OVERVIEW|
The
graduate program is structured to avoid the dangers of premature
specialization, by encouraging both broad and precise knowledge
of the field of French literature and of the critical and theoretical
discourses that have helped to define the discipline. The student
of recent literature should be aware of the long, continually evolving
traditions of France and the Francophone world, just as the student
of earlier periods should be acquainted with the literary, critical,
and theoretical trends of our day. Courses and seminars seek to
provide broad and detailed familiarity with major periods and authors.
The studentís field of study need not be bounded by the history
of one national literature, however. The graduate plan encourages
students to define the field flexibly and broadly, in relation to
such disciplines as linguistics and semiotics, philosophy, anthropology,
visual studies, history of art or music, medieval studies, psychology
or psychoanalysis, and the study of classical literatures or other
modern national literatures. The student's field of study
is defined by consultation with the Special Committee rather than
by a set of general requirements.
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THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE AND MINOR SUBJECT|
Each
doctoral student chooses, by the end of the first year, a three-member
Special Committee consisting of a chair and two other faculty members.
The chair must be a member of the Romance Studies Graduate Field,
but need not be a member of the department. Students should feel
free to reconstitute their committee as their interests evolve and
develop. It is the studentís responsibility to convene the
members of the Special Committee at least once a year to discuss
courses, preparation of exams, and the general direction of his
or her academic program.
According to Graduate School regulations, at least one member of
the Special Committee must represent an area of concentration other
than that of the studentís major. Most doctoral students
choose only one minor, although Graduate School regulations allow
the election of two, in which case two of the committee members
represent areas of concentration other than French literature. Normally,
the chair and one other member of the committee represent the major
subject.
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COURSEWORK AND SECOND FORIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT|
Students
entering the program without an M.A. normally take a total of sixteen
courses over a three year period. There are no specific course requirements,
although students are required to take a total of three courses
in each of three historical areas: Medieval/Renaissance, 17th/18th
centuries, and 19th/20th centuries. The remaining courses are electives
to be chosen at the student's discretion, in consultation
with his or her advisor. Students who have taken graduate courses
at another institution prior to coming to Cornell are generally
allowed to count those courses toward the requirement.
The student must also demonstrate or acquire proficiency in a second
foreign language (one that complements the student's course
of study) prior to taking the "A" exam. Proficiency
can be demonstrated through coursework or by written examination.
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"Q" EXAM|
The
purpose of the "Q" exam is to evaluate the quality of
the studentís written work and skill at detailed textual
analysis. After completing the first year of the program (or the
first semester, for students entering with an M.A.), the student
selects from among the seminar papers he or she has written the
essay that best reflects his or her scholarly interests and abilities.
The student will then discuss the paper with the chair of the graduate
committee (as well as the faculty member for whom it was written)
in order to determine how the paper might best be revised and reworked
to develop its argument and scholarly apparatus. These revisions
will normally be undertaken during the summer after the first year
of graduate study, during which time the student is encouraged to
solicit feedback on the essay from members of the faculty. No later
than the third semester in the program (or second semester, for
students entering with an M.A.), the student submits the final version
of the essay to the members of the committee and schedule a one
hour exam. During the exam, the committee members will ask questions
about the paper, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and discuss
possible directions the student's work might take in the
future. If the committee is satisfied with the quality of the studentís
work, he or she can begin preparing for the "A" exam.
But if the committee finds that the paper does not meet the standard
for graduate work, the student may be asked to further revise the
paper or, if the work is especially poor, advised to seek a terminal
M.A. degree rather than continue in the doctoral program.
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"A" EXAM|
Prior to taking the "A" exam, the student must complete
all required coursework (and outstanding incompletes) and fulfill
the second foreign language requirement.
In consultation with the members of the Special Committee (including
one member from the student's minor field), the student devises
three different exam topics, each with its own problematic and reading
list. Students are free to compose lists based on their interests;
however, the reading list as a whole must demonstrate both historical
breadth and attention to different genres. Although the exact number
of texts on each list may vary widely, according to the nature of
the problematic and the difficulty or complexity of the works read,
each topic will include a substantial list of primary works (which
may include literary or historical texts, works of criticism, theory,
or philosophy, or films or other media) in addition to relevant
secondary criticism. The objective of the "A" exam
is to test the studentís knowledge of the scope and genealogy
of each problem, and his or her conceptual understanding ofóand
skill at readingóthe selected texts. It is expected that
at least one of these topics will represent a preliminary exploration
of the studentís dissertation topic.
About a month prior to the beginning of the examination period,
the student will distribute to the committee a final reading list
for each topic, preceded by a brief (1/2-1 page) description of
the problematic for that topic and some of the questions or problems
the student proposes to explore. In general, one committee member
is responsible for each topic; however, the student and the committee
may decide to apportion this responsibility differently depending
on the circumstances.
The exam has two components: three timed essay examinations (one
on each topic) and an oral examination (lasting no more than two
hours) to discuss the results of the written exams. Although the
schedule for the written exams may be determined by the student
in consultation with the committee, all three exams must be completed
within a two week period. Each exam period lasts 24 hours, beginning
at the time the student picks up the question.
The exam can have one of three outcomes: pass, fail, or conditional
pass. In the case of a conditional pass, the student may be asked
to do some additional work to satisfy the committeeís concerns.
In the case of a fail, the student may be asked to re-take the exam
at a later time, or, if the quality of the work is especially poor,
advised to seek a terminal M.A.
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DISSERTATION PROSPECTUS|
Within three months of completing the "A" exam, the student
will submit to the committee a brief (7-15 page) prospectus of the
dissertation, outlining the problems or questions he or she proposes
to explore in the dissertation, how they will be approached, and
a preliminary outline of the contents of individual chapters. If
approved, a copy of the prospectus will be filed with the department.
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"B" EXAM|
The "B" exam is the oral defense of the dissertation,
and allows for a serious discussion of the student's work
with the members of the Special Committee, each of whom normally
prepares a brief written judgment and critique of the dissertation
in addition to asking oral questions and engaging the candidate
in discussion of his or her work.
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