M.A. Degree Program

The Department offers an M.A. in French with options in French Literature and in North American French studies. Candidates for the M.A. degree are generally teachers who have a strong interest in literature and culture or individuals whose goals may include doctoral studies in French or in North American French language and culture.

M.A. candidates are required to earn a minimum of 30 credits. Course selection will ordinarily be made from the list that can be found in the Course Descriptions section of this catalog. An M.A. candidate will select courses based on his or her needs and interests, but it is generally expected that his or her studies will include one course in language, one in linguistics, one in literary theory, and four in literature, three of which will be at the 500 level. A student’s program of study may include courses in other departments when these are closely related to his or her field of interest. A thesis, which normally carries six hours of credit, is required of candidates for the M.A. degree. Upon completion of the thesis, the candidate takes an oral examination bearing on the thesis topic, course work, and additional areas that appear on the M.A. reading list. The candidate is expected to demonstrate both oral and written proficiency in French in the course of his or her studies. Individuals interested in the M.A. in French should consult with the chairperson of the graduate committee of the Department of Modern Languages and Classics for specific information on admission and graduation requirements.

M.A.T. Degree Program

The Department also offers a program of study leading to the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching (French) for which no thesis is required. The Degree of Master of Arts in Teaching is intended to further the professional education of current language teachers or to prepare students of foreign languages for careers in teaching, primarily at the secondary school level. The M.A.T is not considered a research degree and does not prepare students specifically for doctoral work.

The degree of Master of Arts in Teaching requires completion of a minimum of 33 credit hours, including 6 credits in education or foreign language pedagogy. In addition, the candidate must complete 12 hours of 500-level courses in the Department of Modern Languages and Classics, 9 of which must be in literature; at least 9 hours of 400 or 500-level language courses such as grammar, stylistics, or translation; one course in either linguistics, methods of research, or literary criticism; and one course in civilization. Additional coursework may be elected by the student with the concurrence of his or her advisory committee. The Department has an established course rotation and graduate students should check with the chairperson of the graduate committee to determine when specific courses will be offered.

Every effort is made to offer courses during the summer. However, summer courses are contingent upon enrollments. Students should consult with their advisors to plan their program of study and to explore course options. They may be able to select independent projects with a faculty member during the summer or the academic year. Credits earned at other institutions may be transferred to the UMaine graduate program in accordance with the policies and regulations of the Graduate School. Courses taken abroad may meet degree requirements provided they have been approved by the Graduate School and the Department before the student registers for study abroad.

Written and oral examinations will cover both personal course work and the M.A.T. reading program chosen by the candidate. The latter offers multiple options, ranging from an emphasis on literature to a focus on language, civilization, and pedagogy. The candidate will be expected to demonstrate both oral and written proficiency in French both as a part of his or her program of study and within the examination process.

Graduate Faculty

Eugene F. DelVecchio, Ph.D. (Washington, 1979), Professor and Department Chair. 19th and early 20th century Spanish literature. Comparative literature. Literary and genre criticism.

Cathleen M. Bauschatz, Ph.D. (Columbia, 1973), Professor. French Renaissance. French Medieval. Critical theory. French women writers. French civilization.

Nancy Bouzrara, Ph.D. (University of Michigan, 1992), Assistant Professor. French Renaissance literature. French women writers. (at USM)

Gisela Hoecherl-Alden, Ph.D. (Wisconsin, 1996), Assistant Professor. 19th and 20th century German literature. Film. Exile studies. Second language acquisiton.

Sue Huseman, Ph.D. (Illinois, 1979), Professor. Comparative literature. 19th century French literature. French language and culture (at UMM).

Madelon Kohler, Busch, Ph.D. (Wisconsin, 2004), Assistant Professor. German. 

Kathleen N. March, Ph.D. (SUNY at Buffalo, 1979), Professor. Contemporary Hispanic literature. Literature and society. Peninsular and Latin-American narrative and poetry.

Kristina Passman, Ph.D. (Iowa, 1982), Associate Professor. Mythology. Latin literature. Women in the Ancient World. Greek.

Raymond J. Pelletier, Ph.D. (Massachusetts- Amherst, 1977), Associate Professor and Chairpersonn of the Graduate Committee. 18th century French literature. Foreign language pedagogy. Franco-American literature and culture. Bilingualism and bilingual education.

Susan Pinette, Ph.D. (University of California, Irvine, 1999), Assistant Professor and Director, Franco-American Studies. Francophone literature. Eighteenth Century French literature.

Kathryn E. Slott, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania, 1980), Associate Professor. 19th and 20th Century poetry. 19th Century novel. 20th Century theatre. Poetics. Québec Literature.

Jane S. Smith, Ph.D. (University of Washington, 1994), Assistant Professor. French Linguistics. Morphology. French Regional Dialects.

James Troiano, Ph.D. (Suny at Buffalo, 1973), Professor. Contemporary Latin-American theatre and short story.

Associate Faculty

Bertille Beaulieu, Ph.D. (Laval), Professor, Université de Moncton à Edmunston. The Acadian Novel.

Raoul Boudreau, Ph.D.(Laval, 1987), Professor, Université de Moncton. Acadian language and literature.

Jane M. Moss. Ph.D. (Yale, 1976), Professor, Colby College. Québec literature and women’s studies.

Claude Poirier, Ph.D. (Strasbourg. 1975), Professor, Université Laval. North American French linguistics.

Richard C. Williamson, Ph.D. (Indiana, 1975), Professor, Bates College. 19th and 20th Century French literature. Foreign language methodology, Québec literature.

Raoul Boudreau, Ph.D.(Laval, 1987), Professor, Université de Moncton. Acadian language and literature.

Jane M. Moss. Ph.D. (Yale, 1976), Professor, Colby College. Québec literature and women’s studies.

Claude Poirier, Ph.D. (Strasbourg. 1975), Professor, Université Laval. North American French linguistics.

Richard C. Williamson, Ph.D. (Indiana, 1975), Professor, Bates College. 19th and 20th Century French literature. Foreign language methodology, Québec literature.

Cathleen M. Bauschatz, Ph.D. (Columbia, 1973), Professor. French Renaissance. French Medieval. Critical theory. French women writers. French civilization.

Nancy Bouzrara, Ph.D. (University of Michigan, 1992), Assistant Professor. French Renaissance literature. French women writers. (at USM)

Gisela Hoecherl-Alden, Ph.D. (Wisconsin, 1996), Assistant Professor. 19th and 20th century German literature. Film. Exile studies. Second language acquisiton.

Sue Huseman, Ph.D. (Illinois, 1979), Professor. Comparative literature. 19th century French literature. French language and culture (at UMM).

Madelon Kohler, Busch, Ph.D. (Wisconsin, 2004), Assistant Professor. German. 

Kathleen N. March, Ph.D. (SUNY at Buffalo, 1979), Professor. Contemporary Hispanic literature. Literature and society. Peninsular and Latin-American narrative and poetry.

Kristina Passman, Ph.D. (Iowa, 1982), Associate Professor. Mythology. Latin literature. Women in the Ancient World. Greek.

Raymond J. Pelletier, Ph.D. (Massachusetts- Amherst, 1977), Associate Professor and Chairpersonn of the Graduate Committee. 18th century French literature. Foreign language pedagogy. Franco-American literature and culture. Bilingualism and bilingual education.

Susan Pinette, Ph.D. (University of California, Irvine, 1999), Assistant Professor and Director, Franco-American Studies. Francophone literature. Eighteenth Century French literature.

Kathryn E. Slott, Ph.D. (Pennsylvania, 1980), Associate Professor. 19th and 20th Century poetry. 19th Century novel. 20th Century theatre. Poetics. Québec Literature.

Jane S. Smith, Ph.D. (University of Washington, 1994), Assistant Professor. French Linguistics. Morphology. French Regional Dialects.

James Troiano, Ph.D. (Suny at Buffalo, 1973), Professor. Contemporary Latin-American theatre and short story.

Associate Faculty

Bertille Beaulieu, Ph.D. (Laval), Professor, Université de Moncton à Edmunston. The Acadian Novel.

Raoul Boudreau, Ph.D.(Laval, 1987), Professor, Université de Moncton. Acadian language and literature.

Jane M. Moss. Ph.D. (Yale, 1976), Professor, Colby College. Québec literature and women’s studies.

Claude Poirier, Ph.D. (Strasbourg. 1975), Professor, Université Laval. North American French linguistics.

Richard C. Williamson, Ph.D. (Indiana, 1975), Professor, Bates College. 19th and 20th Century French literature. Foreign language methodology, Québec literature.

Raoul Boudreau, Ph.D.(Laval, 1987), Professor, Université de Moncton. Acadian language and literature.

Jane M. Moss. Ph.D. (Yale, 1976), Professor, Colby College. Québec literature and women’s studies.

Claude Poirier, Ph.D. (Strasbourg. 1975), Professor, Université Laval. North American French linguistics.

Richard C. Williamson, Ph.D. (Indiana, 1975), Professor, Bates College. 19th and 20th Century French literature. Foreign language methodology, Québec literature.