Curriculum
The program is divided into two phases:
Week 1–Week 8 (Core Phase)
After an orientation period, students enroll in three courses and begin the internship placement process. Students typically take one French language course, and two electives covering a range of topics. We strongly encourage students to enroll in a French language course, as well as to take all of their electives in French, although they are not required to do so. Such additional language instruction and practice will better support and prepare students for success in their academic and internship placement obligations throughout the term.
French Language Courses
Students enroll in one required French-language course at their level.
All Paris Internship Program French language are in essence embedded in the Program as a whole and are designed to work towards the goal of allowing students to perform at their best while living and working in Paris. Outcomes and progression in these courses are aligned with courses taught in Boston; however their content is adapted to the students’ daily exposure to a French speaking environment and to the Paris experience.\
Elective Courses
Elective Courses Taught in French
Elective Courses Taught in English
Week 10–Week 16 (Internship Phase)
During the second half of the semester, students participate in local professional life through faculty-supervised internships. Students serve as interns full time, Monday through Thursday, while also attending internship course sessions on Fridays.
Placements are contingent upon students’ past experiences, language abilities, professional interests, and available opportunities in any given term, so flexibility is essential.
Internship Areas
- Arts & Arts Administration
- Serve in galleries, and related cultural institutions. Recent placements have included Area Corp, Amélie Maison d’Art, Galerie Inlassable, Galerie Beauté du Matin Calme and Theatre in Paris.
- Business & Economics
- Serve in the communications, IT/data science, or research departments of French companies. Recent placements have included Finance Innovation, and La Chaire Gouvernance et Régulation de l’Université Paris Dauphine, Supervizor and Streammind.
- Film & Media
- Experience small film and production companies, namely by helping in video editing. Recent placements have included Forecast Pictures, European Producers Club, and ECU Film Festival, Studio Coquillettes.
- Hospitality Administration
- Serve in the hospitality industry in such fields as hotel or event management. Recent placements have included Hotel Apostrophe, Hotels Paris Rive Gauche, Les Secrets Gourmands de Noémie, Flavors of Paris, Feel Parisien, and Bocamexa.
- International Relations
- Serve in NGOs or international companies, by helping on research, translation or communication tasks, for diverse causes (peace, human rights, women’s rights, environment, international development, etc.). Recent placements have included Robin des Bois, Children of Prisoners Europe, Prométhée Humanitaire, CRIDES, Aurore, and HAMAP Humanitaire.
- Journalism
- Help with research and translation with some limited writing tasks for online magazines. Recent placements have included FSJU-RCJ, and WorldCrunch.
- Marketing
- Serve in marketing and product development, press relations, social media management, events management, or public relations within small Parisian businesses. Recent placements have included Inea Conseil, GuestReady, CityTRI.
- Health & Human Services
- Observe and assist in hospital, therapy, or educational programs. Serve in health centers, social and cultural centers, or community care centers. Recent placements have included Hôpital des Quinze-Vingt, Hôpital Franco-Britannique, Centre Maia Autisme, Centre Social Roquette, and Centre Social Belleville.
Note: the following are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from term to term and may not always be available. Likewise, internship placements may be available in academic areas not listed. The level of proficiency in the target language is an important factor, which internship supervisors will take into account.
Internship Courses
Study Abroad will enroll students in a non-unit Hub co-curricular and in a four-unit internship course, which includes a classroom component in the form of mandatory workshops. The four-unit course number will depend on the area of specialization in which students complete their internship or focus their reflection for the Internship Course assignments.
The Internship Course workshops are designed to encourage students’ reflection on their internship cultural and professional experience, as well as to prepare for the internship course assignments, a process which results in a final mock professional interview, where students highlight the professional value and benefits of their internship experience.
Upon successful completion of the internship experience, students will receive a Hub requirement in the area Individual in Community from the co-curricular HUB SA 330.
Students in this program should expect their internship to be conducted in French. Placements in English are limited and reserved for students with lower levels of French proficiency.
Please note your course unit is flexible and can reflect the responsibilities you take on during your internship. Students have the opportunity to discuss what course code will be associated with their internship with the academic staff in Paris.