French and Italian

The aim of the Department of French and Italian is to train students to become effective teachers and scholars of French language and literature. (The department does not offer a graduate program in Italian; it does, however, teach graduate-level courses in Italian literature for suitably qualified students in this and other departments.) Instruction and supervision are so arranged as to ensure that students acquire a broad understanding of the whole field of French studies as well as a specialized grasp of its sub-fields, and are well-prepared to develop independently as scholars.

The program combines courses (or seminars) with independent study and research, and is punctuated by periodic examinations. It is hoped that students will proceed to the defense of the dissertation at the end of the fifth year.

Courses:

The first two years are primarily devoted to taking courses (normally, a total of 12, distributed as broadly as possible), satisfying language requirements, and preparing and taking the general examination. At the end of the second year, students are expected to choose a field of concentration in which to specialize.

Fields of Concentration

As early as the end of the second term, but no later than the end of the fourth, students select a field of concentration from among those listed below. A program of study is established in consultation with the director of graduate studies. The fields are:

1. The Middle Ages and the Renaissance
2. The Ancien Régime (Classicism and Enlightenment)
3. The Revolution to the Present

The department expects students to enroll in some courses or seminars in each of the fields. Normally, by the end of their fifth term of study, students should have taken a total of 15 courses or seminars.  In their third year, students will continue to take a limited number of courses as they prepare their special field examination and then present their dissertation proposal. 

Language(s):

Students must demonstrate an acceptable level of proficiency in two modern languages other than French and English or in one other modern language and Latin, normally before the end of the second year. Students are urged, however, to fulfill these requirements in the first year of residence. All language requirements must be satisfied in order for the student to be authorized to take the general examination.

Pre-Generals Requirements(s):

Oral Presentation

The oral presentation, required of all first-year students at the end of the first term, consists of a brief critical reading of a literary text in French, followed by questioning related to the text. Students are allowed a choice from three texts. The presentation is given in French. Answers are to be given in the language in which they are asked.

General Exam:

The purpose of the examination is to test students’ knowledge and capacity to conduct research across the six periods taught in the department: Middle Ages, Renaissance, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th-21st centuries, as well as “Francophonie.”

Generals I

Students will study a common list of about 50 literary works, selected from the periods taught in the department and reflecting a broad range of genres. The list will include a selection of key theoretical works. A written exam will test students’ familiarity with the material. It will take place at the end of the third semester, during the January Reading Period of the second year, over a period of five days, and will take the form of two essay questions.  These essays must not exceed 2,500 words each; one must be written in French, the other in English. The exam will be graded by the department’s Graduate Studies Committee.

Generals II

In consultation with the director of graduate studies (DGS) and with the assistance of faculty in the relevant fields, students will formulate an individual topic and develop an accompanying reading list that will form the basis of the examination. The topic is broadly conceived and could center on a specific author, period, genre, problem, or movement. The reading list, featuring approximately 70 items, should be divided into three components: (i) primary literary works; (ii) relevant scholarship providing context (historical, literary, or cultural); and (iii) theoretical apparatus (literary theory, critical theory, philosophy…).  A statement accompanying the list (1-2 pages) should describe the topic, justify the corpus selected, and articulate the importance of the contextual and theoretical frames for approaching the primary list. The written exam, usually taken at the beginning of the fifth semester (early in the fall of the third year), extends over a period of five days, during which the student will answer two questions (one in French, one in English, not to exceed 2,500 words each) bringing the context and theory to bear on the primary list. The oral examination will usually take place two days after the submission of the written part, and will consist of a discussion pertaining to the written exam that may be extended to the rest of the list. The exam will be graded by a committee composed of faculty members chosen by the student in consultation with the DGS.

Qualifying for the M.A.:

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is normally an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully passes the first-year oral presentation and Generals I and II and meets course work and language requirements.  It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program, provided that these requirements have been met.

Teaching:

As a matter of policy, the department requires its graduate students to gain experience in undergraduate teaching. Most students are appointed as part-time teaching assistants each year they are in residence. In the spring of their first year, students are trained to teach the French language; in the fall of their second year, they teach one language course. In the third, fourth, and fifth years, they normally teach one course per semester, although schedules vary depending on student or departmental needs and on fellowships that provide relief from teaching duties. Normally, students do not teach during their first term of residence or in their fourth term, when they are preparing for the general examination. Opportunities to teach in literature courses sometimes arise. This teaching is guided and supervised by a faculty member who confers with the student and reports to the department chair on his or her classroom performance.

Dissertation and FPO:

The third through fifth years are devoted to the conceptualization and writing of the dissertation. It is not uncommon for students to spend the fourth year conducting research abroad, for example in Paris where we have guaranteed studentships at the Ecole Normale Supérieure. The dissertation is in the chosen field. Students may, however, choose to bridge fields in selecting a dissertation topic.

Oral Examination on the Dissertation Proposal

Taken no later than February of the third year, the oral examination on the dissertation proposal consists of a 60-minute exercise comprising (1) a 20-minute presentation in French of the student’s dissertation proposal and (2) comprehensive questioning dealing with the implications of the proposal and the student’s general program of study. The questions focus on matters such as literary history and bibliography as well as on critical methods. In order to be admitted to this oral examination, students are required to submit, no later than one week prior to the exercise, a written text of the proposal outlining the issues they propose to explore, the methods of analysis they propose to adopt, and the bibliography of the topic. Students may not sustain the oral examination on the dissertation proposal until they have successfully passed the special field examination. The faculty will make suggestions concerning the proposal, and can approve it, recommend that it be revised and resubmitted, or, in accordance with University regulations, recommend that the candidate be awarded a terminal master’s degree.

In the event of failure to sustain the oral examination, students may present themselves on one further occasion, within a time period determined by the director of graduate studies. Departmental recommendation of graduate students for a fourth year of study is contingent on their having sustained the oral examination on the dissertation proposal.

Especially well-qualified students who have completed the language prerequisites may, upon successful application to the department’s Committee on Graduate Studies, be authorized to present themselves early for the general examination and the oral examination on the dissertation proposal.

Final Public Oral Examination

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the final public oral examination sustained.

• Application Fee: $90
• Application Requirements: 
• Statement of Academic Purpose
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Recommendation Letters
• Transcripts
• Fall Semester Grades
• Prerequisite Tests
• English Language Tests
• GRE : General test

Additional Departmental Requirements: 

• Sample of written work including material in French.

For Ph.D. candidates, tuition and fees during a student’s regular period of enrollment are provided in full from a student’s graduate student financial support, in the form of tuition support from fellowships, assistantships, or external sources.

The annual stipend amount provided to Ph.D. candidates during their regular enrollment is intended to support a single graduate student based on estimated costs. Master’s students or students with spouses and/or dependents may require additional resources to support their living expenses 

The French and Italian Studies program at Princeton University offers students an in-depth immersion into the language, literature, and culture of France and Italy, fostering both linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding. The curriculum is designed to develop advanced language skills through rigorous coursework, including language proficiency classes, literary analysis, and cultural studies. Students engage with a diverse array of texts, from classical literature to contemporary works, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of each country's artistic and intellectual heritage. The program emphasizes critical thinking, cultural awareness, and linguistic mastery, preparing students for careers in diplomacy, international business, education, or further academic pursuits.

In addition to language coursework, students have the opportunity to study history, film, music, and art related to France and Italy, enriching their cultural knowledge. The program encourages study abroad experiences, where students can immerse themselves in the local culture, enhance their language skills, and gain firsthand insights into societal practices and contemporary issues. These international exchanges often include summer programs, semester exchanges, or year-long studies in Paris, Rome, or other regions.

Princeton also offers undergraduate research opportunities, language practicums, and participation in cultural clubs and events that facilitate interaction with native speakers and promote cultural exchange. The faculty comprises experts in French and Italian literature, linguistics, and cultural studies, providing mentorship and fostering a scholarly community. By the completion of the program, students typically aim to achieve near-native proficiency, an extensive understanding of the cultural context, and the skills to analyze texts critically.

Alumni of the program have gone on to diverse careers, including academia, international organizations, journalism, arts and media, and government service. The program’s interdisciplinary approach ensures students develop a global perspective, linguistic agility, and a deep appreciation of French and Italian cultures. With a balance of language training, cultural electives, and research opportunities, the French and Italian Studies program at Princeton prepares students for the interconnected world and complex cultural landscape of the 21st century.