Study Abroad in Paris: Courses

Students may select courses in English, French or both according to language ability and placement tests. Students must place into the advanced level to enroll in Sorbonne lecture courses. Recommended semester credits are in parentheses. Quarter students should reduce total credits by one-third. Courses taught in French with the same course content as the English equivalent have an “F” after the course number.

Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne

Several courses are organized and taught by Cours de Civilisation Française instructors exclusively for AIFS students. Beginning and lower intermediate students should choose courses taught in English during the first semester in Paris. Advanced students in both semesters and full year students in the second semester should choose courses taught in French (see listings). These classes should not be confused with the regular Cours de Civilisation Française lecture series.

A minimum of 10 students is needed to confirm a course (classes usually have about 15 students). Each seminar meets 30 hours per semester plus 15 hours of directed study outside class. (These are 60 minute classes for 30 contact hours, equivalent to 36 hours of 50 minute classes.) All levels of French language (cours pratique) meet considerably more hours—140 contact hours of 60 minute classes.

Beginning and intermediate students must take the cours pratique in French and a seminar in French or English given by the Sorbonne each semester. They should also plan to take two additional courses or seminars each semester. Full year students whose level of French is sufficient by the second semester will be encouraged to enroll in advanced courses. Advanced students must take one seminar in French the second semester.

French language courses for all foreign students

Seminars in English for AIFS students

Seminars in French for AIFS students

These electives are organized and taught by instructors of the Cours de Civilisation Française exclusively for AIFS students. A minimum of 10 students is needed to confirm a course. Advanced level participants are required to elect at least one each semester.

Honors courses

Students at the advanced level of French and with a GPA of 3.0 or above may take the following courses in the Honors Program. Students must be aware that their French level is determined by the Sorbonne French test placement result, regardless of the number of semesters of French study previously completed. Student placement is the sole responsibility of the Sorbonne, and AIFS cannot overrule the Sorbonne’s decisions concerning placements and grades. These courses are not open to quarter students. Language classes meet for 12 hours a week, lecture classes meet for 24 hours per semester. Program is subject to change at short notice.

Lecture courses in advanced level French for foreign students:

Please note these courses are not open to quarter students and are subject to change at short notice.

Courses available at other institutions in Paris

Académie de Port Royal

The University of London Institute in Paris

Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode

Schola Cantorum

Students may take one or two courses at these institutions. Except in special circumstances, a minimum of 10 is needed for a course. Students receive transcripts or certificates authenticating work completed.

These institutions vary in accreditation status. The Académie de Port Royal is an art school not of university status in France. Students wishing to transfer credit for Port Royal courses should check with their home institutions. The University of London Institute in Paris is a joint institute of both the University of London and the Université de Paris and, therefore, enjoys university status. The Schola Cantorum is a private music school in Paris. Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode (ESMOD International) is a division of the Institut Supérieur Européen de la Mode (ISEM), which is affiliated with Université Lumière Lyon 2. Students should confirm with home institutions whether transfer credit is allowed from private educational institutions.

Special Courses

A special program organized jointly by the Sorbonne and the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris is available in Paris for Business Administration students at the advanced levels of French who wish, as a part of their major, to do advanced studies in France. Admission is contingent on a written placement test.

The program is especially valuable for students specializing in any aspect of international commerce or economics and who already have strong background in the French language. Students take courses leading to the Certificat de Français Professionnel or the Diplôme de Français des Affaires-1er degré.

The program of study combines intensive language courses (cours pratiques) with additional study in business French. (It is not possible to take only the business courses). These courses are cours pratiques which replace the standard cours pratiques required of all students. Students are also required to take a Sorbonne seminar in French as part of the program in Paris.

Examinations leading to the Certificat and the Diplôme are given by both the Sorbonne and the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris. Students must take both sets of exams to receive the qualification and will receive certificates from both of these prestigious institutions. The Sorbonne exam grade goes on the transcript, but the Chambre de Commerce exam grade does not. The Chambre de Commerce charges an exam fee of approximately $150 (at the student's expense).

If the Chamber of Commerce exam is held after the end of the regular semester, students are responsible for their own housing during that time.

French 307/French 407 fall/spring (9)
Certificat de Français Professionnel or Diplôme de Français des Affaires-1er degré
Practical study of the French language (six hours per week) and phonetics (20 hours per semester) with study of French business terminology (four hours per week). Students wishing to enroll for these one semester courses must be in Advanced French II or Advanced French I. During the fall semester, the Chambre de Commerce exam is held in January, so fall quarter students enrolled in this course cannot take it.

The Cours de Civilisation Française de la Sorbonne also organizes two university level courses of study leading to the Diplôme de Français des Affaires 2ème Degré or the Diplôme Supérieur d'Etudes de Civilisation Française.

French 408 fall/spring (9)
Diplôme de Français des Affaires-2ème Degré
Students must be seniors or graduate students and pass the entrance exam given for the Section Universitaire (annual or semestrial). Emphasis is on the theory of French economics and commerce and practical applications in the French business world. It is for students with university-level French. This option is not open to fall quarter students.

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