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A message from the Department Chair to our Graduate Students:

Dear Graduate Students,

I have received messages of alarm from several of you, in reaction to the news (for example here and here, and right now, here) about elimination and suspension of IU degree programs, in response to a new Indiana law that went into effect today. The alarm is very much justified in that these new rules radically reshape the conditions under which we operate and that FRIT degree programs were part of the long list of degrees with graduation numbers under certain given thresholds from the Indiana Commission of Higher Education (ICHE). However, in the IU response to this list, submitted on June 23 and as released as part of a document from ICHE yesterday (cf. here), there is an important distinction between programs that IU recommends suspending “toward elimination” and programs that IU recommends suspending with “commitment to merge / consolidate the program”. Among FRIT programs, only our terminal MA programs, including the MA in French Instruction (MAFI, occurring on the list as MAT French, not to be confused with our online MAT in French) are slated for elimination as such, while our PhD programs (and BA programs) are recommended for consolidation – which in practice would mean as part of a new wider umbrella degree, alongside other foreign language degrees, most likely under a heading like “Languages, Literatures, and Cultures.”

This is all we know for sure about the changes for now. The new “umbrella” degree will go through the standard curricular review process this fall.

Our undergraduate degree programs have been recommended for suspension in view of consolidation, as tracks within larger “umbrella” degrees. It is IU’s official recommendations in response to the original request from ICHE, and it will affect incoming students from the fall of 2026. Importantly, whatever happens, the degree program you started will be honored for the purpose of your graduation.

I want to end on a positive note. The upcoming changes are not a reflection on the strength of our department, but an administrative maneuver to streamline degree programs across the College of Arts and Sciences. In the semesters ahead, FRIT will continue the tradition of national leadership that we were celebrated for in the report from the external review earlier this year, where the reviewers stressed in particular the excellence of our three graduate programs. Your degrees are secure, and your place in the Department is something to celebrate and take pride in.

All best wishes,

Hall Bjørnstad

(The second to last paragraph above has been slightly updated for accuracy compared to what was circulated on July 1.)

Where passion finds a path

Our graduate programs in French/Francophone Studies, French Linguistics, and Italian Studies combine literature and culture, self-expression and science, new media and centuries-old texts. We emphasize interdisciplinary research and pedagogical training, and our award-winning faculty provide expert guidance as you explore your own interests and develop your skills. Our graduate students are trained to become writers, researchers, teachers, and future leaders in their fields. We help students pursue their scholarly paths through fellowships, teaching assistantships, and travel grants.

Graduate degree programs

Our department offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in French/Francophone Studies, French Linguistics, and Italian Studies, as well as an M.A. degree in French Instruction. Applicants should indicate for which one of the programs listed above they wish to be considered.

French/Francophone Studies

Ranked in the top ten programs in the nation by the National Research Council, our French/Francophone Studies program encompasses a diverse and interdisciplinary study of media, culture, and civilization. With course offerings ranging from the poetry of medieval French troubadours to race and ethnicity in francophone cinema, this program offers varied perspectives and expert training from our diverse faculty.

Italian Studies

The Italian program at Indiana University is characterized by in-depth humanistic research in topics ranging from Dante to Fellini, the illuminated manuscript to the graphic novel. A degree in Italian Studies will provide students with a broad knowledge of Italian literature and culture, and our distinguished faculty will provide expert guidance in discovering one’s specialty.

French Linguistics

Our department is known for its long-standing and esteemed French Linguistics program, which benefits from the broad community of linguists at Indiana University. Our award-winning faculty offer expertise in phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics, and are exploring subjects such as the syntactic structure of Old Occitan, the effects of language contact on Louisiana French, and the interplay between language and gender.

French Instruction

The M.A. degree in French Instruction seeks to provide future educators with a comprehensive understanding of French language and French/francophone literature and culture. The M.A. degree in French Instruction can be tailored to fit each student’s particular needs and interests, but with foreign language pedagogy at the core of its curriculum, it is ideal for the future high school or small college educator.