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.\
CAS LF 300 Living French in Paris 1
Recommended for students whose most recent French language course is a fourth- or fifth-semester equivalent
This course aims to refine students’ written and oral expression by improving their overall level of French (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation) with a special emphasis on better integrating them into their daily, academic or professional environments, through linguistic and cultural activities.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Oral and/or Signed Communication
CAS LF 320 Living French in Paris 2
Prerequisite: Fifth-term French or the equivalent
This course aims to help students understand the ways in which language and culture are interconnected, combining written and spoken French, practical and theoretical approaches, daily, professional, and academic contexts, spontaneous and guided cultural discoveries.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Oral and/or Signed Communication
Elective Courses
Elective Courses Taught in French
CAS AH 356 Modern and Contemporary Art in Paris
Designed under the format of half visits and half in-class sessions, this course explores the history of “modernity” focusing on the principal art movements in Paris from 1850 to today, including painting, sculpture, photography, installations, and urbanism, in relation to the historical, economic, and sociocultural contexts of the time period, and its influence in other parts of the world.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Aesthetic Exploration
Historical Consciousness
CAS LF 343 Literary Representation of Paris
Explore the cultural and literary history of Paris, myth and reality, past and present; examine how the work of writers interacts with your image of the city; visit the places authors refer to; create your own original literary representation of Paris.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Aesthetic Exploration
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Creativity/Innovation
CAS HI 269 Diversity in Paris
At the crossroads of history and international relations, this course introduces students to Paris and its diversity by addressing how immigrants from all continents have shaped Paris as a city and by extension France as a nation. Students will examine the multifaceted causes and consequences of international migrations to France from the First World War to the present and changing integration patterns of migrants and refugees in France. Paris and its wider area will be used as resources and case studies, through individual and group visits to neighborhoods and sites representative of cultural diversity, to bring an additional perspective, closer to the experience and realities of social actors and populations.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Historical Consciousness
CAS PO 240 Paris Politique
One of the best ways to integrate French society is to understand French politics, and in turn be able to participate in political discussions. The goal of this course is to encourage students to think politically about modern day France. Students will deepen their understanding of French society by learning about its current political institutions and its civil society. They will get involved in current political life through visits. This will lead them to reflect on the notion of democracy, not only in France, but also in the United States and other countries.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Social Inquiry I
Elective Courses Taught in English
CAS AH 383 Paris Architecture and Urbanism
Traces the development of Parisian architecture and urbanism, from the Roman era to the present, emphasizing dynamic relationships among architecture, urban development, and socio-political history. Course format: 1/3 in-class sessions, 2/3 visits.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Aesthetic Exploration
Historical Consciousness
Critical Thinking
CAS IR 305/PO 248 Comparative European Politics: France and Beyond
Study of the diversity of political systems in European countries and the state of European democracies. Focus on institutional as well as societal aspects through multiple social science approaches, including current events and visits.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Social Inquiry I
Ethical Reasoning
Research and Information Literacy
COM CM 370 Communicating in a Multicultural World: the Paris Experience
This course explores the interaction between culture and communication, and introduces students to the knowledge and skills necessary to attain critical thinking and global competence in various contexts. Students will develop, apply, and refine cross-cultural skills through experiential activities and historical narratives.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Social Inquiry I
Teamwork & Collaboration
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
Spring Only Courses
CAS EC 361/IR 344 Economic Development of Europe: Between Union and Disunion
Students will examine the economic foundations of the European Union, along with their structures and mechanisms, in order to better understand the current crises and the future challenges inherent in a changing global economy. The focus of the course will orient the students especially toward the European dimension of contemporary problems and current events.
Units: 4
BU Hub areas:
Historical Consciousness
Research and Information Literacy
Social Inquiry I
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.
HUB SA 330 Study Abroad Internship
This course is a Non-unit Hub Co-curricular.
Units: 0
BU Hub areas:
Individual in Community
CAS AH 505 Internship in Arts/Architecture/Arts Administration
Units: 4
COM JO 412 Internship in Journalism
Units: 4
CAS PS 495 Internship in Health and Human Services
Units: 4
COM FT 493 Internship in Film & Television
Units: 4
CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations
Units: 4
COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising/Marketing/Public Relations
Units: 4
CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics
Units: 4
SHA HF 390 Field Placement in Hospitality Administration
Units: 4
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.
