Master of Arts in French Studies

Four Options of Study

Candidates for the MA in French Studies can choose to specialize in one of the following tracks:

• French and International Studies (FIS): French language for use in international contexts in both the public and private sectors
• The Francophone World (FW): Study concentrated on the French language as it is used in other French-speaking countries (North Africa, Central Africa, the Caribbean)
• Contemporary French Literature (CFL): Traditional curriculum with a focus on more avant-garde literature
• Teaching French as a Foreign Language (TFFL): Practicum and analysis

Each of these tracks will provide opportunities for students to do coursework in related disciplines such as Art, International Relations, Political Science, History, or Sociology.

Faculty

ACM faculty is comprised of experts in the field of French studies, linguistics, translation, literature, language acquisition, political science, art history and more. Both academics and professionals in their field, ACM faculty provide the MAFS the academic depth and the real-life experience necessary for a well-rounded French Studies education.

The American College of the Mediterranean

The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) is a U.S. college in Aix-en-Provence, France. ACM is a leader in international education and provides an American-style education with a global focus. ACM strives to provide excellence in international education, inspire intercultural awareness, and prepare students for success in a global community through the study of European and Mediterranean history, languages, cultures, and contemporary issues. It does so through a unique combination of courses, internships, curricula, that combine to create American-style undergraduate and graduate degree programs in an international and cross-cultural setting.

ACM’s Distinctions include:

• An American-style institution of higher learning with the U.S. and French non-profit status
• Originally chartered as an institution of higher education by the Regents of the State University of New York, as the Institute for American Universities with a rich history dating back to 1957
• Recognized as an institution of higher learning by the French Ministry as a Private institution of Higher Education (French wording) and the Rectorat of Aix-Marseille University.
• Founding member of the Association of American International Colleges and Universities (AAICU), providing students with study abroad opportunities at various locations primarily in Europe and North Africa

Location

ACM’s campus is in the south of France, in the charming and vibrant city of Aix-en-Provence. Aix is…

• A university town with over 40,000 college students
• A legal and academic hub, home to the south of France’s appellate court
• The birthplace of post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne, whose subject was often the majestic mountain Sainte-Victoire
• Known for its many fountains and café-lined Cours Mirabeau
• 25 minutes from the Marseille-Provence Airport
• 15 minutes to the Aix TGV bullet-trains station

Programs

ACM offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs that are site-specific in nature, with a focus on the arts, business, humanities, and social sciences.

ACM BY THE NUMBERS

• 12:1 student-teacher ratio
• 10 students is the average class size
• 45% of faculty are full-time
• 95% of ACM faculty have a PhD or the terminal degree in their field

With ACM, you have the opportunity to take part in the following:

An American-style Degree In France

The American College of the Mediterranean (ACM) provides the American-style education with which you are familiar in the charming and vibrant city of Aix-en-Provence, a university town with over 40,000 college students. With several majors and minors to choose from, including the option to self-design a field of study and a core curriculum that is specific to the Mediterranean region, students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture and learn in a high-impact, experiential way.

Course Instruction in English

All courses are taught in English, apart from language courses in French, Spanish, or Arabic at all levels. Opportunities to improve especially your French skills outside of the classroom are also available, including living with a host family, ACM’s language partner program, and course field studies.

Cost-conscious

As a non-profit institution of higher education, ACM focuses on keeping its costs affordable. While scholarships and grants are available for eligible students, our goal is to keep costs low from the start.

The Option To Transfer

If you are not able to begin your undergraduate degree with ACM, you have the opportunity to complete it with us. ACM welcomes transfer students to apply to our Bachelor of Arts program who have completed at least one semester of college and maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5.

International Work Experience

ACM’s robust internship network will allow you to gain international work experience while completing your degree and will introduce you to important international contacts. Learn more about internship opportunities and see where ACM has placed previous student interns by visiting the internship webpage.

Marketable Skills

With your degree from ACM, your enhanced skills and unique experiences will increase development in crucial international and intercultural competencies. ACM alumni are already seeing these benefits play out after graduation, as many have gone on to rigorous graduate schools, including Columbia University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, while others have leveraged their ACM degree and landed high-level jobs with such establishments as the United Nations World Food Programme and the Washington State Legislature.