Master of Arts in French Language Studies (MAFLS): this is a programme facilitating the learner to develop competences in the linguistic, intercultural, pedagogical, research, translation and interpretation domains of advanced French Studies
A proposal is hereby made to review and semesterise the former Master of Arts Languages French/ German into a Master of Arts in French Language Studies within the Department of European and Oriental Languages under the School for Languages Literature and Communication, College of Humanities and Social Sciences. This is because the old programme had never been semesterised and its courses had outlived their relevance within the context of regional integration and globalisation. It is expected that the students offering this Degree will be coming from a variety of backgrounds across Uganda and beyond. The programme will hence thrive on academic diversity and intercultural sensitivity.
As the interdependence of Africa and other continents becomes increasingly important in the contemporary world, the understanding of the functioning of Francophone Africa and other regional blocks becomes crucial to our own development. This Master’s Programme in French Language Studies which is crafted on the basis of an interdisciplinary framework offers graduate students both knowledge, skills and insight into understanding the interdependence between our country and other economic blocks in the now globalized world.
The program of MAFLS offers students historical, economic, political, linguistic, cultural and pedagogical perspectives to the Francophone world. It also engages the graduate students in the critical debates of topical issues and current development challenges relating to Francophone and other societies. It emphasizes comparisons and contrasts with other development scenarios and interactions with other stake holders both within and outside Africa.
MAFLS is structured into two strands; PLAN A and PLAN B. PLAN A is by coursework and dissertation/thesis and here emphasis will be put on using research skills and problem analysis to create knowledge mainly through investigation. This option will enable institutions in the country and the region to train their staff for academic career development.
PLAN B is by coursework, internship and research paper. This alternative will be for students who require in-service language and practitioners’ training and not necessarily pursuing the traditional rigorous research skills but rather seeking the mastery of the French Language and grounding in functional competences.
The General Makerere University regulations stipulated in the Graduate Handbook 2013 will be applied to the Master of Arts in French Language Studies.
The Programme initially will be limited to 40 Students. This is a manageable number according to the available members of staff that are qualified for lecturing and supervising Masters Students in the French Section and other collaborating units.
A graduate meeting the minimum requirements for admission in a graduate programme of Makerere University shall be admitted if s/he satisfies one of the following requirements.
A graduate possesses at least an Honours Degree or equivalent in French Studies or a related field from a chartered and recognized University.
The applicant possesses an Honours Degree or equivalent from a recognised French speaking University or an equivalent French speaking Institution of Higher Learning.
The Master of Arts in French Language Studies shall extend over two years of two Semesters each. Every student admitted for Master of Arts in French Language Studies is subject to the approval of Director of Research and Graduate Training in collaboration with the Higher Degrees Committee of the school of Languages Literature and Communication and the Academic Board of the Collage of Humanities and Social Sciences. A student admitted to this Programme will be required to fulfil the general Makerere University Semester Regulations (15 weeks of Tuition and 2 weeks for Examination per Semester in Year I).
In the Second year, Semester I students are required to specialize in one of the following options: Language & Linguistics, Literature, Cultural Studies, Translation & Interpreting, Language Pedagogy, French for Specific Purposes, International Relations and Diplomacy. In Semester Two students of Plan A are required to engage in rigorous research and write a dissertation/thesis on the above mentioned areas. However, students under Plan B shall take three courses in Semester I, do Internship and prepare a research paper in the Second Semester.
The programme of study is by Coursework and Dissertation/Coursework, Internship and Research Paper. Teaching is through lectures, practical hours, graduate and public seminars. Assessment is by seminar papers, essays, tests, oral and written examination, internship and a dissertation/research paper.
A participant must obtain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or more before proceeding from one semester to the next. The GPA is calculated by multiplying the course weighting by the marks obtained, adding up all the courses and dividing by the total number of courses.
Existing University regulations for the M.A. and Ph.D in Social Sciences/Arts as described in the Graduate Handbook Guidelines 2013 will apply.
Candidates’ performance in each course for the award of the degree shall be assessed through:
The Research Paper will be in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.A. in French Language Studies PLAN B.
Must have obtained the equivalent of Cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 Will be permitted to transfer to Makerere University Credits earned but the maximum of Credits should not exceeding 60% of the minimum graduation load of the academic programme applied for.
A candidate pursuing PLAN A shall be awarded the Master of Arts Degree in French Language Studies of Makerere University without classification upon the successful Submission, Internal & External assessment and Defense of his/her Thesis in French. The student defending the Dissertation in French shall provide a summary in English. A candidate pursuing PLAN B shall be awarded the Masters of Arts Degree in French Language Studies of Makerere University without classification upon the successful completion of his/her internship and Internal & External assessment of his/her Research Paper in French.
In the first year of MAFLS, the student admitted is expected to do the three core courses and two Electives. S/He is expected to submit the necessary Course Work (2), attend at least 2 graduate seminars and take the required written and oral Examinations.
In the second year of MAFLS, the student is expected to cover Research Methods in French (in Semester I) and prepare a Research Proposal (Semester II) if s/he is taking PLAN A. S/He will conduct practical research in Year 2 and write a Dissertation/Thesis in French with a summary in English If the candidate is taking PLAN B, s/he will take three extra courses in Year 1 Semester II, do an Internship in Second year and write a Research Paper in French with a summary in English. S/He will submit basing on the Graduate Handbook Guidelines 2013.
| Course Code & Title | LH | PH | CH | CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLS 7101 Advanced French Language Use I | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| FLS 7102 Translation and Interpreting | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| FLS 7103 Linguistics | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| Course Code & Title | LH | PH | CH | CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLS 7104 Intercultural Perspectives and Globalisation | 45 | – | 45 | 3 |
| FLS 7105 French Language Pedagogy | 45 | – | 45 | 3 |
| FLS 7106 Comparative Literature in French | 45 | – | 45 | 3 |
Total Credit Units (Semester I): 18
| Course Code & Title | LH | PH | CH | CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLS 7201 Francophone Literature | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| FLS 7202 Advanced French Language Studies II | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| FLS 7203 Research Methods in French | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| Course Code & Title | LH | PH | CH | CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLS 7204 French for Specific Purposes | 45 | – | 30 | 3 |
| FLS 7205 Francophone International Relations & Diplomacy | 45 | – | 30 | 3 |
| FLS 7206 Advanced French through Sights and Sounds | 45 | – | 30 | 3 |
Total Credit Units (Semester II): 18
| Activity | LH | PH | CH | CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester I – Dissertation Preparation | 30 | 60 | 60 | 4 |
| Semester II – Dissertation | 30 | 60 | 60 | 4 |
Total Credit Units (Plan A): 44
Minimum Graduation Load: Eight Cores and Three Electives (41 CUs)
Year One Semester I and II course structure, electives, and credit units are identical to Plan A.
| Course Code & Title | LH | PH | CH | CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLS 8101 Language, Communication and the Media | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| FLS 8102 French for Business | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
| FLS 8103 Advanced Creative Writing in French | 45 | 30 | 60 | 4 |
Total Credit Units (Year Two Semester I): 12
| Activity | LH | PH | CH | CU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internship | 15 | 90 | 60 | 4 |
| Research Paper | 30 | 60 | 60 | 4 |
Total Credit Units (Plan B): 48
Minimum Graduation Load: Eleven Cores and Three Electives (53 CUs)
*All courses in italics have been modified, re-cast, or added.