French and Francophone Intercultural Studies (MCert, MA, PhD)

Program Overview

The University of Regina's French and Francophone Intercultural Studies program offers a comprehensive education in French-speaking cultures and communities. Through interdisciplinary study and experiential learning, students develop skills in communication, research, and community engagement. Graduates are prepared for careers in academia, government, translation, non-profits, and research. The program is unique in its focus on interdisciplinarity, intercultural relations, and community involvement.

Program Outline

It is one of the few truly interdisciplinary francophone studies programs in Canada, allowing students to pursue their interests while interacting with colleagues in related fields.

• Objectives: The program aims to develop students' skills in communication (writing and presentations in French), research (data use and analysis), and community and intercultural relations.
It also encourages students to develop meaningful engagement and relationships with Francophone communities through research and experiential learning opportunities.
• Areas of Study: Students can choose from one or more areas of study, including:
• Social Sciences:
Political Studies, Sociology
• Languages:
Applied Linguistics, Sociolinguistics
• Humanities:
Literature, History, Philosophy

Outline:

• Master of Arts (Thesis-based):
• Focuses on the study of linguistic, cultural, and political practices and representations of Francophone communities and their relations with other cultures.
• Students explore a research topic in-depth, according to their interests.
• Master of Arts (Course-based):
• Allows students to build their knowledge, establish connections between topics and disciplines, and develop their skills.
• Offers a choice of courses in various subject areas, including French and Francophone literatures, and a seminar for collaborative work and exposure to research by U of R professors.
• Includes a 6-credit internship with a community organization, providing experience with Francophone community work and understanding of their challenges and opportunities.
• Master's Certificate:
• Allows students to discover their interests in Francophone and intercultural studies.
• Provides knowledge of relevant topics, data analysis skills, and three elective courses for a range of experiences and skills.
• Can easily transition into the thesis or course-based master's program.
• Doctoral Program:
• Focuses on literature, sociolinguistics, linguistics, terminology, gender and culture studies, and the history of ideas.
• Encourages students to develop meaningful engagement and relationships with Francophone communities through research and experiential learning opportunities.
• Faculty: The program is taught by expert faculty members who are also active researchers with diverse interests.
• Unique Approaches: The program emphasizes interdisciplinarity, intercultural relations, and community engagement.
It also offers a quasi-immersive experience in French, allowing students to develop their language skills in formal and informal settings.

Careers:

• Potential Career Paths: Graduates of the program are prepared for careers in various fields, including:
• Professor
• Government Administrator
• Translator
• Non-profit Administrator
Its mission is to meet the university education needs of Saskatchewan's French-speakers, regardless of their first language.
• Centre canadien de recherche sur les francophonies en milieu minoritaire (CRFM): Situated at La Cité, the CRFM directs a research program focusing on the experience of the Fransaskois community and other Canadian and international Francophone communities.
It also offers research internships.
• Interdisciplinary Programs: The program's focus on interdisciplinarity and intercultural relations means it takes into account variations in the French language and respects diversity within Francophone communities.
• Bilingual Experience: Studying at La Cité provides a quasi-immersive experience in French, allowing students to develop their language skills in formal and informal settings.
• Faculty Research Interests: Faculty members have diverse research interests, including:
• 20th-century French literature, rhetoric, and stylistics
• Comic strips (from Europe, Asia, and North America)
• Political and intellectual history of Canadian Francophonie
• Language policies on education in multilingual environments
• Language planning and sustainable development
• Comparative francophonies, French as second/foreign language in multilingual settings
• Sociolinguistics and vitality of languages in minority settings
• Politics of intercultural relations
• Social and political philosophy (phenomenology and existentialism)
• Popular music
• Research Project: Students can pursue original research projects related to the francophone community of Saskatchewan, which is currently understudied.
There are also opportunities for collaboration with francophone community organizations in Saskatchewan.