BU’s five Paris programs make the most of France’s capital city. The eight-week Paris Summer Internship Program combines coursework that focuses on Paris through a study of language, urbanism, literature, cinema, and theater, with internships at organizations in the greater Paris area. Classes are taught in French and English. Placement in one of the two internship tracks offered depends on the amount of college-level French classes the student has already taken.
BU Abroad: Voulez-Vous Diner Avec Moi Ce Soir?
BU Abroad: Voulez-Vous Diner Avec Moi Ce Soir?
Requirements & Considerations
- All students must enroll according to, and remain in compliance with, the Boston University Study Abroad Course Load Policy.
- French language track: four semesters of College level French or the equivalent are required
- English language track: No prior language study is required. We have a limited number of spaces for this track in the following internship areas: Communication, Marketing, and Start-Ups.
- Some courses carry prerequisites
- Admissions requirements for all programs
Curriculum
Required Courses
Students enroll in one of the following courses and the internship course.
Courses Taught in French
- CAS LF 113 Intensive Beginning French (4 credits)
- Intensive French course for beginners. Introduction to grammar, vocabulary, and structure of French, emphasizing the basic communication skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- (If CAS LF 111, 112, or a more advanced college-level course has been completed, this course cannot be taken for credit.)
- CAS LF 300 Living French in Paris: Practical Communication and Current Culture, Level 1 (4 credits)
- 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.
- Syllabus
- CAS LF 342 French Society through Theater, Cinema, and Music (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
- Oral and/or Signed Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Theater, cinema, and popular music as windows on the subtleties of French society and ways of thinking. In-class analysis of plays, films, and song lyrics is integrated with outings and site explorations, to develop understanding of Paris's artistic popular history.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
Courses Taught in English
- CAS AH 383 Paris Architecture and Urbanism (4)
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
- Aesthetic Exploration
- Historical Consciousness
- Critical Thinking
- Traces the development of Parisian architecture and urbanism, from the Roman era to the present, focusing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and emphasizing dynamic relationships among architecture, urban development, and socio-political history.
- Syllabus
- This course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas:
*The Syllabus changes every year. The posted syllabus is merely indicative and subject to change.
Internship Areas & Tracks
Internships are available in both French and English; although there are limited industry areas available in English—see below. Students will apply to one of two tracks and must specify their track selection at the time of submitting an application: French Track or English Track.
Students are eligible for a certain track based on their French language background, which will dictate whether your internship will be conducted in French or English. The track determines which internship areas are available to you for your internship placement.
Please note these are examples of past internship placements only. While BU Study Abroad guarantees an internship to program participants, specific placements vary from semester to semester 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.
French Track
Students who have taken four or more semesters of French should apply to the French track, where their internship will be conducted in French.
Internship Areas:
- Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
- Serve in marketing and product development, press relations, events management, or public relations. Past internship placements have included Le Book, Set in Paris, Parisianist, Publicis, Brain for Beauty, MEEDEX, Quartier General, and Reputation Squad.
- Arts & Arts Administration
- Serve in museums, galleries, and related cultural institutions. Recent placements have included Galerie Maeght, Atelier Lytfa Kujawski, Galerie Richard, Galerie RX, and Théâtre in Paris.
- Business & Economics
- Serve in the marketing or research departments of French companies. Recent placements have included Mediatic, JPA International, Finance Innovation, and Q.S. Paris.
- Film & Media
- Experience small film and production companies. Recent placements have included Forecast Pictures, European Producers Club, and ECU Film Festival.
- Health & Human Services
- Observe and assist in hospital, therapy, or educational programs. Serve in health centers, social service departments, or community care centers. Recent placements have included Hôpital des Quinze-Vingt, Hôpital Franco-Brutannique, Centre Popincourt, and Centre Social Belleville.
- Hospitality Administration
- Serve in the hospitality industry in such fields as hotel or event management. Recent placements have included Buci, Hotel Baume, Parisianist, Comforts of Home, BNB Sitter.
- Journalism
- Help with research and translation with some limited writing tasks for online magazines. Recent placements have included Les Louves, WorldCrunch and Webistan.
- Politics & International Relations
- Serve in NGOs or international institutions. Recent placements have included AERI (teaching and learning about the Resistance), Robin des Bois (environmental protection agency), Children of Prisoners Europe (parent-child relations), EGAM, Ambassade du Méxique, Jeunes Européens France, Promothée Humanitaire, and Orphelin Sida International.
English Track
Internships in English are reserved for students who have taken fewer than four semesters of French at the university level (or the equivalent), and they will be placed on the English track. Note: Internships in English will be offered in the following sectors only: marketing, communications, and start-ups.
Internship Areas:
- Communications (including public relations)
- Serve in various roles in the communications field. Past internship placements have included a communications agency in the fashion industry, a tour company, a digital media organization, etc.
- Marketing
- Serve in marketing and product development, press relations, events management, or public relations. Past internship placements have included Le Book, Set in Paris, Dlab Shop, Mediatic, Brain for Beauty, MEEDEX, Quartier General, and Reputation Squad.
- Start-Ups
- Serve in the growing field of start-ups. Past placements have included start-ups in business, tech/IT, and customer relations.
Internship Courses
The course number will depend on the area of specialization in which the student completes his or her internship. Placements are contingent upon students' past experiences, language abilities, professional interests, and available opportunities in any given semester, so flexibility is essential.
- CAS AH 505 Internship in Art/Architecture Abroad
- CAS EC 497 Internship in Business/Economics Abroad
- CAS PO 401/IR 451 Internship in Politics Abroad
- CAS PO 403 Internship in Comparative Law Abroad
- CAS PO 405/IR 455 Internship in International Organizations Abroad
- CAS PS 495 Internship in Human/Health Services
- COM CM 471 Internship in Advertising or Public Relations
- COM FT 493/494 Internship in Film and Television
- COM JO 411 Internship in Journalism
- SHA HF 390 Internship in Hospitality Administration
Internship Components
Interns are evaluated throughout their placements by the faculty member monitoring the final internship paper and by the oral defense jury.
Housing & Student Services
| Local Homestay | or | University Dormitory |
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There are gyms at the university and in town. Students can study at the BU Paris Center. Many students study at home, as university libraries have more restricted hours than in the US.
Program Dates
- Summer Term: Mid-May to mid-July
Application Deadlines
- Summer Term: March 1
Cost & Financial Considerations
- Summer 2020 Tuition & Fees: $9,175
Cost includes tuition, housing, cultural activities, overseas medical insurance, and emergency evacuation coverage. - Estimated program budget, including cost of living expenses for Summer 2020
- Grants and Scholarships available
- BU Study Abroad arranges a trans-Atlantic group flight that is not included in the program fee. We recommend that students take this flight.
