Information for term Liberal Arts
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenPut your French skills to work in the glimmering City of Light! Designed for students looking to improve their understanding of the French language while immersing themselves in Parisian culture, our semester-long hybrid Liberal Arts program is the ideal opportunity to live and learn in France’s incredible capital.
When class is in session, you’ll choose from courses at CIEE Paris and CIEE’s partner school, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, where you can select from a broad range of courses to take alongside local and other international students, all taught in French! Additionally, you’ll have the unique opportunity to participate in a for-credit internship in French or an academic independent research project to explore your interests abroad and apply your skills in an academic or professional context.
The learning won’t stop there – study tours, field trips, and other experiential learning activities will help you practice your language skills in everyday contexts, learn about the local culture, and bring your studies to life.
Unique Experiences
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EXTEND YOUR READING OF FAMOUS FRENCH WRITERS
by visiting Victor Hugo’s apartment, Honoré de Balzac’s house, or Alexandre Dumas home
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GO ON A GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF SPECIFIC AREAS OF PARIS
like Montmartre, Le Marais, and Butte-aux-Cailles
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TREAT YOURSELF TO FRESH BAGUETTES AND CROISSANTS
at every boulangerie and take a stroll in the gorgeous squares and parks that line the city
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TYPES OF CHEESES PRODUCED IN FRANCE
1,000 -
OF BIKE LANES ACROSS THE CITY
500 KM -
POPULATION OF PARIS
2.1 M
Location & Culture
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Your Destination
If you’re looking to spend time in one of the world’s most prominent cultural, financial, and commercial centers, look no further than Paris. The capital of France – and the country’s most populous city – is a top tourist destination. You’re sure to fall in love with its historic landmarks, exquisite dining, and charming architecture.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Paris.
The Culture
Excursions & Activities
- Participate in excursions to fascinating French locations; previous destinations have included Amboise, Reims, Rouen, Giverny, Chantilly, and Vaux-le-Vicomte
- Learn the nuances of the City of Light through a guided tour of Paris
- Explore the hidden corners of Parisian culture, art, and society through weekly extracurricular activities
- See the Mona Lisa with your own eyes at the Louvre Museum
- Visit the theaters, cafés, and luxury shops of the Champs-Élysées
- Learn about cheesemaking from a local fromager and taste a variety of their products
- Test your skills as a nose at the Fragonard Perfume Museum and learn about the history of perfume-making in southern France
- Take a stroll in the Montparnasse neighborhood to learn about the area’s influence on art and literature, and stop for a crêpe at the end of the visit
Daily Life
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HOUSING
All housing is within a 45-minute commute to CIEE.
Residence Halls/Hotels/Aparthotels: Students usually live with a mix of CIEE students, local students, and international students. If local health and safety regulations permit, most students live in double or triple rooms.
Apartments: Students live in apartments shared with other CIEE students. If local health and safety regulations permit, most students live in double or triple rooms. Each apartment will have shared common spaces, including a kitchen and bathroom.
Homestays: Live with a host family, with or without another CIEE student, and immerse yourself in the city’s language and culture. Each student has an individual room.
Housing is limited in Paris. If we can’t accommodate your first housing choice, we’ll let you know before you arrive.
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MEALS
Residence Halls, Hotels, Aparthotels, and Apartments: Meals are not included
Homestays: Host families include breakfast daily, plus five additional meals per week
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
The Liberal Arts program is a French language intensive program for students looking to improve their French language skills. Students will take a mix of CIEE courses and courses at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle. Courses will focus on topics and areas of study such as communication, literature, architecture, history, and much more. Courses will involve co-curricular experiential learning opportunities to help students apply their French language skills and immerse themselves in the local culture.
Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris 3) is a branch of the University of Paris (UP), the second oldest university in Europe, the founder of the first doctorate degree, and the alma mater of many historic intellectuals. It hosts nearly 20,000 students.
A for-credit internship in French allows students the opportunity to have practical work experience in a company within a variety of industry sectors. In addition to the on-site business experience, students participating in an internship program have a weekly classroom component, which provides academic support to their practical experience.
Students can also pursue a directed independent research project in French. On top of their independent research hours, they will meet regularly with an advisor to complete their research project and final research paper. This is a great opportunity to study and analyze the source materials available in France.
*Official host institution’s Fall exams take place in January, and official host institution’s Spring exams take place in May /June. However, early exams in December and early May will be possible, and students can register for courses once the professors have confirmed that they will be able to take early exams (they should be confirmed on an individual basis with the professor at the start of the regular semester session), during the add/drop period. While host institutions instruct faculty to allow for early exams with single-semester international students across the board, as a precaution these early exams should be confirmed on an individual basis with the professor at the start of the regular semester session, during the add/drop period. It is up to the discretion of each professor to offer exams before the start of the official examination periods. Professors cannot be forced to offer early exams. Students will be provided with housing until all their exams are completed.
GPA
2.75
Language Prerequisites
A minimum of four semesters of college-level French (or equivalent) is required. Students will need to complete an online language placement test post-acceptance to confirm their level and determine if additional French language courses are recommended.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Program Requirements
- Students enroll in 12 - 18 credits (recommended 15 credits) taught in French comprised of the following:
- Two to three courses at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (University of Paris 3).
- Two to three CIEE courses
PROGRAM CREDIT
Total credit: Between 12 – 18 semester/ 18 - 27 quarter credits
Course Credit
- CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
- CIEE Internship: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 contact hours, 100-120 internship placement hours
- CIEE Directed Independent Research: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 contact hours, 100-120 research hours
- Université Sorbonne Nouvelle (University of Paris 3) courses: Typically, 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 39-45 contact hours
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Academic Culture
CIEE courses are designed to follow U.S. academic culture and standards. The class environment typically features a combination of traditional lecture and discussion with co-curricular excursions and activities. Heavy emphasis is placed on student participation. To avoid falling behind, students should not plan personal travel out of Paris when classes are in session and plan trips for the long weekends.
French university courses are often more formal and consist of lectures with little class participation. They are called "cours magistral" or CM. But you may also attend "Travaux dirigés" or TD, discussion or practical sessions in small groups that take place in classrooms. Depending on the department and the course, a CM and a TD might be taken together.
Great importance is placed on oral presentations and written essays, so strong French speaking and writing skills are important. Professors also expect students to work independently and determine their own study and reading schedules.
Class Format
Courses taught at the CIEE Center are typically for CIEE students only. Classes are scheduled Monday-Thursday. Attendance is strictly enforced both for classes and required co-curricular excursions. Students should expect an average of two hours of preparation required for each hour in class.
Grading
French university grades are based on a combination of midterm and final examinations and research papers and oral presentations, and are on the French grading scale of 0-20, which CIEE then converts into recommended U.S. letter grade equivalents.
The U.S. grading scale of A-F is used for CIEE classes. Students are graded on the basis of class participation, homework, project work, presentations, and midterm and final examinations. Learning outcomes assessment is continuous through personal reflections, evaluation feedback, self-assessment, and requirements as set out in the course syllabi.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Language of Instruction
French
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
SPRING 2024 CIEE COURSES (syllabi available soon)
- ANTH 3101 PAFR: Culture and Cuisine in France (in French)
- (GI) INDR 4901 PAFR (FREN): Directed Independent Research (in French)
- FREN 3005 PAFR: French Language - Advanced I
- AHIS 3001 PAFR (FREN): Histoire de l’art du 19e siècle (in French)
- (GI) INSH 3801 PAFR (FREN): Internship Seminar (in French)
- FRST 3101 PAFR (FREN): Paris Collage. Histoire, Culture, Architecture (in French)
- FREN 3101 PAFR (FREN): Pensée Contemporaine Française (in French)
- FREN 3101 PAFR: Writing Workshop I
HOST INSTITUTION COURSES
Click to OpenSORBONNE NOUVELLE
Students will enroll in UP courses on site but indicate the department of interest during course selection. For past course offerings, visit the university websites listed below. CIEE cannot guarantee courses offered in the past will be offered again.
Université de Paris Sorbonne Nouvelle (Paris 3): Courses at the Sorbonne Nouvelle focus on literature, language, cinema studies, and theater studies.
Sample Fall Courses (in French)
- Art History and Theory
- Business Communication
- Cinema and Audiovisual Theories: Study of Theoretical Texts
- Cinema History: The 1960s and 1970s
- Communication and Image: Social Psychology
- Communication Psychology
- Comparative poetics: Feel-Good Literature and Personal Development
- Comparative Poetics: Mid-20th Century Mystical Correspondences
- Comparative Poetics: Myths and Journeys to the Ends of the World
- Comparative poetics: Writing War or How to Restore Meaning to Words
- Cultural Construction of National Identities
- Economies and Comparative European Economic Policy
- General and Comparative Literature: Facing Reality. Literature and/or Journalism
- General and Comparative Literature: Imaginary Languages and Fiction
- General and Comparative Literature: Saying and Seeing the Offstage
- Intellectual History of Modern and Contemporary Worlds
- Intercultural Relations: Marginality, Creativity, Criminality
- International Politics, 20th-21st Centuries
- Introduction to Communication Law and Economics
- Introduction to Political Communication
- Legal Cultures in Europe and Around the World
- Management of Cultural Organizations
- Sociology of Culture
- The Press and Journalism
- Theoretical Approaches to Audiences
- Theories and Models of Information and Communication
Sample Spring courses (in French)
- Communication and Image: Semiotics
- Comparative History of National Constructions, Europe-Americas
- Comparative Poetics: The Frontiers of Dialogue
- Cultural Institutions and Policies
- Cultural Marketing
- Culture, Arts and Societies
- Economics of Communication
- Economics of Culture
- European Social Area
- General and Comparative Literature: Comics and Gender
- General and Comparative Literature: Europe on the Move
- General and Comparative Literature: Narratives of Gender Affirmation in Literature
- History of Cinema: From the 1980s to Today
- History of Integration in Europe
- Image Culture
- Intercultural Relations: Modern Saints
- Introduction to Political Communication
- Issues in Development
- Media and Politics
- Methods and Analyses in Sociology and Cultural Studies
- Research Awareness: Introduction to Postcolonial Theories: Narrative of Exile and Wandering
- Research Awareness: Minimalism and Maximalism
- Rhetoric/Communication/Speech
- Semiology of Communication
- Sociology of Communication
- Sociology of Mass Media
- Television and Society
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships
Click to OpenScholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- Trailblazer Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 18 weeks | Nov 1, 2023 | Jan 3, 2024* | May 11, 2024* |
$20,950
Click to Close
Program FeesCIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $14,456 ** Housing = $6,000 *** Insurance = $194 Total Fees = $20,950Financial AidCIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students *** includes two meals per day on weekdays for homestay students; No meals included for students who select apartments or residence halls. |
*Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Delphine Mauny
Center Director
A born-and-bred Parisian, Delphine has extensive experience in international education, having worked with American high school students, college students, and adults traveling to France.
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Franck Le Gac
Academic Director
Franck oversees the coordination, quality, and planning of all courses and educational programming in Paris.
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