The Joint Degree in French Studies and Journalism is a unique program that enables M.A. students to explore French Studies at the IFS while gaining professional journalism training at the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute’s Global & Joint Program. All aspects of the M.A. program in French Studies apply to this joint program as well, except that the latter is a two-year program and students divide their time between the IFS and the Carter Journalism Institute (see a sample program of study below). In their second year, students complete an M.A. project in the form of a professional piece of journalistic work focusing on a French subject.
Each year, a small group of students works toward a joint M.A. degree in journalism alongside a specific area studies program, known informally as “GloJo/French Studies” (Global and Joint Program Studies). Through the program, students can deepen their knowledge of the cultures, histories, and politics of Francophone societies, jump-starting careers in journalism and any number of related fields.
On the Journalism side, the focus is intensive preparation in research, reporting, and writing along with professional-level advancement in the use of multimedia techniques and tools. We strongly encourage prospective students to visit the GloJo website.
On the French Studies side of the degree, students are exposed to multiple disciplinary lenses: history, sociology, political science, anthropology, cultural analysis, and more. They explore the imperial nation and post-colonial situations, welfare and discrimination, memory and forgetting, gender and race, religion and secularism, and other questions that play out in singular ways in the Francophone world.
The degree requires the successful completion of six courses at the IFS, a comprehensive examination in French Studies, and an M.A. project in the form of a professional piece of journalistic work focusing on a French subject.
Courses
The coursework at the Institute of French Studies is done in small seminars taught by leading scholars from the U.S. and the French-speaking world. NYU’s faculty includes experts on France and Europe, Africa and the Maghreb, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Each year, we also welcome four visiting professors from France. Half of the course offerings are in French, and students perfect their oral and written command of the language and put it to analytical use. Our French Language Lab provides linguistic support as needed. A typical course load in the GloJo/French Studies program breaks down as follows: 1 course in Journalism and 2 in French Studies during the first fall semester; 2 courses in Journalism and 1 in French Studies during the spring semester of year 1; 2 French Studies courses in Paris during the summer session; 2 Journalism courses and 1 French Studies course during the fall of year 2. Students usually complete their master’s project during the fall or the winter semester of year 2, but they may choose to complete their project in the spring semester of year 2.
All students are required to take the history course on 19th Century France (IFST-GA.1610). Students pick the remaining five courses from the IFS course offerings. The choice of courses is made in consultation with an IFS faculty advisor on the basis of interest, previous training, and professional needs. IFS courses are grouped into four fields:
I. History: Current and recent courses include Nineteenth-Century France, Twentieth-Century France, France and the Maghreb, France and Africa, Colonial and Postcolonial French Antilles, and topics in French History: Journalism.
II. Society: Current and recent courses include Education in France, Immigration in France, the Urban Question in France, and Race, Class and Gender in French Society.
III. Politics and the Economy: Current and recent courses include The Fifth Republic, The Extreme Right in France, France and Globalization, and Topics in the French Economy: Work and Its Market.
IV. Culture in Society: Current and recent courses in Culture include the Invention of the Belle Epoque, the Sociolinguistics of French, Cinema and history, and Press, Society, and Literature Since the 19th Century.
M.A. examination
The M.A. examination for joint Journalism/French Studies students is a three-hour-forty-five-minute written exam (in English). Students are eligible to take it only after all six courses have been completed with at least a B average. Candidates are assessed in the field of History and choose another field, which may be Society, Politics and the Economy or Culture in Society. Please note that some courses are useful for preparation in more than one field.
Research
The GloJo/French Studies M.A. has a strong research component. Whether they choose archival investigations, ethnographic fieldwork, or journalistic reportage, students conduct research in New York for term papers. In addition, we are introducing in 2018 a New York-based research seminar in sociology, “French-Speaking Migrants in New York City.” During our Paris summer session, all students take an M.A. Research Seminar taught by an IFS faculty member. Students conduct original research leading to a significant final paper or project. In New York as well as Paris, our faculty provide close mentoring.
Advisement.
Given our small size, the Institute’s faculty provides close supervision and careful advisement on the choice of courses and the training required for various career goals. Each graduate student is advised by a faculty member.
Networking
Graduate students gather regularly outside of class for informal meetings conceived to support degree progress and master’s projects preparation. We also have an unmatched program of talks and events with scholars, artists, writers, filmmakers, and IFS alumni. These events always start or finish with a reception or a dinner, and allow our students to engage with our prestigious guest speakers and connect with our committed network of alumni.
Admissions
Candidates for the joint program only submit one application but must be formally admitted by both the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and the IFS. Prior experience in journalism is not required, but French language fluency (reading and oral comprehension) is a prerequisite. Application deadline is January 4, so do get all your applications documents in well beforehand to allow time for GSAS processing. Don’t hesitate to contact Peyton Vann for specific inquiries on the deadlines. Please also visit our Prospective Student FAQs page.
Funding
All of our students receive some financial aid, with no teaching or TA requirements. We understand that higher education is expensive, and have worked with NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences to offer all admitted M.A. students an IFS scholarship covering at least 50% of tuition. Our best applicants may receive additional aid, up to 100% of tuition for the very best. In addition, the IFS has entered into an agreement with the TAPIF teaching assistant program by which we reserve some of our most generous M.A. fellowships to top alumni of the program, on a competitive basis. While this limited funding is not guaranteed, these fellowships may cover between 75% and 100% of tuition costs. Top former TAPIF alumni will also receive a $3,000 summer scholarship during our program’s summer session in Paris. When you apply, please indicate that you're affiliated with TAPIF and include your experience on your resume or curriculum vitae. To waive your application fee, please contact Peyton Vann at pnv227@nyu.edu.