Paris: Classics of Social and Political Thought

At the core of this program is the three-course “Classics of Social and Political Thought” sequence, compressed into the nine weeks of Autumn quarter. Participants also take a French language course, which runs at a normal pace throughout the quarter and is designed to help students connect with French (and Parisian) culture.

Given the course’s Paris location, much attention later in the term will be devoted to the intellectual antecedents and legacies of the French Revolution; students will read some number of the following authors: Diderot, Condorcet, Mably, Sieyès, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Paine, Maistre, Constant, Tocqueville, J.S. Mill, and Marx. Themes to be examined through the works of these revolutionary and post-revolutionary authors include: the principles and practice of citizenship; the relationship of commerce and empire to civic life; the meaning of liberty and equality; the causes, consequences and legitimacy of revolution; intellectual and political controversies over constitutional government; and the centrality of historical interpretation to modern revolutionary, republican, liberal and reactionary discourse.

In addition to classroom instruction, the program features a number of excursions to locations of significance from French political and intellectual history—especially the Revolution and its aftermath—including, for instance: the Les Invalides, Place de la Concorde, Tuileries Palace, Conciergerie and the National Assembly, the Palace at Versailles, as well as political art featured at the Musée Carnavalet and at the Louvre.

Faculty who teach on this program rotate from year to year. The faculty roster is designated by the program faculty director.

Autumn 2025 Courses:

• SOSC 15110: Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris I
• SOSC 15210: Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris II
• SOSC 15310: Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris III

All participants also take a French language course.

Headquarters for the College’s study abroad programs in Paris is the University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center in Paris, the University’s teaching and research hub in Europe. Since 2003, the Center has been home to a growing array of the College’s hallmark Study Abroad programs and has supported our community of students, faculty, alumni, and partners from around the world. Designed by Studio Gang, the new Center features state-of-the-art classrooms, offices, event and reception spaces, and gathering areas for students, among other features.

Students in the Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris program are housed in a residence hall within the Cité Internationale Universitaire (Cité). The Cité, a park-like residential complex in the fourteenth arrondissement, is the international student campus in Paris, though French students also live there. Students reside in single rooms with a private bath and have access to Cité facilities, including a library, theater, laundry, and athletic facilities. Students will have access to common kitchens in the residence halls and can purchase inexpensive meals at the Cité’s restaurant universitaire.

It is important to recognize the cultural context of student housing in France and understand that the amenities of dormitory facilities may vary. Although some of these differences may take some getting used to, remember that cultural differences extend to all aspects of your experience abroad. Having realistic expectations for your term in Paris will help you approach the study abroad experience with a positive attitude.

Participants in the Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris program remain registered as full-time students in the College. They take and receive credit for four courses: the three courses in the social sciences sequence and the French language class. The social sciences sequence meets the College’s general education requirement in the social sciences. Students who have already met this requirement may use these courses as electives. Their use, partial or total, in a program of study (major) must be approved by the undergraduate chair of the respective department. The language course will normally count as an elective. Course titles, units of credit, and grades are placed on the College transcript.

Study abroad students pay regular College tuition, a program fee, and a nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee. The tuition and program fee are paid in conformity with the home campus payment schedule, and a deposit toward the nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee is submitted when accepting a place in a program. Precise figures for the Paris program during the 2024-2025 year are listed below:

Autumn tuition: as set by the Bursar’s Office

Study abroad administrative fee: $675

Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris program fee: $5,960

Previous program participants report spending in the range of $200 to $250 per week on meals and incidentals while on the program, though frugal students may spend less, and others could spend much more. Bear in mind that the cost of living in Paris is relatively high and that, while it is possible to live frugally, it is also possible to run short of money if you are unwary. It is therefore essential that you budget your funds prudently, apportioning your resources so that they last for the duration of the program. If you are planning to travel before or after the program or on weekends, you should budget accordingly.

Study abroad students retain their financial aid eligibility. For more information about financial aid resources, please see our Tuition, Fees, and Funding section.

The Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris program is open to University of Chicago undergraduate students only. Applications from outside the University are not accepted.

The program is designed for undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing who are beyond their first year in the College. While the program stipulates no minimum grade-point average, an applicant’s transcript should demonstrate that they are a serious student who will make the most of this opportunity. Because the social sciences sequence is taught in English, there is no language prerequisite, although students are encouraged to take French on campus before the program begins.

Each application is examined on the basis of the student’s scholastic record and personal statement. If you are interested in applying for this program please fill out the online application.

To discuss the Classics of Social and Political Thought in Paris program and the possibility of participating, please contact Damaris Crocker De Ruiter.