S
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S.96-11
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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OFFICE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT, ACADEMIC
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MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Senate
From: ?
D. Gagan, Chair
Senate Committee on Academic
21
nning
Subject. ?
M.A. in English and French Literatures
Date:
?
December 11, 1995
Action undertaken by the Senate Graduate Studies Committee and the Senate Committee
on Academic Planning gives rise to the following motion:
Motion:
"That Senate approve and recommend approval to the Board of
Governors, as set forth in
S
.96-11 , the proposed M.A. Option
in English and French Literatures."
0
MA OPTION IN ENGLISH AND FRENCH LITERATURES
Rationale
As ?
C'
As Canada is a bilingual nation, a graduate option linking the two official 6g
uages
would seem inevitable and highly desirable. Because French Immersion has been
actively cultivated in Canada, we now have a student population that is bilingual and
trained in both literatures, and for those students it is a-natural step to continue studies
beyond the undergraduate level. An MA in English and French Literature would be
extremely valuable for them. Further, the study of this country's writing in both
languages-would provide a more comprehensive knowledge of the field
. of Canadian
literature. ?
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Academic Soundness
This proposal for-an MA option combining graduate courses taken in the French
Department and the English Department is derived from the basic philosophy of the
- existing Graduate-Programs in French and English which stress a broad
-
based curriculum
more than a narrow specialization. Both programs also favour interdisciplinarity.
Some -links already exist between the departments at the undergraduate level with a
joint Majorin English and French. In the past, faculty from English have offered, courses
in translation in the Department of French. The English Department,- on the other hand.
has, on several occasions, requested the participation of faculty from French at the
graduate leel for, supervisory- matters.
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An MA in English and French! literatures is coherent in its disciplinary orientation,''
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taking courses in two different departments will not dilute the student's knowledge of
concepts and research methods. Rather, the range of their applications will be expanded.
For administrative/scholarship purposes, the Home department will count for 2/3, the
Associatedepar . tment for
1/3.:'-.
Student Demand for and Professional Value of Interdisciplinary MA Degrees
Clearly, students in this graduate option will not constitute the majority of graduate -
enrolments in any one department. However, enrolment
,
figures for undergraduate JOint
Majors (French and English/History & Political Science/Spanish) indicate that students in
theFaculty.-of-Arts are increasingly attracted to such programs. The MA option in
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English/French literatures will allow those undergraduate students who have madethe
special effort of expanding their field of specialization to take advantage of their enriched
background at the graduate level. The success 'of the Master's program in Liberal Studies,
is anothersignof new directioUsin Humanities which transcend the traditional
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boundaries of language and nationality.
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Students holding an MA in English and French literatures will have an advantage in
the competition for teaching positions in arts departments, at college level or in senior
highschools.'
There is no conflict with the MA under Special Arrangements already offered by
S.F.U. It is designed for a different group of students who already have elaborated a
specific research project, usually of a multidisciplinary nature, with an individual
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program of courses. Such students have usually established a relationship with one or
more S.F.U. professors prior to their application.
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Ma
The present Graduate Studies programs of the Departments of English and French
have in common similar requirements and similar flexibility.
CALENDAR ENTRY
1. (The following text to be inserted in the
Department of English
section after
Interdisciplinary Studies,
page 286):
Simon Fraser University also offers the Option of an MA in English and French
literatures. This will allow students who have already been trained in both literatures to
continue their studies beyond the undergraduate level. For course requirements please
see the
Department of French
section.
2.
(The following text to be inserted in the
Department of French
section before
Graduate Courses,
page 288):
Interdisciplinary Studies
Simon Fraser University offers the Option of an MA in English and French literatures.
This will allow students who have already been trained in both literatures to continue
their studies beyond the undergraduate level.
Under this option, students would register in and, if successful, receive a degree from,
one of the two departments, which would-be the "Home Department." The other
department would be designated the "Associate Department."
Application for Admission
1.
Students may apply to either department or to both, indicating a preference.
Both departments must agree on the student's admission or on conditions
for admission into the program.
2.
A Home Department will be assigned in consultation with the student and
with the agreement of both departments.
3.
A minimum of 15 credits in upper level undergraduate courses in each discipline is
required for admission.
4.
The student, after initial admission and 2 semesters of course work, will have the
the option of an MA either with Thesis or without subject
to the agreement of
both departments.
The Home department will select a joint supervisory committee made up of two faculty
members from the Home Department
l
and one from the Associate Department.
Degree Requirements
1. Home Department Requirements.
EITHER
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a) English 810-5 Graduate
Professional
Development Seminar Part I.
and
English
8.11-5
Graduate Professional
Development Seminar Part
II.
-3-
•OR
b) French 801-2 Readings in French Literature.
French 802-2 Basic Research Methods (during the first semesters).
2.
Concentration reouiremen
MA
with Thesis
For this option, students must successfully complete an additional 20 semester hours of
coursework selected from literature offerings in the Department of French and the Department of
English, including at least one course from each department (i.e. 1-3 or 2-2), and complete a
thesis of about 100 pages on a topic acceptable to the supervisory committee, defended at an oral
examination as described in sections 1.9 and 1.10 of the
Graduate General REgulations.
OR
MA
without Thesis
For this option, students must successfully complete an additional 30 semester hours of
coursework selected from literature offerings in the Department of French and the Department of
English, and including at least two courses from each department (i.e. 2-4 or 3-3), and a written
field examination based on three completed courses. Preparation for the field examination will be
undertaken on the advice of the supervisory committee.
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APPENDIX I
Home Department Requirements
(The following descriptions are taken from SFU calendar pages 287 and 288).
ENGL 810-5 Graduate Professional Development Seminar Part I
The Graduate Professional Development Seminar (ENGL 810/811) is required of both MA
and PhD students. All incoming students will take 810 in their first year. ENGL 810 has
two components. The first component is to introduce students to the basic tools of
advanced study and to acquaint them with the kinds of research being done in the
department of faculty and graduating students. There will also be workshops on topics
such as drafting and submitting proposals, applying for grants, presenting papers,
publishing, choosing graduate schools, and employment possibilities, including interview
situations. The second component consists of six 2 hour workshops for new teaching
assistants which will focus on the teaching of writing in literature courses. Required.
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
WE
ENGL 811-5 Graduate Professional Development Seminar Part II
Conclusion of 810 consisting of research workshops for students near completion of their
research projects. Required. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory.
OR
FREN 801-2 Readings in French Literature
A semester of required readings in French literary theory. This course, which culminates in
an oral examination, will be graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory.
FREN 802-2 Basic Research Methods
The study of research methods and tools used in French linguistics or French literature.
Planning a long-term project.
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APPENDIX II
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Concentration Requirements
N.B. Also specific concentrations are possible - Canadian Literature, Literary Theory,
Literary Movements and Historical Periods, Monographic Studies, Genre Study, students
are free to choose any combination of courses
APPENDIX III
Additional resources required to mount the program option.
Start-up and continuing costs:
1)
Course costs: students will be integrated into current offerings at
no additional cost.
2)
Faculty costs: no additional faculty costs as new courses will not
be created.
3)
Library costs: costs will not exceed the current budget. Existing
holdings are sufficient for courses offered.
4)
Administrative costs: Publicity and mailings will fall under the
current budget. Description of the joint MA option will become
part of graduate program advertising and brochures.
Therefore, costs to the English and French Departments for the
Joint English French MA option are estimated to be only minimal
and will involve no new allocation of funding.
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51-
S.95-73
• SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
MEMORANDUM
To: ?
Senate
From: ?
Senate Committee on Agenda and
Rules
Subject ?
Senate Membership
Date: ?
November 21, 1995
Part 7 Section 34(2)(h) of the University Act stipulates that the membership of Senate shall
include "a number of full-time students, equal to the number provided in paragraphs (a)
to (f), elected from the student association in a manner that ensures that at least one
student from each faculty is elected".
Currently, there are 12 student positions on the Senate.
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Section IVY of the Rules of Senate further defines the conditions for eligibility of students
to nominate, stand for office, vote, and continue to hold office. There are no provisions
within the current Rules to ensure representation from both undergraduate and graduate
students. It is the opinion of SCAR that Senate and the student constituencies would be
best served if there was a provision to ensure that, among the student representatives on
Senate, there should be at least one undergraduate student and one graduate student.
While history and the number of voters in each category suggest it is unlikely that
undergraduate students would not be represented, it is the recommendation of SCAR that
the Rule should address either possibility.
Senate is reminded that alterations of the Rules of Senate require written notice at a
regular meeting of Senate prior to the meeting at which a vote on the proposed alteration
is taken, and this vote requires an affirmative vote by two-thirds of the voting members
present to carry.
Notice of Motion:
SCAR recommends to Senate that the Rules of Senate relating to the election of
students be amended to include the following provision:
4. ?
There shall be at least one graduate student and one undergraduate
student among the total number of students elected to Senate under
Part 7, Section 34(2)(h) of the University Act.
