Winter Paris Program
THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

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.

General Description:

The University of Chicago's winter-quarter Social Sciences Program in Paris offers students in the College an opportunity to study the social sciences, including economics, from a European perspective. All participants take four courses: a required "core" course on the European Union, two electives, and a French language course. The core course (PLSC 24700--"The European Union") is designed to introduce students to the historical development and current structure of the EU. The electives are chosen from a list of social sciences and economics courses offered to participants in this program as well as the College's winter-quarter International Studies Program. These courses are taught in English by a combination of Chicago and Paris faculty (largely from Dauphine University [University of Paris IX] and the Inst itut d'Etudes de Sciences Politiques ["Sciences Po"]). In addition to these subject-based courses participants take a fourth course in "Practical French," designed to facilitate their exploration of France's capital and their connection with French culture. (Students who have completed French through the 202 level will have the option of taking another elective.) The academic and administrative home of the Paris Social Sciences Program is the University of Chicago's Center in Paris, a facility comprising classrooms, offices, and computers and designed to provide a supportive environment for Chicago students and faculty in Paris.

Housing:

As a participant in the Paris Social Sciences 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 (in the fourteenth arrondissement), the Cité offers easy access, by metro and bus, to all of Paris.

Credits:

You receive one credit (equals 100 units or one course) for each of the four courses in this program (four credits total). These courses have been pre-approved for use in their respective majors. The use of any of these courses in another major is subject to the approval of the program chair. All courses are usable, without further approval, as free electives. Course titles, units of credit, and grades are placed on your Chicago transcript.

Registration and Tuition:

You remain registered full-time in the College and pay regular College tuition, the Winter 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.

Financial Aid:

Students retain their 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.

Eligibility:

The Paris Social Sciences Program is designed for undergraduates in good standing who are beyond their first year in the College. 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. If you plan to take either of the economics courses in this program, you are encouraged to prepare for this by taking all or part of the College's introductory economics sequence. (This sequence begins with Econ 20000, and you should at least take that course.) Other coursework in the social sciences will strengthen your application. While previous French is not a prerequisite for the Winter Paris Program, you are encouraged to take as much French as possible before the beginning of the Program. Both your admissibility to the Program and, onc e admitted, your experience of Paris are likely to be enhanced thereby.

Application:

Applications are available on the study abroad website. To apply to the Social Sciences in Paris program, a student submits a general study abroad application electronically, then downloads the supplementary application specific to this program and submits it on paper, normally in mid-winter quarter of the previous academic year.

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.)

Further Information:

If you would like to discuss the Paris Social Sciences Program and the possibility of participating in it, you are invited to contact Sarah Walter (Harper 207A; 834-3753).