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Paris - French Studies
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Academics
Our mission is simple: to provide you with the best study abroad program possible—which includes the highest quality academic and cultural experiences.
We offer unique courses that explore French language, history, and culture through an in-depth and hands-on approach. Our world-class professors and course options at prestigious local universities enhance your academic experience and provide you with new perspectives each day in class. Meet one of these professors, Dr. Anaïs Frantz de Spot, in this faculty spotlight interview.
Create your own academic experience by selecting from the following program components. You take 15-19 credits per semester; all courses are taught in French.
- IES Abroad French language course (required, 4 credits)
- IES Abroad French-taught area studies courses (optional, 3 credits each)
- French-taught courses at partner universities: (optional, credits vary)
- Atelier de la Villa Bastille*
- École Normale de Musique de Paris/Alfred Cortot
- Institut Catholique de Paris (ICP)
- Paris Marais Dance School**
- Université de Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)
- Internship placement and seminar (optional, 3 credits)
*Students must be pursuing a major or minor in Studio Art, and have written approval from their home school.
**Students must be pursuing a major or minor in Dance, and have written approval from their home school.
Language Pledge
Our Paris faculty take great pride in the quality of their language training. In order to create a French language environment, you are required to observe a rigorous language pledge while at the IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center.
Courses
These courses are taught at the IES Abroad Center by local faculty.
To learn more about IES Abroad’s innovative theoretical and pedagogical approaches to teaching language abroad, refer to the IES Abroad MAP for Language & Intercultural Communication.
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 275 - Paris Museums | Spring | French | 3 |
| AH 320 - The French Artistic Milieu in the 19th and 20th Centuries | Fall | French | 3 |
| AH 325 - History of Photography | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| FP/AH 315 - From Impressionism to Surrealism: How Japan, Africa and Islam Influenced Major 19th and 20th Century French Art Movements | Fall | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS/CU 343 - Paris Cinema-City | Spring, Summer | French | 3 |
| LT/CU 342 - Rebellious France | Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP/AH 315 - From Impressionism to Surrealism: How Japan, Africa and Islam Influenced Major 19th and 20th Century French Art Movements | Fall | French | 3 |
| FP/SO 320 - Immigration and Diversity in Paris | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR 303 - French Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad III | Fall, Spring | French | 4 |
| FR 323 - Creative Writing | Spring | French | 3 |
| FR 353 - French Language in Context: Independent Abroad III | Fall, Spring | French | 4 |
| FR 360 - Phonetics | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| FR 401 - French Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad I | Fall, Spring | French | 4 |
| FR 422 - Translation: Thème et Version | Fall | French | 4 |
| FR 451 - French Language in Context: Competent Abroad I | Fall, Spring | French | 4 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS/CU 343 - Paris Cinema-City | Spring, Summer | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT/GS 345 - The Poetics and Politics of Gender in France: From French Feminism to Gender Studies | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS 260 - History of France: Keys to Understanding the Nation | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| HS 353 - Histories and Legends of Paris | Fall, Spring, Summer | French | 3 |
| HS/PO 484 - France and Francophone Africa | Fall | French | 3 |
| PO/HS 311 - Democracy in France | Spring | French | 3 |
| PO/HS 430 - The Maghreb and the Arab World | Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IN 395 - Internship Seminar | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| IR/PO 386 - Terrorism and Security: A European and American Perspective | Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| LT 250 - Introduction to French Literature | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| LT 331 - French Women Writers: Women In French Literary History 1880-1950 | Spring | French | 3 |
| LT 340 - Paris in 19th and 20th Century French Literature | Fall | French | 3 |
| LT/CU 342 - Rebellious France | Spring | French | 3 |
| LT/GS 345 - The Poetics and Politics of Gender in France: From French Feminism to Gender Studies | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS/PO 484 - France and Francophone Africa | Fall | French | 3 |
| IR/PO 386 - Terrorism and Security: A European and American Perspective | Spring | French | 3 |
| PO 382 - French Foreign and European Policy | Fall | French | 3 |
| PO/HS 311 - Democracy in France | Spring | French | 3 |
| PO/HS 430 - The Maghreb and the Arab World | Spring | French | 3 |
| Course Name | Term | Language | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| FP/SO 320 - Immigration and Diversity in Paris | Fall, Spring | French | 3 |
| SO 368 - Twenty-First-Century France : A Sociological Approach | Fall | French | 3 |
Partner Institution(s)
Université de Paris-Sorbonne (Paris IV)
From the time it was founded in the Middle Ages through its restructuring in the late 1960s, Paris IV has attracted scholars from around the world. Credits vary.
You will be able to take most courses at the Sorbonne at the Licence 1, 2 & 3 level. However, please note, you will be able to take Art History courses at the Licence 1 level only.
Please note, the disciplines below are NOT available for IES Abroad students:
- Medicine
- Sciences & Engineering
- Education (Enseignement)
- CELSA (Information et communication)
Institut Catholique de Paris
Founded in 1875 for religious training, the Institut Catholique de Paris offers a full curriculum to a diverse student population. As a small, private university that enrolls 5,000 French students each year, the ICP gives you the benefit of small classes where you can study and interact with French students and professors. Most courses at ICP are 3 credits. You can select from French-taught courses in:
- Art History
- Economics
- Education
- History
- International Relations
- Law
- Literary Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
École Normale de Musique de Paris / Alfred Cortot
Classical musicians who want to benefit from high-quality, demanding music instruction may audition for the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris. Founded in 1919 by the renowned pianist Alfred Cortot, the École Normale is the private school equivalent to the National Conservatory. Admissions decisions are made by the École Normale de Musique.
Students who qualify may take up to four courses at the École Normale, in addition to French language and other courses at the IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center. Instrumentalists and vocalists will study performance. There is also a chamber music course available*, but it is a year-long commitment, so students must enroll for both the fall and spring semesters. In addition, the chamber music course will require students to stay in Paris beyond the official end date of the spring French Studies Program. Certain instruments, such as percussion, are not taught at the École Normale.
*Carries an additional cost
Instruments taught at the École Normale include:
- Alto Violin
- Bassoon
- Cello
- Clarinet
- Double Bass
- Flute
- Guitar
- Harp
- Oboe
- Piano
- Piccolo
- Violin
- Voice
Paris Marais Dance School
The school is a part of the Marais Centre de Danse, established in 1970. This private institution offers classes for beginning and experienced dancers.
The school is housed in a former hôtel particulier dating from the 1600s and is located in the stylish 4th arrondissement. The institution boasts three recently renovated dance studios—all named after famous composers—that are still decorated with the original wood-beamed ceilings.
The Paris Marais Dance School offers instruction for students majoring or minoring in Dance in the following styles:
Classical Ballet
- Classical ballet technique
- Partner work classical and neo-classical
- Pointe work
- Strengthening
Contemporary Dance
- Floor-barre
- Improvisation
- Martha Graham Technique
- Techniques flow, release, contact
Once on site, your IES Abroad Paris advisor will make an appointment for you to meet the school’s professors, who will then place you in the proper classes for your level.
Atelier de la Villa Bastille
The Villa Bastille is an art school (drawing and painting) where students have the opportunity to work freely and independently while benefiting from the instruction of an experienced artist. Here, students can put into practice the principles needed to depict live models or can learn different techniques painting with watercolor, oil, acrylic, and more. Students majoring or minoring in Studio Art may take 1-2 courses here. Small class sizes allow for individual guidance by the instructor. Courses that are offered are:
- Painting (free subject and technique)
- Drawing (live models)
Internships
Did you know that, while in Paris, you can intern as part of your study abroad experience? With a part-time internship, you’ll gain global work experience that will increase your job readiness and give you an advantage after graduation. With an internship, you will:
- Take an important step in your career development by navigating the professional world with our support.
- Learn more about yourself both personally and professionally and build confidence in the process.
- Experience what working in Paris is really like and gain an authentic understanding of the workplace culture while developing real, applicable job skills that will bolster your career readiness.
- Begin building an international network by making connections with coworkers and peers.
All of our internships are supervised and earn IES Abroad credit. You participate in a 3-credit seminar to complement the practical experience you gain during the internship for a greater understanding of work life in your host country.
Personalized Job Placements
Once you indicate your interest in an internship, we work with you to find the ideal placement that satisfies your interests and goals. We’ve placed student with a wide variety of organizations and businesses. If we don’t currently offer placements in your field of interest, we will look for one that’s right for you.
Placement Examples
Past students have interned in the following fields. Don’t see what you’re looking for? Just talk to your IES Abroad Advisor—we are always looking for new internship opportunities for our students.
- Communications
- Marketing
- Business Development
- Non-Governmental Organizations
- Start-ups
Field Trips & Events
Even though your adventure starts in Paris, our field trips take you outside the city to discover the culture and traditions of your host country and beyond. The orientation trip and field trips are included in your program cost. Here are a few possible destinations.
Loire Valley
2 Days | Spring
Visit famous Châteaux, such as Chambord and Amboise, and local restaurants serving regional specialties.
Normandy
2 Days | Fall
1 Day | Spring
Tour the D-Day beaches, the Mémorial de Caen, and the American Cemetery.
Giverny
1 Day | Fall & Spring
Visit artist Claude Monet’s home in the beautiful village of Giverny and walk through the spectacular gardens that gave him so much inspiration. Monet’s water lily paintings and many others were painted here.
Provins
1 Day | Fall
Experience history in this fortified medieval town that hosted trading fairs, markets, and jousting tournaments for centuries in the heart of the Brie region.
Reims
1 Day | Fall & Spring
Take a guided tour of the Cathédrale Notre Dame and visit a Champagne producer to learn how the wine is made, and enjoy a tasting.
IES Abroad field trip destinations, activities and lengths of stay may vary according to term and availability.
Daily Life
Part of making you feel at home in Paris is doing our best to help you feel safe and cared for. Whether it’s the orientation program that prepares you for what’s ahead, your housing that is well-located and comfortable, or the field trips that take you to places off the beaten path—we’re all about our student services.
Orientation
Our orientation introduces you to the IES Abroad Paris French Studies staff, your fellow students, and the city of Paris. It continues with an overnight trip to a destination like the Loire Valley or Normandy.
Our Comprehensive Orientation & Re-Entry Experience (CORE™) begins right when you arrive and continues through the semester with activities focusing on academic and cultural adjustment. Detailed information about housing, public transportation, culture, health and safety, and other important topics are also covered.
Following orientation, you engage in a one-week language-intensive program that prepares you for classes taught in French.
Housing
We want to make sure that your greatest challenge is deciding which landmarks to see first or discovering the best café—not finding a place to live where you feel comfortable. We do our best to locate housing that is reflective of how the local students are living. Our goal is that when you leave Paris, it will feel like home.
Homestays - Stay in a French home in Paris or its surrounding banlieues (suburbs). Breakfast is provided daily, and you eat three evening meals per week with your hosts. Other meals are available at university cafeterias and inexpensive restaurants.
Apartments - A limited number of shared apartments are available for an additional cost. Apartments include kitchen facilities and shared bathrooms. An IES Abroad Resident Assistant lives on site or nearby. Meals are not included.
Extracurricular Activities & Cultural Events
Take advantage of the cultural events we organize in Paris, such as:
- Listening to guest speakers, including local filmmakers and journalists
- Participating in the Weekly Conversation club
- Visits to museums like the Louvre, the Picasso museum, the Georges Pompidou center, and the Musée d'Orsay
Volunteer Abroad
When you volunteer in Paris, you have the chance to make a difference in the local community while meeting new people and gaining a new perspective on the world. If you are passionate about volunteering abroad, just let the on-site staff know at the beginning of your term. Past volunteer opportunities in Paris include:
- Promoting diversity at cultural centers in Paris
- Tutoring elementary and middle school-aged children
- Facilitating outdoor activities for children and adults with disabilities
Get to Know Your New City
Get More Monet For Your Money!
Spend all the time you want in the many museums of Paris like the Musée d’Orsay with cheap ticket prices thanks to your IES Abroad student card.
Bask in the Good Life at the Place des Vosges
This stately square features arched arcades, and gorgeous 17th- and 18th-century apartment buildings surrounding an immaculate garden. Grab a cup of coffee, have a seat on a bench, and take in the surroundings.
Picnic by the Seine
Watch boats and share brie on baguettes with friends, then dance while live bands play on the river banks.
Explore the Parc de la Villette
This massive park is home to a canal, themed gardens, museums, a cinema, and large architectural sculptures.
Encore! Encore! Enjoy the Theatre
Experience ballet and opera performances under a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall at the Palais Garnier opera house.
Program Cost
Consider these prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Scholarships & Aid
Program-Specific Scholarships
Dr. William Louis Gaines Need-Based History or International Relations Scholarship
This scholarship is named in honor of Dr. William Louis Gaines, President of IES Abroad from 1974-1992. Dr. Gaines was dedicated to strengthening IES Abroad's academic framework, broadening the scope of IES Abroad locations, and securing the financial foundation of the organization.
Open to students majoring in History or International Relations.
Kathleen Kervin Diamond Endowed Scholarship
Kathleen Diamond is a consultant, entrepreneur, and business leader in the language services industry. In 1979, she founded Language Learning Enterprises, Inc. (LLE®), a full-service language company based in Washington, D.C. She is recognized as an early pioneer in Telephone Interpreting, launching LLE-LINK in the early 1990s. Over the next 20 years, under her leadership, the company grew into a dynamic, multimillion dollar corporation, serving a wide range of clients, in both the private and public sectors, across the United States, and worldwide. In 2009, Ms.
Use our budget worksheet to calculate your costs
$6+ Million in Scholarships & Aid
Our Center
While in Paris, we want to ensure you have every opportunity to immerse yourself in new experiences. That’s why our IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center staff is committed to providing outstanding academic and student support services. We take care of the details, so you can soak up every moment of your Parisian experience.
The IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center is located on a bustling market street near the Cimetière du Montparnasse. The area is filled with restaurants, food shops, boutiques, and cafés.
Our Center is your connection point for all things IES Abroad.
- Take your IES Abroad courses in the Center's classrooms
- Meet with staff in their offices
- Study in the library
- Connect with friends in the student foyer
- Enjoy a sunny day sitting in the garden
Other features include: high-speed internet, WiFi, and printer access
Our Staff
Scott Lyngaas, Ph.D.
Center Director
Dr. Scott Lyngaas has been the IES Abroad Paris French Studies Center Director since 2014. Scott came to IES Abroad from Beloit College, where he was Associate Dean and Associate Professor of French. He received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he wrote his dissertation on Francophone historical fiction. Dr. Lyngaas previously served as the Resident Director of study abroad programs in both Brussels and Paris.
Health & Safety
With 70 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in.
In response to COVID-19, enhanced safety guidelines will be implemented this year—such as social distancing and personal protective equipment (PPE) in on-site classes, in-country field trips and travel only, and apartment or residence hall housing (no homestays) that ensures proper space should self-quarantining be necessary.
How We Support You
We plan for "what if" so that you don't have to. From international health insurance included in the cost of your program to highly-trained local staff who can connect you to English-speaking healthcare providers, we are working around the clock to ensure your health and safety while abroad.
Learn more about the support you can expect to receive on our programs, including:
- International health insurance through CISI in the case you need to see a doctor or mental health professional
- 24/7 emergency support whether you encounter an issue while traveling or in your host city
- Location-specific health and safety information presented at orienation by on-site staff
- TripTracker system allowing you to share independent travel plans in case you need to be contacted swiftly in a crisis
- A mandatory cell phone policy so that you can be contacted locally and receive any emergency updates via call or text
- Crisis drills so that you feel prepared to respond to an emergency should one arise
- And more!
Health & Safety Resources
You safety begins with being accurately informed from the moment you're considering study abroad through to the day you return home.
Take note of ways you can maintain your health and stay safe abroad while reviewing our resources, including:
- IES Abroad MAP for Student Health, Safety & Crisis Management
- Study Abroad Safety Tips for Traveling
- IES Abroad Student Blogs on Safety and Mental Health
- And more!
Fall 2021
We all know that Fall 2021 is going to look a bit different from other study abroad terms, but that doesn’t mean it still won’t be the most incredible semester of your life!
We’re working hard to keep you safe and well, so you can focus on what you came to do—live and learn abroad (and have some fun along the way!). Below is a summary of the main tweaks to the program this semester, which may be updated as more details become known. You can learn even more about our measures for all programs on our Fall 2021 Health & Safety page.
Academics & Partner Universities
Know that you’ll be learning from the best of the best this fall. On our French Studies program, you’ll have the option to take courses taught by world-class IES Abroad faculty at our Center or or at any of the partner universities.
IES Abroad Courses Available in Fall 2021:
- AH 325 - History of Photography
- FP/SO 320 - Immigration and Diversity in Paris
- FR 303 - French Language in Context: Emerging Independent Abroad III
- FR 353 - French Language in Context: Independent Abroad III
- FR 360 - Phonetics
- FR 401 - French Language in Context: Emerging Competent Abroad I
- FR 422 - Translation: Thème et Version
- FR 451 - French Language in Context: Competent Abroad I
- GS/LT 345 - The Poetics and Politics of Gender in France: From French Feminism to Gender Studies
- HS 260 - History of France: Keys to Understanding the Nation
- HS 353 - Histories and Legends of Paris
- IN 395 - Internship Seminar
- LT 250 - Introduction to French Literature
- PO 382 - French Foreign and European Policy
Explore all the course options from our partner universities and find IES Abroad course syllabi on the “Academics” tab.
Health & Safety Protocols
We’re making sure that your learning experience is a safe one so you can focus on the topic at hand. So, to enhance effective social/physical distancing, IES Abroad is taking proactive measures in the classroom, including:
- limiting class enrollment sizes limitations
- adjusting space layout and room choice
- and promoting student/faculty use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Learn more about our health and safety measures for Fall 2021.
Housing
You’ll stay in a clean, comfortable apartment where we’ve taken the utmost safety measures, including single occupancy rooms. At this time, homestays will not be offered through IES Abroad programs this fall. Learn more about the overarching housing policies for Fall 2021.
Field Trips
Across all IES Abroad programs, field trips will stay local and regional this fall. Your fields trips will all take place in France, which means you’ll get fully immersed in the culture(s) you came for! Possible trips include:
- Giverny
- Reims
- Provins
Internships
Our optional, part-time internships have always been designed to give you experience in what it's really like to work in Paris. For Fall 2021, part-time internships will be offered online. That said, we’re working hard to be able to offer in-person opportunities that align with our health and safety standards. You can count on having a part-time internship this fall—definitely virtually and potentially in-person—to help you gain a professional edge this semester.
Our Center
Our Center in Paris is your go-to spot for classes, student services, and information. Serving as your campus away from campus, you can feel safe going to class or checking in with an IES Abroad staff member because, at a minimum, IES Abroad Centers will undergo daily cleaning and disinfection by professional cleaning services.
Cost
Cost details for Fall 2021 can be found on the Cost tab. Be sure to click through the linked total to view a thorough cost breakdown PDF. Consider those prices as a starting point. We encourage you to contact your study abroad office to determine the actual cost to you when factoring in financial aid, scholarships, your home school policies, and other factors.
Go Ahead & Get Started…With a Refund Policy that has your Back
As a mission-driven, not-for-profit, we are guided by two priorities as we navigate Fall 2021: to leave the door open for your opportunity to study abroad, and to strive to keep you safe and healthy. So, what’s our advice? Give yourself the chance to have an incredible adventure—even if it’s a bit different than planned!—and know we’re right alongside you as the details unfold.
And thanks to our Fall 2021 Refund Policy, there’s no commitment just yet. What’s more, once you start an application, you’ll be in the loop and hear directly from us if any changes are made to your program.
Latest from Paris
Contact a Past Student
From budgeting tips to housing insight, IES Abroad Ambassadors volunteer their study abroad and internship experiences and advice.
