Description

The Critical Studies study abroad program in Paris, France is geared to students who have completed at least five semesters of French study or are at the high intermediate or advanced level in their language study. Students should have an interest in a critical approach to contemporary French thought in the fields of literature, film, philosophy, art, and aesthetics.

The Critical Studies program has three main goals: to open up a critical space in which to consider movements in French thought, art, and culture; to offer the opportunity to take classes at the Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7) and other renowned Parisian institutions; and to provide a thoughtful appreciation of and engaging approach to Paris, France, and the dynamism of French, European, and global intellectual and artistic culture.

Academic Program
The Critical Studies program offers students a range of courses in the fields of cinema and visual studies, text and language, and intellectual history and critique. All courses are conducted exclusively in French and are devoted to widening a student's ability not just to write and speak, but to think in French. By mastering the rhetorical twists and turns of this foreign language, students gain a finer understanding of the films, texts, and ideas that they encounter both in the classroom and in the hive of debate and creation that is Paris. Courses focus on the important role signs and representations play in how thought and meaning are created, on the place of fiction in fact, and on the place of force and fantasy in philosophy.

This program should be seen as a springboard, helping you define your own theoretical project and offering you the critical toolsyou need to succeed in your Université de Paris courses. The perspective we strive to offer has helped former students better define their own academic life, with a number of them continuing their studies in critical theory, cinema and visual studies, comparative literature, and French on a graduate level, both in the United States and France.

This program should be seen as a springboard, helping you define your own theoretical project and offering you the critical tools you will need to succeed in your Universite de Paris courses. The perspective we strive to offer has helped former students better define their own academic life, with a number of them continuing their studies in critical theory, cinema and visual studies, comparative literature, and French on a graduate level, both in the United States and France.

Academic Culture
Critical Studies courses meet three to four hours per week. Université de Paris course hours vary from two to three hours a week. Students also spend three to four hours per week reading and doing independent research outside of class. Film courses generally require an additional two-hour film screening to prepare for class discussions and lectures. Courses also integrate mandatory outings into their courses, to museums, exhibitions, conferences, and other cultural events.

Fall semester CIEE courses begin in late August and end in mid-December. Spring semester CIEE courses start in mid-January and end in late May, with a two-week spring break at Easter. Université de Paris fall classes begin in late September and end in mid-December. In the spring, classes begin in mid-January and end in early May.

There are striking differences between higher education in France and the United States. Most lower-level French university courses traditionally consist of lectures by the professor and note-taking by students, with little discussion and participation. Formal oral presentations are a standard feature in many courses. The teaching approach tends to be more formal, and professors in France are less likely to interact with students. Consequently, great importance is attached to strong French writing skills and the ability to articulate one's ideas, present solid arguments, and convince a reader of a particular viewpoint.

Professors in France expect students to assume greater responsibility for their learning, to determine their own study and reading schedules, and to work independently. This implies motivation, self-discipline, organizational skills, and a willingness to adapt to a less structured environment and different educational philosophy. The experience contributes to the development of critical thinking and research skills.