PhD in French in Nashville United States | Vanderbilt University

The French & Francophone Studies Ph.D. program excels through its faculty's wide-ranging expertise. Beyond covering key eras in French cultural and intellectual development (from medieval times through the 21st century), our scholars explore diverse global regions including the Caribbean, Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and mainland France.

Our distinctive approach integrates multiple disciplines such as feminist theory, Marxist analysis, post-colonial studies, cinema and migration research, visual arts, Jewish scholarship, and digital humanities. Graduate students benefit from strong connections with two specialized research hubs: the Center for Second Language Studies and the W.T. Bandy Center for Baudelaire and Modern French Studies. The program maintains robust interdisciplinary collaborations with The Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities, Jewish Studies, African American and Diaspora Studies, The Center for Digital Humanities, and the Medicine, Health, and Society center.