Autumn Paris Civilization Program
Please note: Study
abroad programs sponsored by the undergraduate College of the University
of Chicago are open to University of Chicago students only. Applications
from outside the University are not accepted.
The core element of the College’s Francophone Civilization program in Paris is a three-course "Civilisation Européenne" sequence, compressed into the ten weeks of Autumn quarter and devoted to the history of Europe (with some emphasis on France ). The distinctive feature of this civilization sequence is that all classroom discussions and readings are in French. In addition to the sequence, program participants also take a French language course, pitched at an advanced level and running at a normal pace through the quarter. This program thus embodies a wedding of elements from Chicago's civilization-based and language immersion programs. For the student with sufficient French language preparation (see "Eligibility" below), it represents a valuable opportunity both to study European history and culture intensively and to hone language skills. The civilization sequence is enhanced by a number of excursions to sites of historic and cultural interest both within and in the vicinity of Paris. The French capital itself offers numerous opportunities to connect readings and lectures with the surviving monuments of France’s history and artistic patrimony, and it is assumed that students will go beyond program-organized outings in exploring this remarkable city. Please note: This civilization program, is one of two such programs offered by the College in Paris in the Autumn quarter. It should not be confused with the other Autumn-quarter program, which is taught in English. A third civilization program, in English, is offered in Spring quarter.
Center in Paris:
Headquarters for all of the College's programs in Paris is the University of Chicago’s Center in Paris. The Center in Paris builds upon the University's long association with various Parisian institutions, as well as its eminence, recognized by the French government, in interdisciplinary scholarship related to France. It acts as a gathering place for undergraduates, graduate researchers, and alumni, as well as a site for lectures, conferences, and receptions. For participants in the various programs sponsored by the College in Paris, the Center, with its classrooms, offices, computers, language lab, and (modest) library, provides an administrative and instructional home as well as a supportive environment. Its location, in a "new," academically-oriented neighborhood in the thirteenth arrondissement, places it within easy walking distance of the relocated Bibliothèque Nationale (Bibliothèque François Mitterand) and just across the street from the new home of the Université Denis Diderot.
As a participant in the Autumn Paris Civilization program you will live in one of the residence halls of the Cité Internationale Universitaire, a campus-like assemblage of houses for international students. In addition to its various national residences, the Cité comprises a library, restaurant (with adjoining cafeteria), and several sports and exercise facilities. Located at the southern edge of Paris (the fourteenth arrondissement), the Cité offers easy access, by metro and bus, to all of Paris.
You receive three credits for the civilization sequence, which meets the College’s civilization requirement, and one credit for the French language course. If you have already met the civilization requirement you may use these credits as electives. Course titles, units of credit, and grades are placed on your Chicago transcript.
You remain registered full-time in the College and pay regular College tuition, the Autumn Paris program fee and the non-refundable study abroad administrative fee required of all participants in Chicago's programs abroad. For precise figures, see Study Abroad Program Fees.
You retain your financial aid eligibility. However, two expenses—the study abroad administrative fee and the round-trip airfare to Paris —are not underwritten by College Financial Aid. On the other hand, since you cannot be expected to work part-time while in Paris, the self-help component of your financial aid package does not include a term-time employment factor.
The Autumn Paris Civilization program in French is designed for undergraduates in good standing who are beyond their first year in the College. Because all work in this program--lectures, discussions, readings--is conducted in French, you are expected to have taken, with excellent grades, at least two years of college-level French (French through 20300) or have comparable credit by examination by the beginning of the program. If you have questions about your French preparation, you should take them to Nadine Di Vito, the French Language Coordinator.
This minimum prerequisite aside, you are strongly encouraged to take French language courses beyond the second-year level; indeed most participants will have had one or more courses at the advanced level. Such courses will strengthen your application and enhance your experience of Paris. In some cases, an offer of admission to this program is made contingent upon summer language work or participation in a September language pre-session. While the program stipulates no minimum grade-point average, you should present a transcript demonstrating that you are a serious student who will make the most of this opportunity. Please note: Because of the considerable demand on the Chicago civilization programs abroad, no student may participate in more than one of these programs.
Applications are available on the study abroad website. To apply to the Paris Autumn Civilization program, a student submits a general study abroad application electronically, then downloads the supplementary application specific to Civilization programs and submits it on paper, normally in mid-winter quarter of the previous academic year.
In preparing the application and especially in composing the required personal statement, students should keep in mind that admission to Civilization programs are selective and that the number of places available is insufficient to meet the considerable demand. A student accepting an offer of admission is expected to secure his or her place with a $500 non-refundable study abroad administrative fee. (To begin the application process, click on the Study Abroad General Application.)
If you would like to discuss the Autumn Paris
Civilization program (in French) and the possibility of participating
in it, you are invited to contact Sarah Walter (Harper
207A; 834-3753).
Statements contained on this site are subject
to change without notice.
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