Study Abroad in Paris: Courses
| View and print all course descriptions |
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 lecture courses. Recommended semester credits are in parentheses. Quarter students should reduce total credits by one-third.
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 8 students is needed to confirm a course (classes usually have about 15 students). Each seminar meets 30 hours per semester plus 15 hours for 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.
Please note that placement for courses is determined by test, regardless of previous study and language level in Cannes.
Phonetic French is intended to give students a working knowledge of the language for everyday needs. Classes are taught in small groups for 25 hours per semester and must be taken in conjunction with French 101, 151, 201, 301 or 401.
| Fall and Spring Semester | |
| French 101 fall/spring (9) | Elementary French I + phonetics |
| French 151 fall/spring (9) | Elementary French II + phonetics |
| French 201 fall/spring (9) | Intermediate French + phonetics |
| French 301 fall/spring (9) | Advanced French I + phonetics |
| French 401 fall/spring (9) | Advanced French II + phonetics |
Seminars Taught in English
These electives are exclusively for AIFS students. A minimum of 8 students is required to confirm a course.
| Seminars Taught in English | |
| Cultural Studies 316 fall/spring (3) | Literature and the Paris Landscape |
| Fine Arts 319 fall/spring (3) | Paris: Its History and ArchitectureParis: Its History and Architecture |
| French Literature 305/306 fall/spring (3) | French Literature in Translation |
| Political Science/Literature 360 fall/spring (3) | Franco-American Relations from Lafayette to today |
| Sociology 360 spring only (3) | Multiculturalism and Modern France |
Seminars Taught in French
These electives are organized and taught by instructors of the Cours de Civilisation Française exclusively for AIFS students. A minimum of 8 students is needed to confirm a course. Advanced level participants are required to elect at least one each semester.
| Fall Semester | |
| Fine Arts/French/History 313 fall only (3) | Civilisation Française (French Civilization) |
| Fine Arts 319F fall/spring (3) | Paris: Son Histoire, Son Architecture, (Paris: Its History and Architecture) |
| Fine Arts 328 fall only (3) | La Peinture Française aux 16ème et 18ème Siècles (French Painting in the 16th and 18th Centuries) |
| Spring Semester | |
| Fine Arts/History/French 314 spring only (3) | Civilisation Française (French Civilization) |
| Fine Arts 319F fall/spring (3) | Paris: Son Histoire, Son Architecture, (Paris: Its History and Architecture) |
| Fine Arts 329 spring only (3) | Du Réalisme au Post-Impressionnisme: la Peinture Française de 1850 à 1900 (From Realism to Post Impressionism: French Painting from 1850 to 1900) |
| French Literature 310 spring only (3) | Le Roman et la Poésie aux 19ème et 20ème Siècles (19th and 20th Century French Novels and Poetry) |
Lecture Courses Taught in French
Please note these courses are not open to quarter students and are subject to change at short notice.
| Fall Semester | |
| Art History 411/412 fall/spring (3) | Histoire de l’Art Français (French Art History) |
| Economics/Politics 409 fall only (3) | Approche de l’Actualité en France (Overview of the French current affairs) |
| French Literature 411 fall only (3) | Littérature et Civilisation Françaises l’Age Classique: 17ème-18ème siècles (French Literature and Civilization : classical period 17th-18th centuries) |
| Geography/Economics 401 fall only (3) | Géographie économique et sociale de la France (French economic and social geography) |
| History 409 fall only (3) | Paris de origines à la Révolution Française (Paris from its origins to the French Revolution) |
| History/Politics/Economics 411/412 fall/spring (3) | La France et l’Europe (France and Europe) |
| Sociology 411 fall only (3) | La Société Française du Moyen-Age à nos jours (French Society from Middle Ages to today) |
| Spring Semester | |
| Art History 411/412 fall/spring (3) | Histoire de l’Art Français (French Art History) |
| Fine Arts 414 spring only (3) | Les courant artistiques en France aux 19éme et 20éme siècles (Artistic trends in France in the 19th and 20th centuries) |
| French Literature 416 spring only (3) | Littérature Française des 19ème et 20ème siècles (French Literature of the 19th and 20th centuries) |
| Geography/Economics 402 spring only (3) | Géographie économique et sociale de la France (French economic and social geography) |
| History 408 spring only (3) | Paris |
| History/Politics/Economics 411/412 fall/spring (3) | La France et l’Europe: La Société Française (France and Europe: French Society) |
Courses Taught by Other Institutions
Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises, (ILCF)
The University of London Institute in Paris
Académie de Port Royal
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 Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises is a private institution. It is recognized by the French Ministry of Higher Education. It provides a certificate and has University status as it is a part of the Institut Catholique de Paris.
The University of London Institute in Paris is a joint institute of both the University of London and the Université de Paris and, therefore, has university status.
The Académie de Port Royal is a private art school not of university status in France. Students wishing to transfer credit for Port Royal courses should check with their home institutions.
The Schola Cantorum is a private music school in Paris.
Students should confirm with home institutions whether transfer credit is allowed from private educational institutions.
| Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises (ILCF) | |
| Fine Arts 307 fall/spring (3) | Fashion in France |
| Philosophy 380 fall/spring (3) | French philosophy through 17th-20th centuries |
| The University of London Institute in Paris | |
| Fine Arts 300 fall/spring (3) | French Painting |
| Académie de Port Royal | |
| Fine Arts 321 fall/spring (1-4) | Art in Studio (Painting, sketching, drawing) |
| Schola Cantorum | |
| Music 307 fall/spring (1-4) | Instrument Study |
Non-Credit Cultural Enrichment Courses
| Non-credit courses | |
| Non-credit (-) | French Cooking |
| Non-credit (-) | Wine Appreciation |






