Graduate Studies Overview
The Department of French and Francophone Studies provides an innovative and supportive environment where faculty members are dedicated to the intellectual and professional development of our graduate students. This overview provides a starting point for learning more about our program and why we believe that you will find graduate study at Penn State to be an exciting and rewarding experience.
Climate
With only about 30 graduate students in residence and 17 full time faculty members, each student receives individual attention and mentoring from our committed and accessible faculty and staff. Graduate students are invited to participate in all aspects of departmental and university life.
Funding
Because our program is selective, we are able provide all our students with financial support and full tuition grants.
Intellectual range
Our program is unique in offering long-established Ph.D. specializations
in Civilization, Linguistics, and Literature with faculty expertise
spread equally across each area. Our faculty represents especially
strong concentrations in 19th- and 20th-century Civilization and
Literature, Medieval and Early Modern Literature, and Applied
and Theoretical Linguistics.
Cross-disciplinarity
Students are encouraged to take courses in disciplines related to their interests and to benefit from the interaction with faculty and students from fields such as Arts and Architecture, English, Geography, History, Linguistics, Philosophy, Psychology, and Women's Studies.
Teaching Experience
All of our students are well trained in foreign language teaching methodologies and in teaching with technology. In addition, our students gain invaluable teaching experience in content and general education courses, giving them a tremendous advantage on the job market.
Teaching Abroad
We have three year-long graduate exchange programs with universities in France: Université Marc Bloch - Strasbourg II, Université Lumière - Lyon II, and Université Paul Valéry - Montpellier III.
Research Support
Grants to support conference travel and dissertation research are available on a competitive basis. Every student is eligible for a semester off from teaching when writing the dissertation. In addition, we actively encourage our students to apply for external grants and we provide assistance with these applications.
Placement
We are extremely proud of our graduates. Fourteen
of our sixteen Ph.D.s awarded in the last three years have assumed
faculty positions in colleges or universities, including the University
of Southern Mississippi, University of Kansas, University of Central
Michigan, University of North Texas, Bowling Green University,
James Madison University, Stockton University, Susquehanna University,
Wabash College, Lycoming College, and Loch Haven University.
Contact Us
For more information related to the program and your
opportunities at Penn State, contact Jean-Claude Vuillemin, (jcv1@psu.edu),
Director of Graduate Studies.
For more information related to the application process or inquires about your application, contact Carol Toscano (clt4@psu.edu), graduate staff assistant. |
