that have long defined the pursuit of knowledge here at Berkeley. We are committed not only to providing students strong coverage of the field of French and francophone literature and culture, but also to doing so through the critical application of innovative methodologies, and by continually bringing French studies into productive dialogue with developments in parallel disciplines. Our faculty’s interests are both historically and methodologically diverse; their strengths are complemented by a variety of programs—centers, working groups, and so on—that regularly bring scholars of the humanities together across campus. And the relaxed and non-hierarchical atmosphere lends itself to free and passionate inquiry. We invite you to explore our offerings.

A Short Description of the M.A./Ph.D. in French

The doctoral program in French is designed to train students to undertake original research, to engage in scholarly and critical writing, and to prepare for teaching careers at the college and university level. The following information is intended only to provide a brief overview of the program’s main features and requirements. For complete information, please see the  Guide to Higher Degrees in French . Visit our application page for  information on the application process . 

For students entering with a B.A. in French, the French doctoral program normally takes six years to complete. (Students entering with the M.A. will typically spend five years in the program.) This time may vary, depending on each individual student’s preparation; it is divided as follows:

The M.A. Phase

During the first four semesters of graduate study students complete a minimum of eight courses, six of which must be graduate level (200-level). All M.A.-level coursework must be completed with at least a 3.5 GPA. In the fourth semester students take a written M.A. exam, based on a tailored list of representative works from the French and francophone traditions. Upon successful completion of coursework and the M.A. exam, candidates are awarded the M.A. and then considered for admission to the Ph.D. phase of the program.

Please note that the French Department does not admit applicants whose ultimate goal is the M.A. degree.

The Ph.D. Phase

In three semesters students complete four more courses at the graduate level (200-level). During the last semester in the Ph.D. phase students take their qualifying exams, based on a set of specialized reading lists developed in close consultation with faculty members. These exams, which contain both written and oral components, are intended both to test general knowledge of a period and to provide students with a chance to develop ideas that will be useful in the definition of the dissertation topic.

The Dissertation Phase

Following successful completion of the qualifying exams, students are advanced to candidacy and enter the dissertation phase of the program, which consists of four semesters. Students first write a dissertation prospectus in consultation with their dissertation committee, and then proceed with the dissertation itself.

Program Features

Flexibility and broad competency.

The Ph.D. program in French has been formulated to allow students maximum flexibility to pursue their scholarly interests while guaranteeing the acquisition of broad competency in the discipline of French and francophone literature and culture. Students are expected to acquire expertise in works of all periods but are also encouraged to develop interdisciplinary and specialized perspectives.

Incoming students are assigned a faculty mentor as well as a graduate student “buddy” so as to ease their transition into departmental and professional life. We view student-faculty contact as one of the cornerstones of our program’s success.

In-Depth Pedagogical Training

The department provides all Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) with in-depth pedagogical training, including pilot classes and pedagogical theory. Many of our students find themselves wanting to do supplementary work in planning innovative new language courses, and are able do so through the resources provided by the  Berkeley Language Center . Many advanced graduate students develop their own reading and composition courses or serve as instructors in neighboring departments such as Art History, English, and Comparative Literature; these instructorships often offer the opportunity to plan and execute a literature or culture course of your own design.

The  GSI Teaching and Resource Center  provides weekly teacher-training workshops throughout the semester; individual teaching consultations; grants for GSIs to improve the quality of teaching at Berkeley; and a summer institute for preparing future faculty.

Romance Languages and Literatures Program

The  Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL)  is a doctorate in three Romance languages and literatures (French, Italian and Spanish, including Spanish-American), prepared with emphasis in the literature or in the linguistics or philological history of one of the three. The RLL Program offers students the opportunity to tailor a course of study in French, Spanish and Italian to their interests. Applicants to the RLL program with a French emphasis are evaluated by French Department faculty and the program’s requirements are different from those listed above.

If you have any questions regarding the graduate program in  Romance Languages and Literatures  with an emphasis in French, please contact the  Graduate Student Services Advisor .

The Designated Emphasis

Students may consider the option of pursuing a Designated Emphasis (DE) in  Critical Theory ,  Film Studies ,  Women, Gender, and Sexuality ,  Renaissance and Early Modern Studies ,  European Studies  or  New Media . Students pursuing a Designated Emphasis take certain prescribed courses within these disciplines, and write a dissertation that partially encompasses the chosen field of study. In addition to providing students an institutional mechanism for incorporating this sort of work into the Ph.D. program, the Designated Emphasis assures prospective employers that you have demonstrated expertise in an auxiliary field, and it will appear on your final degree. The  Program in Medieval Studies  also offers a joint degree in French and Medieval Studies.

Interdisciplinary Centers and Working Groups

A number of interdisciplinary centers and groups regularly bring noted scholars and artists to campus. The  Center for the Study of Sexual Culture , brings together researchers with a common interest in the ways sexuality takes on different meanings in different cultural contexts.

The French Studies Program  organizes lectures, visits by scholars, and conferences involving France and the French tradition(s) across the disciplines of the Humanities and the Social Sciences.

The Center for Middle Eastern Studies  promotes the interdisciplinary study of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at the University of California, Berkeley, and beyond, raising public awareness of the region’s diverse peoples, languages, cultures and their connection to wider global contexts.

The  Townsend Center for the Humanities  promotes research and ongoing conversation among and within academic disciplines. It hosts art exhibits, lectures, and conferences and sponsors a large number of  working groups , which meet informally and are run and attended by both graduate students and faculty. The Center also provides funding to support student journals.

Fostering intellectual life among students is a priority. Click here for information on  current student interests .

Job Placement

The Department is committed to helping graduates secure employment. This includes workshops on aspects of the job market in both spring and fall, reviewing and editing of curriculum vitae and letters of application, mock interviews, and works-in-progress talks that help candidates learn to present their research.

The Department has an  excellent record in placing students  who apply nationally and internationally for positions; in the last several years our students have been offered tenure-track appointments at Middlebury College; Davidson College; Macalester College; Scripps College; Wellesley College; University of Texas, Austin; University of Texas, San Antonio; University of Michigan; University of MInnesota; Pomona College; University of Texas, El Paso; and the University of Washington.

Financing Graduate Study

Each year, a limited number of outstanding admission candidates are nominated to the campus-wide multi-year fellowship competition. Successful nominees receive two years of fellowship support and two additional years of appointment as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) in French. Students who are not awarded a multi-year fellowship may be awarded a one year fellowship or a Graduate Student Instructorship in French with coverage of non-resident tuition, when appropriate.

Applicants should note that there are a few non-UC Berkeley sources of funding for graduate education. These include the  Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowships , the  Hispanic Scholarship Fund , the  Jack Kent Cooke Foundation , the  Javits Fellowship Program , and the  Soros Fellowships for New Americans .

The Department offers a number of resources for financing graduate study, including fellowship packages, fellowships for continuing students, and Graduate Student Instructorships. It also awards grants for summer study and travel.

UC Berkeley also provides funding support on a competitive basis to humanities students at various points in their graduate career. The  Graduate Division Summer Grant  provides summer financial support. The  Doctoral Completion Fellowship  provides a full year of fellowship support for students who advance to candidacy within normative time (four years in humanities departments). The  Townsend Center  funds a competitive dissertation fellowship for humanities students.

Exchange Programs and Travel Fellowships

Graduate students in French are encouraged to spend time studying in France and the Department has three yearly exchange programs — with the Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS), the Institut d’Anglais at the Université de Paris VII, and the Université de Tours François-Rabelais. The Department usually selects advanced students to participate in these exchange programs, but from time to time students who have fulfilled almost all of their other requirements and have not yet taken the Qualifying Exam are selected.

These programs have always been sufficient to assure every student the opportunity to study abroad.

Ecole Normale Supérieure (ENS) Exchange

Students selected to participate in the ENS exchange receive a Department Traveling Fellowship, which provides support to cover living expenses. ENS provides students with free housing and library privileges for the duration of the exchange.

Paris VII Exchange

Students selected to participate in the Paris VII exchange are hired by Paris VII to teach English language courses. Students are paid a monthly salary in euros for 12 months. Students also receive health coverage under the general conditions of the National French Health Insurance System. Unlike the ENS exchange, Paris VII participants must make their own housing arrangements. Only native English speakers are eligible for this exchange program.

Université de Tours François-Rabelais

Students selected to participate in the Tours exchange are hired by Tours to teach English language courses. Students are paid a monthly salary in euros for 12 months. Students also receive health coverage under the general conditions of the National French Health Insurance System. As in the Paris VII exchange, Tours participants must make their own housing arrangements. Only native English speakers are eligible for this exchange program.

Additional Opportunities for Research/Travel in France

Fulbright IIE Fellowship Applicants must be U.S. citizens holding a B.A. degree or equivalent before the beginning date of the grant. Provides round-trip travel, tuition, books, and stipend for one academic year. Approximately 1,300 awards are available for study in over 140 countries. Applies to coursework, master’s or dissertation research.

Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) Grants This program provides grants to colleges and universities to fund individual doctoral students who conduct research in other countries, in modern foreign languages and area studies for periods of 6 to 12 months.

Georges Lucy Fellowship Program for Study in France This fellowship is for advanced Ph.D. students who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and whose research topic is unique to France and can only be pursued in that country. The fellowship provides a stipend (currently $25,300) to cover educational fees, necessary travel, and living expenses while in France. Students must be enrolled at UC Berkeley or at an educational institution in France during the tenure of the fellowship. Interested students should submit their application materials to the Graduate Fellowships Office (318 Sproul Hall) by the deadline. One UC Berkeley graduate student is nominated for this fellowship each year.

GSI at the UC Study Center in Paris For a number of years the French Department has had the opportunity to send an advanced graduate student to serve as a Graduate Student Instructor in French in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) at the UC Study Center in Paris. This GSI position is only available in the fall semester.

Walter J. Jensen Fellowship for French Language, Literature, and Culture This fellowship provides a a stipend of at least $10,000 for a minimum of six months of study in France. Phi Beta Kappa will also cover a single round-trip, economy-class ticket for the recipient to travel to France; some additional support may be available to those with dependents. The purpose of the award is to help educators and researchers improve education in standard French language, literature and culture and in the study of standard French in the United States.

Degree Requirements

Course requirements.

Students in the doctoral program must complete 12 courses, including one course in the history of French language (French 201) and one course in literary criticism (French 270 or French 274). Courses completed at Berkeley for the M.A. phase count toward the 12 course requirement.

Students must also fulfill a historical comprehensiveness requirement. This entails completion of a graduate seminar in Medieval literature; three seminars in 16th-, 17th-, 18th-century or early modern studies; three seminars in 19th-, 20th-century, Francophone Studies, or Modern Studies. Outside of these requirements, students are allowed, and indeed encouraged, to pursue their interests in other departments. Students wanting to improve their general background are also permitted to take up to two undergraduate courses for credit towards their degree.

The proseminar (French 200) is taken during the first semester of graduate study at Berkeley. This one-hour-a-week class, which does not count toward the Ph.D. requirement, is designed to give new graduate students a broad view of the Department’s faculty, the courses they teach, and their fields of research. In addition, it introduces students to aspects of their graduate career, issues pertaining to research methodologies, and critical debates across the profession.

Foreign Language Requirement

Students may fulfill the foreign language requirement either by demonstrating a reading knowledge of two languages (Option I) or by demonstrating an exceptionally thorough reading knowledge and an adequate knowledge of the grammatical structure of one language (Option II). If you have questions about how to fulfill the foreign language requirement, contact the Graduate Student Services Advisor at  [email protected] .

The language(s) will be chosen after consultation with the Head Graduate Advisor, and in view of the student’s intended Ph.D. Program Proposal. For example, for students intending to work in the Middle Ages or Renaissance, it would be advisable to choose Latin, or perhaps Italian. For students interested in modern philosophy, German might be wise. Whatever the choice, it should have an intellectual or scholarly relationship to the student’s area of specialization, or with the field of Romance languages more broadly.

Additional Requirements

Doctoral students must fulfill additional requirements, including passing the Qualifying Exams and composing a dissertation prospectus, which must be approved by the student’s dissertation committee. For more information on additional requirements, consult the  Guide to Higher Degrees in French .

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Course Catalog

French, phd.

for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in French

The Department of French and Italian offers graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees in French and in Italian. Candidates for the master's degree may specialize in French Studies, French Linguistics, French Language Learning, or Italian. Candidates for the doctoral degree in French may choose one of three specializations: French Studies, French Linguistics, or Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE).

The following minors and certificates may be pursued: Cinema Studies , Gender & Women's Studies , Translation Studies , Criticism and Interpretive Theory

French Students considering admission to the master's program should usually have had a college major in French. Applicants should  apply online  and submit an academic statement of purpose (maximum 1000 words), a personal statement (maximum 500 words), three letters of recommendation, and two writing samples (5-10 pages each), at least one of which must be in French. Original transcripts showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should be sent to SLCL Graduate Student Services. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required of all domestic applicants and should be submitted to institution code 1836. International applicants who have taken the GRE are encouraged to submit their scores as well. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 79 on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the  speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24 .  Admission for the spring semester is rare. Students seeking admission to the Ph.D. program with a Master of Arts degree earned elsewhere are expected to have a minimum 3.5 grade point average in graduate coursework. The master's degree should be in French literature, French studies, or French linguistics. Candidates seeking admission to the Ph.D. specialization in Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education may hold a Master of Arts in Teaching degree instead.

See our website  for more information about how to apply. Application questions may be directed to  SLCL Graduate Student Services .

Italian The normal prerequisite for a graduate major is an undergraduate major in Italian or consent of the department. Students doing graduate work for any advanced degree in Italian must possess a command of the language. Applicants should  apply online  and submit an academic statement of purpose (maximum 1000 words), a personal statement (maximum 500 words), three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample of approximately 10-20 pages in the form of one or two papers. Original transcripts (with English translations if applicable) showing all undergraduate and graduate work completed should also be uploaded. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required of all domestic applicants and should be submitted to institution code 1836. International applicants who have taken the GRE are encouraged to submit their scores as well. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and must score at least 79 on the internet-based test (iBT); they must also pass the  speaking sub-section of the iBT with a minimum score of 24 . Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Application questions may be directed to  SLCL Graduate Student Services .

Graduate Teaching Experience Although teaching is not a general Graduate College requirement, the department requires Ph.D. candidates to do some teaching as part of their academic work because such experience is considered a vital part of graduate training and professionalization. Non-native English speakers must first  pass a test of their oral English ability .

Teaching Assistants in French and Italian are required to take FR 505 or ITAL 505 respectively (4 hours) as part of their contractual obligation. The course does not count toward the graduate degrees.

Faculty Research Interests Our faculty possess strengths in literary interpretation, critical theory, the study of civilization, cinema, theoretical and applied linguistics, and computer-assisted teaching. Members of the faculty have received national and international recognition; graduates serve on the faculties of numerous colleges and universities both in this country and abroad. See also the faculty's areas of research .

Centers, Programs, and Institutes Our faculty hold appointments with the Departments of African American Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, Linguistics, Media and Cinema Studies, as well as the European Union Center and the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, the Program in Comparative and World Literature, the Program in Jewish Culture and Society, the Program in Medieval Studies, and the Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, broadening opportunities for interdisciplinary work.

Facilities and Resources A language learning lab provides computer-based access to resources and audio-video services. The phonetics lab contains state-of-the-art equipment available to graduate student researchers. The Kolb-Proust Archive for Research, a unit of the Library, houses a wealth of information about Marcel Proust and his time, including the important collection of notes and materials assembled by Philip Kolb, who was a professor in the Department. Documents from the collection are accessible on the World-Wide Web through a  searchable SGML-encoded Virtual Archive .

Financial Aid All students who apply for admission are considered for financial aid. Subject to budgetary conditions, and assuming satisfactory academic and teaching performance, the Department offers two years of financial aid toward the M.A. degree and an additional four years of support toward completion of the Ph.D.

Teaching Assistantships are the most common form of graduate student support. The usual appointment requires teaching three courses during the academic year.

Research Assistantships require the recipient to assist with a faculty member's research for a specific number of hours per week. A research assistantship may be combined with a teaching assistantship.

Fellowships are offered for new and continuing students. No separate application form is required.

Tuition and Fee Waivers are included in waiver-generating fellowship, teaching assistantship, and research assistantship awards.

Graduate students in French may spend the academic year abroad under exchange agreements with universities in France, Belgium, and Canada, employed as teaching assistants.

For additional details and requirements refer to the department's  g raduate programs  and the  Graduate College Handbook . 

Other Requirements

Specialization in french studies.

The doctoral program in French Studies is designed to prepare specialists in literature and culture. Candidates are required to include courses in textual criticism, linguistics or linguistically oriented textual theory, and French/Francophone literature and culture. Students are expected to demonstrate reading proficiency in one modern foreign language (other than French or English). They may fulfill this requirement by passing a fourth-semester reading course with a grade of B or better or by demonstrating an equivalent ability by examination. Students may choose to complete a minor in Cinema Studies, Gender and Women’s Studies, or to obtain a certificate in Medieval Studies, Translation Studies or in Criticism, and Interpretive Theory.

Specialization in French Linguistics

The Ph.D. curriculum in linguistics offers training in French and Romance linguistics in cooperation with the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and the Department of Linguistics. Candidates selecting this option are required to complete course work in linguistic theory, advanced study of French language and culture, and French and Romance linguistics beyond the requirements of the M.A. in French Linguistics. Advanced course work related to the candidate’s research area is chosen from courses offered by participating departments in consultation with the advisors in French and Romance Linguistics. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency in at least one other Romance language and may select a concentration in Romance Linguistics.

Specialization in French Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE)

This Ph.D. curriculum in French SLATE combines advanced studies in French with a research focus on some aspect of second language learning and teaching. It is an inter-disciplinary Ph.D. concentration that offers training in a wide range of disciplines related to second language learning and teaching, with a focus on bilingualism, foreign, second, and heritage language teaching and learning. Courses are offered in collaboration with multiple departments and units in the School of Literatures, Cultures, and Linguistics, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the College of Education. Candidates in French selecting this option are required to complete course work in theories of language teaching and acquisition, linguistic theory, and French language and culture beyond the requirements of the M.A. in Language Learning. Advanced course work related to the candidate’s research area is chosen in consultation with the French SLATE advisor.

French Studies Concentration

• Language:  Near native written and oral proficiency in French. Mastery of written and spoken academic French and English.
• French Studies: Acquisition of broad knowledge of French and francophone literature and cultures across the centuries, with particular expertise in one area or more. Ability to evaluate the field of French Studies, assess the major issues of concern within the field, and evaluate different approaches to those issues. Familiarity with major contemporary works of history, philosophy and/or cultural theory in French. 
• Training in theory and methodologies: Strong command of a variety of methodologies and theoretical approaches to texts and their interpretation in English and in French. 
• Teaching: Ability to teach French language, literature and culture in a wide variety of undergraduate courses, from beginning to advanced, with broad historical, cultural and linguistic understanding. Effective communication in French to groups of students with various abilities in the language. Work with faculty to design syllabi and appropriate assessment tools. 
• The Profession: mastery of professional skills, including ability to write and deliver academic conference presentations, generate syllabi, rework and submit seminar papers for publication as articles, write book reviews and fellowship applications; readiness for academic job market in French studies, including ability to identify successful strategies and evaluate different types of institutions and their teaching and research needs.

French Linguistics Concentration

• Language: Students display an Advanced High to Superior proficiency, as well as native likeness in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in both French and English (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) guidelines.
• French Linguistics: Students can recall, relate, explain, discuss, and utilize theories in the field of French Linguistics to generate research. They acquire broad specialized knowledge in their subfield of specialization.
• Research theories and methods: Students can understand, recall, relate, and explain in English and in French advanced research theories and methodologies used in the field of linguistics.
• Teaching: Students are able to expertly teach a variety of French language and content courses in their field, grounded in principles of proficiency-oriented curriculum and assessment design, as well as in programmatic sequencing.
• Professionalism: Students demonstrate knowledge and application of ethical and professional skills relevant to research, teaching, and learning in the field of applied linguistics, including communicative skills for the profession, collegiate demeanor, participation in professional organizations or events, evaluation of standards, issues, and resources used in the field, readiness for the job market, research publications, and presentations at nationally and internationally recognized research conferences.

Second Language Acquisition Concentration

• Expert knowledge in applied linguistics: Students can recall, relate, explain, discuss, and utilize theories in the field of applied linguistics to generate research.
• Research theories and methodologies: Students can understand, relate, explain, discuss, and defend their use of advanced and updated research theories and methodologies consistent with research in the field of applied linguistics.
• Teaching: Students are able to expertly teach a variety of French language and content courses, aligning with a communicative approach to teaching and learning, as well as with the specificity of a major in French, grounded in principles of proficiency-oriented curriculum and assessment design, as well as in programmatic sequencing.

Graduate Degree Programs in French & Italian

• concentration:
• Medieval Studies
• Romance Linguistics
• Second Language Acquisition & Teacher Education

Department of French and Italian Head of Department: Zsuzsanna Fagyal Director of Graduate Studies: François Proulx French and Italian Department website 2090 Foreign Languages Building, 707 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801 (217) 333-2020 French and Italian email

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Ph.D. in French Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE)

The interdisciplinary Ph.D. French SLATE program combines advanced French studies with a research focus on some aspect of second language learning/ teaching. This concentration has the combined support of faculty members in a wide range of disciplines related to second language learning and teaching, enabling the candidate to draw on resources in various departments in Liberal Arts and Sciences and Education.

This interdisciplinary French SLATE concentration is available to qualified candidates as one of the options in the Ph.D. program in French. To qualify for admission a candidate must meet the following requirements:

• an M.A. or M.A.T. degree in French
• a minimum 3.5/5 or equivalent average in previous graduate work
• at least one year of experience in teaching French as a second/foreign language
• approval by the Ph.D. Admissions Committee acting on recommendations of an M.A. Examination Committee and evaluation of written work submitted by the candidate, and the candidate's academic record. Candidates applying with a Master's degree earned elsewhere must submit examples of past research, and, upon admission, will be expected to fulfill in the course of their program any requirements needed to have the equivalent of an M.A. in French at the University of Illinois.

Upon admission to the Department of French Ph.D. Program, a student in the French SLATE option will select, with the approval of an advisor, courses that meet the requirements for the Ph.D. in French. Courses should carry at least 3 hours of credit, with the exception of Linguistics 400, which is presently offered for 2 hours. Any other exceptions must be approved by the student's advisor.

Candidates interested in obtaining a SLATE Certificate in addition to the Ph.D. in French should review the requirements for the certificate as they choose their coursework.  Click here for the SLATE Program website .

Preliminary examination

As soon as possible after admission to Stage 2, the student will choose an advisor who will serve as the chairperson of the doctoral committee. The committee will consist of the chairperson and at least three other professors, two of whom may be from a different department. (The chairperson must be a member of the French department; however, the dissertation director may be a member of another department.) At least three voting members of the committee must be members of the Graduate Faculty. The entire committee must be authorized by the Graduate College.

The preliminary examination for this option will consist of the following:

• The submission of a written document comprised of the following components:
• a description of the proposed thesis, including a rationale for the study, a delineation of the research questions and hypotheses, and definitions of terms
• a review and synthesis of the relevant research literature
• a detailed design and plan of analysis for the study, including instrumentation and statistical and/or qualitative analyses to be used, as appropriate.
• An oral examination based upon, but not limited to, the written document.

The preliminary examination should normally be taken during the semester following that in which the student finishes coursework. If the preliminary examination is not scheduled in a timely manner, preference will not be given for continuing financial aid. Candidates may enroll in 4 hours of French 599 for the semester in which they take their preliminary examination. After the preliminary examination it is recommended that candidates enroll in the maximum number of hours of 599 allowed in each semester until the required number is reached.

The thesis defense committee should normally be the same as the committee for the preliminary examination. If a change in the committee is necessary it must be approved by the Graduate College.

Application forms and all information regarding admission should be requested from the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of French and Italian, 2090 Foreign Languages Building, 707 S. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801.

Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics

Dietrich college of humanities and social sciences, discover the applied linguistics & second language acquisition ph.d. program, the primary goal of this program is to educate and prepare future researchers and leaders in the field of applied linguistics & second language acquisition (alsla)..

Program graduates will have developed a strong interdisciplinary approach to the investigation of the development, use, and maintenance of second languages, along with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct high-quality empirical investigations. They will learn to critically integrate old and new knowledge to produce real-world applications in the areas of language teaching, language learning, language policy, and language maintenance.

Apply for the Ph.D. program

"In this Ph.D. program, I not only learned how to answer, but also ask questions of significance to researchers from a broad range of backgrounds and disciplines. CMU truly prepared me for a life in academia where my knowledge and research skills would be valued, no matter where I ended up." — Daniel Walter (DC 2015)

Apply for the Ph.D. Program

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About the Program

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Program Requirements

The Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics & Second Language Acquisition follows a four-year timeline. 

Learn More About the Ph.D. Requirements

Characteristics of the Program

Commitment to cross-linguistic and cross-cultural factors in second  language learning . Students carry out research in the context of multiple languages. Admission to the program requires advanced proficiency in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish, or English as a second language.

Interdisciplinary focus linking cognitive sciences, linguistics, social  sciences, cultural studies, and education . Students work with faculty in Modern Languages, English, Philosophy, and Psychology in the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences; faculty in the Language Technologies Institute of the School of Computer Science; and faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in the departments of Linguistics and Instruction & Learning, and the Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC).

Active apprenticeship within a community of researchers . Beginning in the first year, students engage in hands-on research training and mentoring through collaboration with faculty.

Individualized course of study that builds on the student's prior  knowledge and experience . Students gradually assume greater control and responsibility over their research activities and course work, culminating in the dissertation.

Featured ALSLA News

Alumnus dan walter pursues interdisciplinary research in second language acquisition, alumna tianyu qin supports intercultural growth, modern languages and dietrich college alumna joins faculty, modern languages alumna promotes inclusivity through culturally responsive teaching, collaborations and connections in second language acquisition, duolingo’s alina von davier joins the department of modern languages, contact information, senior departmental administrator.

Vera Lampley Department of Modern Languages Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Director of Applied Linguistics & Second Language Acquisition Ph.D. Program

Seth Wiener Department of Modern Languages Carnegie Mellon University 5000 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15213

View a full list of our  Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) .

If you cannot find the answer to your question on our website, please contact [email protected] .

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Aims of the PhD

Human language is a multifaceted phenomenon. It is simultaneously a property of individual minds and of whole speech communities, and thus both internal and external to us. It both shapes and is shaped by our societies over time. It is a combination of sound (or sign), which has physical properties that can be measured, and meaning, which does not. Accordingly, becoming a linguistic researcher involves mastering a variety of methods, both quantitative and qualitative. The PhD in Linguistics at BU aims to produce scholars who are versatile enough to be experts in both of these aspects of linguistic inquiry, yet skilled enough to do cutting-edge research in a particular subfield of the discipline. We offer a solid grounding in a range of research methods, including field methods, quantitative methods, and computational methods.

Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a PhD in Linguistics will demonstrate:

• broad knowledge of the discipline
• deeper knowledge in a specialized area or subfield
• ability to carry out a significant piece of independent research (which implies knowledge of and ability to use research methodologies in order to complete the research)

Prerequisites

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required to apply.

Entering students are expected to have completed introductory classes in: 

• phonetics/phonology (e.g., GRS LX 601)
• syntax (e.g., GRS LX 621)
• semantics/pragmatics (e.g., GRS LX 631)

Students who do not have sufficient background in linguistics must complete additional coursework to fulfill the above prerequisites prior to entry or during the first year. Note: if completed at BU, GRS LX 601, 621, and 631 will not count toward the PhD course requirements.

Admissions & Funding

The deadline for application to enter the program in Fall 2023 is January 6, 2023.  Information about the graduate admissions process ( including the application process and requirements ) is available at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (GRS) website:

We anticipate being able to admit about five students per year. All admitted students will receive full coverage of tuition costs plus a fellowship for five years. For further information about funding, consult the GRS website above.

Requirements

Course requirements.

The PhD requires successful completion of 64 credits at the graduate level, including three core courses: 

• GRS LX 703 Phonological Analysis
• GRS LX 722 Intermediate Syntax
• GRS LX 732 Intermediate Semantics

Six additional courses from the four areas below, with two courses each in two of the areas, and one course each in the remaining two areas:

• advanced phonetics, phonology, or morphology (e.g., GRS LX 706)
• advanced syntax, semantics, or pragmatics (e.g., GRS LX 723, 736)
• linguistic research methodology
• language acquisition or socio-historical linguistics

A 4-credit graduate proseminar sequence (GRS LX 801 & 802) is typically taken in the second year.

Finally, six additional courses (including up to 8 credits of directed study) are taken in Linguistics or related fields that comprise a specialization , which will generally be in the area of the dissertation. These courses will be decided upon by the student in conjunction with their advisor, whose approval is required.

Language Requirement

The PhD requires demonstration of graduate-level reading proficiency in two foreign languages (one of which may be English, for non-native speakers) by the end of the third year of enrollment.

These proficiencies can be demonstrated through any of:

• a language examination
• successful completion of a non-credit graduate-level foreign language reading course offered at BU
• the equivalent of two years of undergraduate study of the language at BU (or successful completion of any higher-level language course taught in the language)

Graduate-level foreign language reading courses offered at BU include:

• GRS LF 621 Reading French for Graduate Students
• GRS LG 621 Reading German for Graduate Students
• GRS LI 621 Reading Italian for Graduate Students
• GRS LS 621 Reading Spanish for Graduate Students

Qualifying Examinations

To advance to candidacy, students must satisfactorily complete and defend two substantial research papers in different areas of the field (the first by the end of the fourth semester, the second by the end of the sixth semester of enrollment).

Each Qualifying Paper (QP) will be planned and carried out under the supervision of a Linguistics faculty member with expertise appropriate to the relevant project and, upon completion, will be defended orally and approved by an examining committee, composed of the first and second reader as well as a third faculty member determined by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in consultation with the student.

A brief proposal for each QP must be submitted, with signed approval of a first and second reader (who have been approved by the DGS and who have agreed to advise the student on the proposed project), by October 15 of the academic year in which the project is to be completed. For the second QP, a topic approval form, in which the student explains how the second QP differs from their first QP, must also be submitted, in advance of the proposal approval form.

Dissertation and Final Oral Examination

PhD candidates will demonstrate their abilities for independent study in a dissertation representing original research or creative scholarship.

A prospectus for the dissertation must be completed and approved by the readers, the DGS, and the Department Chair.

Candidates must undergo a final oral examination in which they defend their dissertation as a valuable contribution to knowledge in their field and demonstrate a mastery of their field of specialization in relation to their dissertation.

All portions of the dissertation and final oral examination must be completed as outlined in the GRS general requirements for the PhD degree:

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PhD Program

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Gain specialized knowledge of French literature or linguistics through our Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree program in French Studies at UBC Vancouver.

Degree Requirements

The first 24 months of the PhD program are devoted to coursework, preparing and taking the Comprehensive Examination, and obtaining approval of the Thesis Proposal. The following years are devoted to the writing and defence of the thesis.

In the first 16 months of the program, a minimum of 18 credits of coursework numbered above 500 must be completed, three of which may be taken in another department (six exceptionally). A first-class average is required in these courses. Additional coursework may be required for candidates who have deficiencies in certain areas.

The supervisory committee must meet at least once a year.

PhD candidates who are primarily interested in Linguistics may write a thesis on an aspect of French Linguistics. After consulting with the Graduate Advisor, they may also be permitted to supplement the Linguistics courses offered in the Department itself by taking courses elsewhere at UBC (in the Department of Linguistics or the Faculty of Education, for example), or at other universities under the Western Deans’ Agreement .

Students concentrating in French linguistics will be required to take some courses in French literature to complete their degree. The concentration in linguistics does not entail a purely linguistics degree, but rather an emphasis.

UBC invites doctoral students interested in getting international research experience to consider applying for a Joint PhD (or cotutelle). A cotutelle gives the student an opportunity to work with two supervisors at their respective academic research institutions in two countries and is customized to meet specific research objectives.

Program Overview

The candidate will fill out the Comprehensive Examination Committee approval form.

Comprehensive examination

The candidate will take the comprehensive examination in April of the second year (if your graduate program started in September) or August/September of the second year (if your graduate program started in January).

PhD thesis proposal defence

The candidate will defend the PhD thesis proposal in September of the third year (if your graduate program started in September) or January of the third year (if your graduate program started in January).

Supervisory Committee approval

The candidate will fill out the Supervisory Committee approval form after passing the PhD thesis proposal defence.

Final doctoral examination

The final doctoral examination is the culmination of years of research and writing. It is the last step toward the conferral of the doctoral degree.

Annual Progress Report

An Annual Progress Report must be submitted by March 1st for every year that the student is enrolled in the program.

PhD Co-op (Optional)

What is Co-op?

The Arts Co-op Program offers students enriched educational experiences for personal and professional growth. Co-op is a high-impact educational program that allows you to alternate dissertation-writing terms with work terms, during which you gain meaningful paid work experience. We work with a diverse range of community partners and sectors to provide transformative workplace learning for co-op students.

The Arts PhD Co-op Program allows you to explore different career options, while gaining paid, professional work experience and a network of contacts. Some students are able to secure work terms that are relevant to their dissertation research, while others choose to pursue work experience that diversify their expertise and give them range. Students complete three work terms of 4 months each over the two to three years after achieving candidacy.

Why PhD Co-op in French Studies?

Program goals:

• to extend secure graduate funding into the fifth and possibly sixth years of the PhD program
• to give graduate students well-paid, relevant work experience divided across their dissertation years (PhD co-op positions pay $20-$30/hour depending on the employer—a 14-week work term at 37.5 hours/week at $25 is $13,125)
• to reduce the financial and academic strain often faced by students who run out of money after year four and must work nearly full-time, often substantially delaying completion of their degrees
• to provide insight and experience into alt-ac careers for graduate students who may choose not to work in academia after graduation.

The UBC PhD Co-op Program gives you the opportunity to:

• explore various career options and gain substantial, “alt-ac career” experience to put on your resume
• enrich academic learning with workplace experience
• develop your professional skills and network
• apply to positions that require students to be in a co-op program (such as federal government jobs and some positions in the cultural industries)
• finance your degree with relevant, paid work

Types of Work

Employers hire UBC PhD co-op students based on their specialized skills and potential career interests. You can expect to work in areas such as:

• Academic Administration
• Applied Research
• Communications
• Curriculum Development
• Instruction and Training
• Project Management
• Writing and Editing

Co-op Coordinators work closely with employers locally, nationally, and internationally, to develop challenging, career-related positions for co-op students in the non-profit, government (federal/ provincial/municipal), and private sectors.

Read about the success story of previous UBC PhD Co-op student Henry John (History) .

Applying to Arts Co-op

The application window for UBC PhD Co-op is open once per year, and usually closes in the first week of October.

You are eligible to apply to the UBC PhD Co-op Program if you have achieved candidacy (or are expecting to achieve candidacy by the time you begin your co-op term, typically in January of your third year in the PhD program). You also must have two years of PhD study left, in which to schedule three, 4-month work terms. You cannot enrol in the Co-op Program without advancing to candidacy first: that is, Co-op students must be ABD (all but dissertation).

SSHRC-holders and international students are both eligible to apply and go through the same application process.

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PhD in French

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The French Section offers PhD supervision in an exceptional range of areas of French and francophone studies. It contains world-leading researchers in the literature, thought, and culture of the Middle Ages, the early modern period, the 19th century, and the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as in cinema and linguistics. There is usually more than one specialist in any given field, which helps to broaden the PhD student’s approach to and understanding of his or her topic. There is a dynamic culture of research seminars, and the postgraduate students themselves run their own seminar and arrange an annual postgraduate conference.

The PhD in French is awarded on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing that reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry within the field of French Studies, broadly defined. The completion of the PhD thesis is generally expected to take three to four years, and most funding is based on this assumption. It is also possible to take a part-time route through research degrees, and the expected timeframe would be five to seven years.

The important notion of "original" can be defined in a number of ways, but basically the thesis should represent a significant contribution to learning, through the discovery of new knowledge, or through the connection of previously unrelated facts, or the development of new theory, or the revision of older views, or some combination of these different criteria. In writing the thesis, you are expected to take due account of previously published work on the subject, and you should ensure that the thesis is clearly and accurately written, paying due account to English style and grammar. The thesis must be written in English, apart from quotations. There is a normal word limit of 80,000 words, including footnotes, references, and appendices, but excluding the bibliography.

During your research, you will work closely with a supervisor who is a specialist in your research area. You will also be assigned an advisor, who will normally have an interest in your research area and who is able to offer advice whenever needed. In addition to providing specialist supervision, the Faculty runs a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of a PhD course, students will have produced a piece of extended original research, of publishable or near publishable quality.

They will have obtained:

• expert knowledge of a particular field of French studies;
• knowledge of the methodology or methodologies appropriate to their field;
• a set of research skills appropriate to their field;
• the ability to produce scholarly writing in English of a sufficiently high standard; and
• an appropriate set of transferable skills, such as work planning and time management.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Advanced Study to PhD, the minimum academic standard is an overall distinction in the MPhil.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Thesis to PhD, the usual academic requirement is a pass in the MPhil.

All applications are judged on their own merits and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral level research.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of french, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024

Funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• European, Latin American and Comparative Literatures and Cultures by Advanced Study MPhil
• European, Latin American and Comparative Literatures and Cultures by thesis MPhil
• English Studies MPhil
• English PhD
• Education (Education, Globalisation and International Development) MPhil

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The College of Arts & Sciences

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• Ph.D. Defenses

Ph.D. defenses in French Linguistics

Ludovic Mompelat To Infinitive and Beyond, or Revisiting Finiteness in Creoles: A Contrastive Study of the Complementation Systems of Martinican and Haitian Creoles (defended November 2023) 

Martin Maillot On Sociolinguistic Variables in Curated Speech: A Study of Stylistic Variation of Liaison, Schwa and Ne among Contemporary French Politicians (defended January 2022)

Laura Demsey "Contact, Shift, and Structural Change in Franco-American New England" (defended December 2021)

Renata Uzzell " English borrowings in Montréal and Saguenay: A sociolinguistic approach to their phonological (non-)adaptation " (defended March 2021)

Alisha Reaves " Discourse Markers in Second-Language French " (defended August 2020)

Kelly Kasper-Cushman " Mapping the functional distribution of human impersonal uses of on, ça, and ils in French " (defended July 2020)

Mark Black " Interlocutor Effects on Sociolinguistic Variation in L2 French " (defended July 2020)

Carly Bahler " Irrealis Mood in a Declining Dialect: The Case of French in Maine's Saint John Valley " (defended August 2019)

Sarah-Kay Hurst “ The Croissant-Bacon Phenomenon: Prototypical vocabulary and cross-cultural implications for the selection of lexical items in pedagogical resources ” (defended May 2018)

Jamie Root " Des fois ça dit des mots en anglais et en français mêlés : On the Variable Morphosyntactic Integrations of English-Origin Lexical Verbs in Louisiana French " (defended April 2018)

Francisco Montaño " An Optimality-Theoretic Split-Margin Analysis of the Evolution of Consonant Clusters in Historical French Phonology " (defended December 2017)

Rodica Frimu " Non-linguistic Cognitive Dimensions of Subject-verb Agreement Error Detection in (L2) French " (defended 2017)

Miguel Angel Marquez Martinez “ The Acquisition of French Nasal Vowels: From L1 Allophony to L2 Phonology " (defended 2016)

Jennifer Betters " Immersion Education in an Endangered Language: A Linguistic Study of the Oral Production of French Immersion Students in Louisiana " (defended 2016)

Kelly Farmer “ Sociopragmatic Variation in Yes/No and WH-Interrogatives in Hexagonal French: A Real-Time Study of French Films from 1930-2009 .” (defended 2015)

Olga Scrivner " A Probabilistic Approach in Historical Linguistics—Word Order Change in Infinitival Clauses: from Latin to Old French " (defended 2015)

B. Devan Steiner " The Evolution of Information Structure and Verb Second in the History of French " (defended 2014)

Krista Williams " The Lexicographic Treatment of Color Terms " (defended 2014)

Michael Dow " Contrast and Markedness Among Nasal(ized) Vowels: A Phonetic-Phonological Study of French and Vimeu Picard " (defended 2014)

Ryan Hendrickson " The Liquid Consonants in Picard " (defended 2014)

Kelly Biers " Gender and Interlocutor Effects in French " (defended 2014)

Jason Siegel " Nou oblije pale mo-to : Code-switching between Haitian and Guianese French Creoles and their lexifier in French Guiana " (defended 2013)

Amandine Lorente-Lapole " Language Design in the Processing of Relative Clauses in French as a Second Language " (defended 2012)

Eric Halicki " Phonology and the Prosodic Hierarchy in Picard ." (defended 2011)

Kate Miller " Processing wh -Dependencies in L2 French: Considerations of Computational Complexity and Ease of Lexical Access ." (defended 2011)

Anne-José Villeneuve " A Sociolinguistic Study of Vimeu French ." (defended 2011)

Amanda Edmonds " On the representation of conventional expressions in L1-English L2-French acquisition ." (defended 2010)

Claire Renaud " On the Nature of Agreement in English-French Acquisition: A Processing Investigation in the Verbal and Nominal Domains ." (defended 2010)

Shannon Halicki " Learner Knowledge of Target Phonotactics: Judgments of French Word Transformations ." (defended 2009)

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FSU | Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics

Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics

Tim lomeli (french phd program) wins prestigious kenyon college’s marilyn yarbrough dissertation / teaching fellowship.

Tim Lomeli (doctoral student in the French program) was selected as the recipient of Kenyon College’s Marilyn Yarbrough Dissertation / Teaching Fellowship. This fellowship is for scholars in the final stages of their doctoral work who need only to finish the dissertation to complete requirements for the Ph.D. It aims to encourage fellows to consider a liberal arts college as a place to begin their careers as teachers and scholars. In the past, fellowships have been awarded in: African and African American studies, American studies, anthropology, art history, Asian and Middle East studies, biology, English, history, math, modern languages and literatures (Spanish), music, religious studies, sociology, gender and sexuality studies. Tim will be living and working for one year at Kenyon College, where he will teach one course per semester while completing his dissertation on Caribbean Literature. Congratulations, Tim, we are proud of your achievements!

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Seven UB researchers elected AAAS fellows

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Published April 19, 2024

Seven UB researchers have been elected fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the world’s largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science.

The honor is bestowed annually upon scientists, engineers and innovators who have been recognized for their achievements across disciplines — from research, teaching and technology, to administration in academia, industry and government, to excellence in communicating and interpreting science to the public, according to AAAS.

The new UB fellows are Sherry Chemler, Jean-Pierre Koenig, Kemper Lewis, Gabriela Popescu, Thomas Russo, Frederick Stoss and Janet Yang.

Sherry Chemler

“For distinguished contributions to synthetic chemistry, including developing new copper-catalyzed alkene additions that enable concise de novo synthesis of enantioenriched saturated nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles.”

Sherry Chemler is a professor in the Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, who has developed groundbreaking chemical methods that can aid drug discovery. In the mid-2000s, she invented new copper-catalyzed alkene additions that enabled concise synthesis of chiral nitrogen and oxygen heterocycles — valuable organic compounds that enable drug discovery. Supported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Chemical Society, Chemler and her team have spent the ensuing years expanding the scope of the transformations. A collaborator with Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, she has several ongoing projects addressing challenges in drug discovery related to potency, selectivity and metabolism. Her publications have been cited more than 8,200 times and she has been an associate editor for the AAAS journal Science Advances since 2016. 

Jean-Pierre Koenig

“For distinguished contributions to the language sciences and for integrating formal syntax and semantics studies of lexical knowledge across languages of the world with experimental, corpus, and computational techniques.”

Jean-Pierre Koenig, professor in the Department of Linguistics, College of Arts and Sciences, studies the organization and use of words in a diverse array of languages, from English to Oneida. His work has focused on verbs, how their structure and meaning vary across languages, as well as how we deploy our vocabulary — especially of words with more than one meaning — when we read. One of his current projects is a comprehensive study of the structure of Oneida, an Iroquoian language, that will challenge the idea that certain properties of language are universal. His work has been published extensively and includes contributions to many language sciences disciplines, including to the “Grande Grammaire du français,” the largest comprehensive grammar of French written in the past 100 years.

Kemper Lewis

“For distinguished contributions to the field of design automation, advancing both fundamental decision theory and novel applications to systems design, design analytics, and Industry 4.0.”

Kemper E. Lewis, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is a global leader in engineering design, system optimization and advanced manufacturing. He is director of UB’s Community of Excellence in Sustainable Manufacturing and Advanced Robotic Technologies (SMART), which develops advanced manufacturing and design automation solutions. Lewis is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and has served on the National Academies Panel on Benchmarking the Research Competitiveness of the United States in Mechanical Engineering. He has published more than 200 refereed journal articles and conference proceedings, and has been principal or co-principal investigator on grants totaling more than $33 million.

Gabriela Popescu

“For distinguished contributions to the field of molecular neuroscience, particularly in elucidating structural and functional aspects of neurotransmission in the central nervous system in health and disease.”

Gabriella K. Popescu, is a professor of biochemistry in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Her research centers around NMDA receptors, which produce electrical currents that are essential for cognition, learning and memory. Her current eight-year research grant from the National Institutes of Health focuses on the excess activation of these receptors, which can cause pathological cellular loss in stroke, brain and spinal cord diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Popescu uses her leadership positions in national organizations to promote diversity and inclusion in academic medicine, as well as public support for the sciences. 

Thomas Russo

“For distinguished contributions to the field of bacterial pathogenesis, and the development of therapeutics, as well as distinguished contributions as an educator of the public, schools, and businesses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Thomas A. Russo, SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School, is an expert in infectious diseases. Russo, who cares for patients at the VA of Western New York, conducts research on gram-negative bacterial infections and antibiotic-resistant infections, and works on developing targeted vaccines and drugs. Russo led the team that discovered the first biomarkers that help identify hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumonaie, a potentially lethal pathogen that can infect healthy individuals. He is also a go-to source for national and global media, sought for his straightforward explanations of complex medical topics. 

Frederick W. Stoss

“For distinguished contributions in science librarianship and related realms, especially to provide scholars, students, and the general public with sound information relating to environmental issues.”

Frederick W. Stoss — and his service to the university, the library profession and the community — have been guided by a deep commitment to education, equity, access, social justice, environmental responsibility and stewardship. His 40-year career in library and information sciences includes prior experience as a research scientist in the areas of toxicology and environmental health. This rich background provided Stoss with extensive and invaluable insights that contributed to the academic success and professional and personal growth of UB faculty, students and staff in the areas of research, teaching and learning.

“For distinguished contributions to the field of science communication by evaluating public risk perceptions of various diseases and environmental hazards and conveying this information to the public and researchers.”

Janet Yang, professor in the Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences, studies how people perceive risks related to science, health and environmental topics. Funded by multiple grants from the National Science Foundation, Yang’s work has revealed that many Americans did not want to get the COVID-19 and mpox vaccines because they viewed the vaccines as not sufficiently researched and therefore carry too much uncertainty, a finding that provides critical insight for vaccination messaging. She and her team have also examined risk perception in relation to climate change and per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pollution. Currently, as part of UB's Initiative for Plastics Recycling Research and Innovation, Yang explores effective communication strategies to encourage New York State residents to recycle, reduce and reuse more effectively.

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Ten presentations and two awards for Queen Mary linguistics at BAAP 2024

QMUL phoneticians at BAAP 2024

A large delegation of Queen Mary staff and students visited Cardiff in late March for the 2024 Colloquium of the British Association of Academic Phoneticians. Presenters from Queen Mary contributed to no fewer than ten presentations at the conference this year. In addition, Keren Rubner and Kathleen McCarthy were awarded the  Eugénie Henderson Prize for their talk on Judeo-English in London, and Madlen Jones was awarded the Cardiff Student Prize  for her presentation of bilingual language acquisition. A full list of Queen Mary talks is provided below:  Madlen Jones and Kathleen McCarthy: The impact of interlocutor context on bilingual children’s productions of stop and lateral consonants  

Adam J. Chong, Jasper H. Sim and Brechtje Post: Ethnicity-related intonational variation in Singapore English child- directed speech

Keren Rubner and Kathleen McCarthy : Phonetic characteristics of Judeo-English in North London

Scott Kunkel : The effects of dialect background and second dialect exposure on the categorical perception of /a ~ ɑ/ in French

Marc Barnard, Scott Kunkel, Rémi Lamarque and Adam Chong : Listening effort across non-native and regional accents: a pupillometry study  

James Turner and Sophie Holmes-Elliott : Sifting through the drifting: exploring speaker agency and awareness in phonetic drift and attrition

Sophie Holmes-Elliott : Phonetic vectors: Testing the role of community variability in the real time incrementation of change

Thomas Packer-Stucki : Unmerging on the isogloss? Apparent time changes in the Black Country BATH-TRAP-PALM system

Andy Gibson, Paul Kerswill, Kathleen McCarthy and Devyani Sharma : Vowel trajectories in MLE across generations of London English

Kathleen McCarthy, Naomi Whittaker, Thomas Packer-Stucki and Outi Tuomainen: The role of accent familiarity in understanding speech in noise by younger and older listeners Queen Mary contributors are marked in bold . 

Simon Fraser University Engaging the World

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three minute thesis

Watch finalist vanja vekic present her three-minute thesis.

Linguistics graduate student Vanja Vekic presented her research "Harry Potter and the Existential There" at the 2024 SFU Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Finals on April 4th. 

Vanja's research aims to unite linguistics, creative writing, and translation by studying the use of English existentials in the Harry Potter series. She also studied the ways that existentals are used in the translations of this series into French, Mandarin, and Serbian.

Check out the video!

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Laying the foundation for today’s generative AI

Christopher Manning , professor of linguistics and of computer science, co-founder of Stanford's Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), and recipient of the 2024 IEEE John von Neumann Medal, remembers the moment he knew he wanted to study language.

“One day in high school English class, I came across one of my teacher’s personal books that dealt with linguistics and the structure of human languages,” he says. “I began reading it, and found out about the International Phonetic Alphabet, which provides a common set of symbols to represent the pronunciation of sounds in any language. At the time, I’d spent many hours learning the spelling of English words – many of which were arbitrary and strange – for spelling tests, and I’d also studied some French and Latin. This was the first thing I saw that captured a guiding idea of linguistics, that there is something useful to be achieved by studying human languages in general and trying to produce a common science across all human languages. It was the reason I first began studying linguistics as an undergrad.”

Four decades later, Manning’s ongoing fascination with human language – and his pioneering efforts to help computers learn, understand, and generate that language – have made him a renowned and ground-breaking figure in the fields of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning.

“I would call Chris an enormously influential figure – possibly the single most influential figure – in natural language processing,” says Dan Jurafsky , Stanford professor of linguistics and of computer science. “He’s by far the most cited person in the field, and his decades of research have influenced everything, including our most recent models. Every academic in natural language processing knows his work.”

Envisioning a machine learning shift

Manning was born in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, where his father worked maintaining, designing, and building machinery at the Fairymead Sugar Plantation. By the time Manning was in high school, the family had relocated to the national capital of Canberra, where he got his first computers – first the loan of a TRS-80 and, eventually, a Commodore Amiga. In the mid-80s, as an undergraduate studying linguistics, computer science, and math at the Australian National University (ANU), Manning was already excited about the intersection of those fields, and becoming convinced that the early NLP era of handwritten lexicons and grammar rules was coming to a close.

“I was beginning to believe, as I have ever since, that what we needed to be doing was to find a way to get computers to learn things, so that rather than handwrite out grammars and rules and lexicons for them, we get them to learn from language data,” he says. “Eventually it seemed like I should try to learn more about this computational linguistics/natural language processing stuff, and at that time, the U.S. was the place to go.”

Learning by doing

After a short stint teaching English in Japan, Manning took the advice of ANU linguistics mentor Avery Andrews, who suggested applying to Stanford, even though the university didn’t offer a program in natural language processing at that time. To get around that, Manning enrolled as a PhD student in linguistics – studying human language syntax – and began simultaneously working at nearby Xerox PARC, where he learned about computational linguistics and worked alongside a group of researchers who were beginning to do statistical NLP using digital text, which was just starting to become available.

“This was before the World Wide Web, but you started to be able to get things like newspaper articles, parliamentary proceedings, and legal materials, where you could find a couple million words of text,” Manning says. “Computer centers would write this sort of data onto 10.5-inch tapes, which would then be physically shipped to their customers. Companies working on computational linguistics, like Xerox, IBM, and AT&T, could purchase these tapes from news organizations, for example, or get access to them from their business clients who let them use the data. It was really exciting, because it meant that for the first time, we could start to do linguistics by actually having large amounts of text data we could search for patterns to try and learn automatically what the structure of human language was.”

During this time, Manning was also intrigued by – and saw the potential of – new work that had begun in the late 1980s on probabilistic machine learning models. Essential components in today’s machine learning, these statistical models take into consideration the inherent uncertainty in real world data, and incorporate it into their predictions, allowing for a more accurate understanding of complex systems.

“I think the key to my success overall has been a willingness to quickly get into major new approaches that I believed were going to be successful,” he says. “I wasn’t the first person to see the potential of learning from lots of text data and building these probabilistic models of language, but I was involved early in my career, and I think that helped get me to where I am today.”

Critical early work

Following his PhD, Manning became the first faculty member to teach statistical NLP at Carnegie Mellon University, before opting after two years to return to Australia with his wife, Jane, to teach linguistics at the University of Sydney. By 1999, however, he was back at Stanford as an assistant professor with a joint appointment in linguistics and computer science. By 2010, artificial neural networks – which had been actively explored in the mid-1980s – were again rising to prominence, and Manning again embraced the promise of a new technology.

“I advocated strongly for the idea that we could use these neural networks in natural language processing to understand sentences, their structure, and their meaning,” he says. “My students and I really pushed for that, and that ended up being key in the development and use of these neural networks for natural language understanding."

“We started working seriously with these networks to model language and began building systems that could solve language understanding problems, such as determining whether what someone was saying was positive or negative,” Manning says. “I ended up doing quite a lot of the early work on using neural network approaches for learning human languages, which involved getting these models to understand, produce, and translate language.”

Manning’s 2010s work on representing words as vectors of real numbers and modeling relationships between words with a simple attention function led to the type of large language models that are in use today, like ChatGPT. His contributions are immense, says Percy Liang , Stanford professor of computer science.

“Today it’s obvious that we should be using deep learning in NLP, but there was fierce resistance to the idea in the early 2010s,” says Liang. “Chris did important early work showing that deep learning could work better than previous machine learning models which required a lot of feature engineering. This eventually led to the development of the modern NLP systems that we take for granted today. Chris had the foresight to think about how it would eventually be transformative.”

Creating accessible NLP software

Manning’s other significant contributions to date include a series of textbooks that helped define the field of computational linguistics; the online CS224N video course on YouTube ; a framework to provide consistent annotation of grammar across different languages called Universal Dependencies ; ongoing and essential research to understand the role of linguistic structure in language processing; and an early commitment to make NLP software accessible to all.

“Now it’s common for someone to simply go to the web, download a piece of software, and build a neural network,” Jurafsky says. “That wasn’t the norm 20 or 30 years ago. Chris and his lab were building publicly accessible libraries of NLP software and putting that online decades before everybody else, and consistently pushing for that to be the way of the world. Today the idea of open-source NLP software is the norm.”

For now, says Manning, he will continue working to create deep learning models that have a richer understanding of both the world and its many languages.

“For me, human language is an amazing thing that we still don’t really understand,” he says. “It’s astounding that babies somehow figure it out, and that little kids eventually learn to be good language users from maybe 50 million words of human language, while we show the best large language models trillions of words. Somehow, humans are still smarter. It’s a fascinating question and building computer models seems like a productive window into starting to think about that.”

Related : Christopher Manning , professor of machine learning, linguistics, and of computer science

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Join Us for Student Award Ceremony and Dedication of the Chin-Woo Kim Phonetics Laboratory

We cordially invite you to join the the Linguistics Student Award and Graduate Recognition Ceremony and the Chin-Woo Kim Phonetics Laboratory Naming and Dedication Ceremony that will take place in Lucy Ellis Lounge on Wednesday, May 1, 4pm - 6pm.

Join us in celebration of an excellent year's work from our wonderful students and to look ahead to the exciting new future of the Chin-Woo Kim Phonetics Laboratory!