Mixing & Matching French Lit w/ French Linguistics?

[Amber//46]

Hello!
I am considering pursuing an MA in French Culture/Lit because I've found a couple of programs online, which is the best fit for my family, at the moment. The hope is that this would enable me to pursue a PhD in French Linguistics when my family is able to make that transition, and that already having the MA will save me time in the next program (I have seen many where you earn the MA during the PhD program), or enable me to get into a PhD program I might not have been able to before. I'm new to this conversation, so bear with me. 

Can I get a French Cult/Lit/Whatever MA and then continue into the French Linguistics program, or will I need to get another MA in French Linguistics? I ultimately want to study linguistics, but I 1) want to make the most of my time and be studying what and how I can now, 2) am worried that I should diversify the two degrees so that I am a more appealing applicant for teaching positions when all the schooling is done. 
UNLESS getting the non-linguistics MA is just a waste of time, as far as the PhD program is concerned. 

Any insight would be appreciated. I'm not even sure if I explained all of that correctly. I graduate with my BA in French with OSU this December. 
 

[Glasperlenspieler]

A few thoughts:

1) Most PhD programs do not require an MA for admission. In some cases it can increase your admissions odd, but there's no guarantee of that.

2) I don't think most PhD programs are going to put much stock in an online MA. (It won't necessarily count against you, but I don't see it really helping).

3) I certainly wouldn't pay out of pocket for an online MA. (It rarely makes sense to pay for a graduate degree in the humanities unless you're independently wealthy)

4) Whether or not having an MA will decrease coursework for your PhD will vary widely from program to program. Many private schools won't offer any transfer credit. State schools can sometime be more generous.

5) Is your ultimate goal to teach at the university level?

6) Do you have a genuine interest in French literature/culture? Or are you just pursuing this option because you think it will improve your odds?

7) Do you have the linguistics background necessary to pursue research in French linguistics?

[Amber//46]

Glasperlenspieler, 
 5. Yes, that would ultimately be the goal. I could see myself happy doing other things in the field, but I would ultimately like to teach. 
6. No, not really. I don't mind reading it/studying it, but the biggest draw to me is studying the mechanics of the language itself. I would just pursue it to improve odds/be more well-rounded. 
7. This is an interesting one. I don't have loads of experience in French linguistics, aside from current papers I am writing for a couple of classes. I do have a strong desire to learn more, which I was hoping to accomplish and pursue in the beginning stages of a PhD program. I know I want to learn and study more in it. I might sound naïve, and I probably am. Im I able to build this background and knowledge in a PhD program, or is there a way I need to seek that, other than my current efforts, right now?

I am finishing my degree online with Oregon State University. I hope I haven't shot myself in the foot, getting my bachelor's online. 

[Glasperlenspieler]

Given your answers to these questions, I suspect you might be better served by a linguistics MA than an MA in French Literature. While this is perhaps less true at the beginning, graduate training and professionalization tends to prioritize specialization, rather than generalist knowledge. And for the job market, you're likely to be looking at 2 sorts of jobs. There are those jobs in which you would teach primarily elementary/intermediate/advanced French (but likely more elementary and intermediate) and then there are those jobs in which you will perhaps be teaching some language courses but also upper division topics seminars and maybe even graduate courses. For the former, a specialization in applied linguistics would make you competitive, and as long as you having a general familiarity with French literature (which you would get through a PhD program in a French department), it won't matter if you're weaker on the literature/culture side of things. For the latter sorts of jobs, the topics you would be teaching would primarily be linguistics oriented, and thus your lack of literature/culture background also wouldn't be a huge issue.

In terms of admissions to PhD programs, however, what will really matter (in addition to your French competency) is that you show the potential for producing original research. Even though PhDs generally earn a living through teaching, graduate school tends to be very research oriented, and that will be the focal point of graduate admissions. So in order to be competitive, you will need to demonstrate that you are asking research questions that are worth pursuing and that you have the skill set to pursue them. 

5 hours ago, Amber//46 said:

I do have a strong desire to learn more, which I was hoping to accomplish and pursue in the beginning stages of a PhD program. I know I want to learn and study more in it.

One good thing to recognize that in comparison to undergrad, grad school is much less about learning and much more about producing knowledge. Whether or not this is always a good thing is a different question, but that tends to be the orientation. I've met many graduate students that were frustrated to discover this. (Obviously this is not entirely either/or though and producing research means learning a lot and you will learn a lot in grad school)

NB: I'm not in a French department but I am in a different European language/literature department and I'm relatively confident this all holds true for French as well, but there may be some differences.