Paris: Psychology

The classes cover a broad array of sub-areas within Psychology and all three count toward the elective-courses requirement of the major. Psychology majors are encouraged to apply, though the program is open to students of all majors as the courses have no prerequisites.

Classroom work will be complemented by local field trips to related sites. In addition to the Psychology courses, all participants will take a “practical” French language course running at a normal pace through the quarter.

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

The following courses will be taught in the Spring 2026 program:

• Neuroeconomics: The neuroscience of decision making (Akram Bakkour)
  Course Description:
  1. Overview of neoclassical economic theories
  2. Reviewing the tools of cognitive neuroscience
  3. Learning from feedback and computing value to guide choice
  4. Mitigating risk and resolving uncertainty to make the best decision
  5. Cost-benefit analysis in decision making
  6. Time considerations in decision making: deliberation time and intertemporal choice
  7. Memory, maps, navigation, and decision making
  8. The emotional brain and impulsive choices
  9. The social brain and strategic choice
  10. Understanding the others’ mind in cooperation and competition
   
• How to navigate the social world (Lin Blan)
  Course Description:
  How do children navigate the complex and sophisticated social world? This seminar is designed to shed light on this question to help students develop an understanding of the foundations of human nature in social contexts. It will provide an overview of the topics in early social cognition, including psychological reasoning, theories of mind, essentialism, social categorization, moral development, stereotypes and prejudice. It will cover the classic theories and empirical cutting-edge research in social cognitive development, as well as introducing methods, paradigms and research designs in this area. Specific topics are below.
  1. Psychological reasoning: Understanding others’ mind
  2. Essentialism: Early beliefs about the nature of categories
  3. Ingroup love vs. outgroup hate
  4. Norms and conformity
  5. Stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination
  6. Gender stereotype and its consequences
  7. Status: dominance, wealth, prestige
  8. Origins of inequality: structural vs. intrinsic reasoning
  9. The moral child
  10. Culture and social cognition
   
• Adventures in the chemical senses (Leslie Kay)
  Course Description:
  Students will learn about the senses of smell and taste in an experiential course. We will combine lectures, reading of primary source materials and field trips to explore Paris through scent and flavor – perfumes, wines and neighborhood walks to experience the unique scents of the city. Laboratory work may include making perfumes, cooking, wine and cheese tasting.
  1. Olfactory and taste system neuroanatomy and neurophysiology (non-human animals)
  2. Human olfaction and taste
  3. Olfaction in human health and disease
  4. History of perfumery in France
  5. Laboratory on the art of perfumery
  6. The science of wine and cheese
  7. Molecular gastronomy
   

Please note: Students who are planning to apply for the Spring 2026 Paris Psychology program should not take any of the above courses on campus.

All program 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 Paris Psychology 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 Paris Psychology program remain registered as full-time students in the College. They receive four credits, one for each of the three Psychology courses and a fourth for the French language course. Students may use the three Psychology credits within the Psychology major. The use of these courses in a major other than Psychology 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:

Spring tuition: as set by the Bursar’s Office

Study abroad administrative fee: $675

Paris Psychology 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 Paris Psychology 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 program courses (aside from the French class) are 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 Paris Psychology program and the possibility of participating, please contact Damaris Crocker De Ruiter.