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A wide range of specializations is available both in language and literature, with possibilities for a minor in a variety of related fields, including Second Language Acquisition and Women's Studies. Students may be admitted to the Ph.D. program without completing the requirements for the M.A. at the discretion of the Graduate Admissions Committee.

All entering students must demonstrate oral and written competence in French. A candidate who does not have an adequate command of the language according the the judgment of the Graduate Admissions Committee will be asked to do remedial work.

By the end of the second semester of course work, the Ph.D. student will select a supervisory committee chair who will help constitute a supervisory committee. This committee will guide the student towards the completion of the degree.

Before admission to the qualifying examination, the candidate must demonstrate functional knowledge of a second Romance language or of another foreign language deemed appropriate to the chosen scholarly specialization. In the latter case, the language must be approved by the student's supervisory committee. Functional minimum is indicated by a grade of B or better in a course at the 3000-level or proven proficiency at that level. The supervisory committee may require reading knowledge of a third foreign language if such knowledge is judged appropriate for the candidate's research.

Every Ph.D. candidate will have the opportunity to gain teaching experience through participation in an internship program. The Department seeks to give all candidates further instructional experience through teaching assistantships, the award of which depends on available funds. Students may also serve as research assistants to the graduate research professor in French. Funds are available on a competitive basis for participation in national scholarly meetings.

Current Ph.D. candidates include: Lia Zarekian, Hongli Fan, David Billa, David and Barbara Petrosky, Daničle Buchler, Dana Martin, Sophie Ganachaud, and Giovanna Summerfield.

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