Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
2011 Spring Semester - Academics

Academic Focus

The Liberal Arts & Social Sciences program at the CEA Global Campus in Paris features a wide curriculum of courses perfect for students of all language levels who wish to explore history, culture, art and politics in an academic environment that encourages student participation and critical thinking. The CEA Global Campus in Paris offers classes in the Liberal Arts, Fine Arts and Social Sciences, and allows you the flexibility to choose courses that best meet your individual academic and personal needs. The majority of electives are taught in English so that you can continue your university studies regardless of your language level.

All students will enroll in a French language course appropriate to their language level or the course entitled "Communication & Global Competence." Language courses focus on oral comprehension and expression, written comprehension and expression, and vocabulary development. You will be given ample opportunity in class to practice your conversational skills. This will not only enhance your language skills, but also set a foundation for interactions you have outside the classroom. The Global Competence course focuses on the interaction between culture and communication and introduces students to the knowledge and skills necessary for critical thinking in intercultural settings. You may enroll in both a French language and the Global Competence course if you wish.

You will also enroll in 3 or 4 electives of your choice. Courses are available in subject areas such as Art History, Business, Fine Arts, Political Science, Sociology, History and Cinema. All courses are designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of the culture and politics of Europe, as well as those of France within the larger European and global context. Fine Arts courses are specifically intended to enable students to develop and articulate discipline-based knowledge, practical skills and a personal expressive style in studio arts. Students are advised to carefully select courses that best fit their academic needs and correspond the most precisely to the fields of study they wish to explore.

All language courses and electives meet for a total of 45 contact hours and are generally worth 3 credits in the US semester system. If students enroll in 5 classes, they can earn up to 15 credits in the US semester system. However, it is up to the student’s home academic advisor to determine how much credit will be awarded.

Program Goals

Through formal and informal learning connected to the host city, people and culture; and by applying appropriate cognitive, affective, behavioral, ethical and intercultural tools; students will develop and articulate:

• discipline-based knowledge in the liberal arts and social sciences;
• analytic insight into salient cultural differences in the host country’s approach to targeted concepts and issues within these fields, all considered within the larger context of globalization and;  
• French language and/or intercultural communication skills.

Global Career Development Certificate

The optional certificate program consists of a 1 credit Career Development Seminar and Externship where students are paired with a professional career mentor who works in an industry aligned with the student’s major. The components of the certificate are designed to engage students in learning about career development and global competence, with an emphasis upon reflection on learning “in action” while participating in study abroad. Students learn first-hand what it means to be globally competent through reflection upon the interaction between culture and communication and the global workplace. If accepted, a Global Career Development Certificate program fee of $250 applies which provides

• Dedicated time with a career mentor
• Coaching and feedback on career preparation including assistance developing a resume and cover letter to effectively showcase your study abroad experience
• Connection with peers with similar career interests
• Opportunities to build an international network, practice networking skills, and enhance global competency to better compete for jobs/graduate school entry
• Guidance on how to meaningfully articulate your study abroad experience

Early Start

This 2-week early-start French-language program will linguistically and culturally prime you for your forthcoming semester or year in France.  It is a suitable option for either “true beginners” or for students who have taken at least three semesters of university-level French. Students particularly well-suited for this early-start program are those who wish to get a head start on adapting to the French language, lifestyle and culture, and those who wish to maximize the number of credits they earn for their semester or year abroad. Regardless of your level of French language, you will complete the session feeling more comfortable about living, studying, and communicating in French.

You will enroll in one French language course: Beginning French I or Intermediate French Conversation.  Upon completion of one of these courses you will be awarded three hours of university credit through CEA’s academic partner and university of record: the University of New Haven.   

You will begin your session with airport reception and transfer to assigned housing in shared apartments followed by a group orientation. Classes will take place Monday through Thursday for five hours per day and will engage in cultural immersion activities crafted to maximize your exposure to both the French language and to intercultural competence techniques.  For the duration of the Early Start program, students will be housed in CEA shared apartments. As a result, you should anticipate moving from the shared apartment to your semester housing should your semester housing assignment differ.

Schedule Summary

Semester classes at the GlobalCampus meet one to three times per week for a total of 3 contact hours. Classes are typically held Monday through Thursday although study trips and other required fieldwork may occur on Fridays. Classes are offered at various times throughout the day. Class timetables will be released approximately three months before the program closure date, and your final course schedule will be posted to your MyCEA Account around two weeks before the program start date.

Course Registration

You must register for courses prior to departure for Paris. A course preference form will be posted to your MyCEA Account when course timetables are released. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so it is in your best interest to submit your course preference form as soon as possible. Course preferences for electives are considered final when submitted to CEA. To aid in the registration process, it is in your best interest to have courses, including alternates, approved by your academic advisor prior to submitting your course preference form.

If you choose the French language option, you will be asked, on the Course Selection form, to indicate the level of French in which you expect to enroll for the term. In order to validate your request for the requested level of French, you will complete an online placement test and will receive a preliminary language level assignment when your course schedule is released. However, your final language level may be adjusted once onsite.