Major in French Literature
This major involves a broad exploration of the literature, language, and thought of the French-speaking world, from the Middle Ages to the present day. With a history stretching back around 70 years, and highly skilled teaching staff with doctoral degrees from France, the program aims to develop researchers and teachers with global perspectives and practical skills through presentations, the writing of research papers, and study abroad.
Overview
The Major in French Literature established its master’s program in 1951 and its doctoral program in 1953. As such, it already boasts a history and tradition of about 70 years. The major’s intake comes not only from graduates of Keio University’s Faculty of Letters, but also from correspondence course graduates and graduates of other universities. In some cases, after completing undergraduate studies and finding employment, students return to graduate school after a certain number of years.
The major always has around eight faculty members teaching classes and supervising dissertations, with all Japanese faculty members holding doctoral degrees from France. Faculty members specialize in a wide range of fields, particularly literature and linguistics, and are well prepared to accommodate graduate students’ wide-ranging interests and needs. In addition, in order for students to develop the practical French language skills necessary for their research activities and study abroad, thorough oral presentation training and writing instruction are provided by visiting French faculty members.
The curriculum of the master’s program includes courses dealing with literature and thought from a wide range of different periods, as well as courses in linguistics and practical French language skills. By taking all the required courses and acquiring advanced language skills, graduate students are given guidance to broaden their horizons as researchers. The results of students’ learning and research over the course of the master’s program culminate in a master’s thesis.
Students on the doctoral program are engaged in highly original research activities based on clear research topics and methodologies, with the ultimate goal of writing and submitting a doctoral dissertation and obtaining a doctoral degree. In accordance with the “Regulations Concerning Application and Examination of Dissertations for Doctoral Degrees” established within the major, the academic advisor will be responsible for providing guidance until the doctoral dissertation is completed.
Every year in the fall, a research presentation meeting is held, at which master’s program students present their ideas for master’s theses and doctoral program students report on the progress of their research. In addition, a peer-reviewed collection of papers is published once a year as a platform for presenting research results. The editing of this collection is performed by graduate students enrolled on the doctoral program, providing an excellent opportunity for them to experience a variety of academic tasks.
Due to the nature of the academic fields that the major deals with, students are actively encouraged to pursue study abroad. So far, students have been sent to ENS (École Normale Supérieure), Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, Université Côte d’Azur, Université Toulouse Capitole, and other institutions through the university’s exchange student program. In addition, many of the major’s graduate students have passed the French Government Scholarship Examination.
The major’s graduates are engaged in education and research at various universities, including Keio University itself. Some become high school teachers, while others work in private corporations or public institutions. There are also who become novelists, poets, and critics, writing in literary and poetic circles in the tradition of the so-called Mita School.