Challenge yourself both academically and personally on the Columbia in Paris: English Program. Your coursework, in English, will include opportunities to take courses at Columbia's Reid Hall and SciencesPo. You will study French history, politics, art, and culture in entirely new ways. You will be surrounded by French language and culture in your daily life, which will push you out of your comfort zone and expand your ways of thinking. By the end of the semester or year, you will find yourself more confident in your role as a global citizen, capable of living, working, and affecting change beyond your national boundaries.
Program Overview
The English program allows you to take courses at Reid Hall, Columbia’s Global Center in France, and the Paris campus of Sciences Po, a world-renowned institution in the social sciences. Depending on your goals and interests, you will choose from a broad range of options in the social sciences and humanities. Your coursework will consist of five courses to be taken from Reid Hall and Sciences Po’s course offerings, including one recommended language course - at any level from beginner to advanced. A minimum of two electives are to be taken from Reid Hall’s course offerings. For Columbia students this will be an opportunity to fulfill Core requirements while abroad by enrolling in a Global Core course.
The Columbia in Paris team provides academic support and mentoring throughout the program to support you in making the most of your time in Paris. A highlight of the program is the opportunity to engage with local resources. Past students have conducted research in archives with primary materials, engaged with local experts, artists, and writers on important contemporary issues, and participated in academic conferences.
Eligibility and Application
- Must be a currently enrolled undergraduate student and in good academic and disciplinary standing. Students from universities and colleges other than Columbia are welcome to apply.
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA
HOW TO APPLY
Want to apply? Click the “Start Your Application" button at the top of this page. If the button doesn't appear above, the program is not yet accepting applications. You will be asked to set up a short profile, which will allow us to send you relevant information about your application. Once you’ve created a profile, you will see a checklist of items that you will need to submit. These generally include:
- Application questionnaire(s)
- Personal statement
- Letter of recommendation from someone who has taught you at the university level who can attest to your academic skills
- Home school approval/clearance
- Application fee (if applicable)
Please note that enrollment in the English program is limited and competitive. Students with an advanced background in French language (having completed Intermediate French II or more) should apply for the Columbia in Paris (French immersion) program. Students may not apply to both programs simultaneously.
Academics
Students will choose a mix of courses at Sciences Po in social sciences, economics, French as a foreign language, as well as classes on the Columbia in Paris program at Reid Hall. The course options at Reid Hall include:
- Specially-developed courses, taught exclusively for the program, that draw on the rich urban fabric of the city.
- The opportunity to conduct a Directed Research project based on your personal specialization and interests, under the guidance of leading thinkers and scholars in your discipline.
- Depending on availability, Columbia Global Core courses.
The University reserves the right to withdraw or modify the courses of instruction or to change the instructors as may become necessary.
Program COURSES
FALL 2024 COURSES
CLFR3821OC: City Diplomacy. 3 points.
Taught in English.
Instructor: Lorenzo Kihlgren Grandi
Based on a comparative and interdisciplinary approach, the city diplomacy course is designed to offer a general introduction to the international role of cities. Through an innovative approach cutting across the boundaries of traditional disciplines (international relations, urban sociology, area studies, history, geography), the course will combine the emerging scholarly literature with a comparative accent linked to the analysis of primary sources from cities and international actors from all regions of the world. As a result, students will learn to connect global and regional macro-dynamics with micro-transformations at the local level, while gaining an in-depth understanding of city diplomacy's core features, management, tangible impact, and evolution.
This course is approved as a Global Core at Columbia.
FREN3724OC. Elites, Privilege and inequalities: A global history of social boundaries building and dismantling (18th-21st century). 3 points.
Taught in English.
Instructor: Sylvain Laurens
Economic and social inequalities are a structuring dimension of societies and are at the center of many analyses in history, economics and sociology. This course offers an in-depth analysis of how inequalities in access to economic resources, political power, and knowledge are justified in different societies by articulating barriers of class, gender, or race. Drawing on works on different historical configurations in Europe but also in America, Africa and Asia, the course encourages an epistemological reflection on the production of social barriers and the social construction of « elites ».
AHIS3682OC. Issues in Nineteenth Century Art. 3 points.
In this course, we will focus on a key artistic period that is full of upheavals. We will particularly consider the affirmation of the individuality of the artist in relation to the institutions and great pictorial movements that have marked the history of French painting of that time.
Courses at Sciences Po:
Students take one French language course and select two electives courses offered at Sciences Po. Here is a course listing for students to peruse--while offerings may change each semester they will generally be similar.
Previous courses at reid Hall
AHIS3682OC. Issues in Nineteenth Century Art. 3 points.
In this course, we will focus on a key artistic period that is full of upheavals. We will particularly consider the affirmation of the individuality of the artist in relation to the institutions and great pictorial movements that have marked the history of French painting of that time.
FREN3724OC. Elites Privilege and inequalities: A global history of social boundaries building and dismantling (18th-21st century). 3 points..)
Instructor: TBA
Economic and social inequalities are a structuring dimension of societies and are at the center of many analyses in history, economics and sociology. This course offers an in-depth analysis of how inequalities in access to economic resources, political power, and knowledge are justified in different societies by articulating barriers of class, gender, or race. Drawing on works on different historical configurations in Europe but also in America, Africa and Asia, the course encourages an epistemological reflection on the production of social barriers and the social construction of « elites ».
This course counts towards the Global Core requirement.
FREN3723OC: The rise of tech politics: political and geopolitical issues of data economy. 3 points.
Instructor: TBA
The Internet era has been marked by the appearance of gigantic ecosystem platforms: search engines, recommendation engines, marketplaces, social networks, collaborative consumption websites, etc. In just a few years, digital platforms have taken an undeniable importance in our daily lives; we have integrated them as a major component of the organization of our interactions through our uses. In doing so, platforms have disrupted the existing social and political paradigms. This course will examine the inherently political nature of technology, by studying the ethics of AI, the regulation of BigTech, and disinformation warfare.
Directed Research. 4 points.
One of the highlights of on the Columbia in Paris program is the ability to undertake a Directed Research Project. Highly-motivated students who enjoy working independently will find this option challenging and rewarding. Under the supervision of a local scholar, students will explore a specific topic in depth and acquire both the methodological and analytical skills necessary for advanced academic research. Students meet with their research mentor weekly and complete a research paper of at least 25 pages at the end of the semester.
Courses at Sciences Po:
Students will select from English courses offered at Sciences Po. Here is a course listing for students to peruse--while offerings may change each semester they will generally be similar.
GRADES AND TRANSCRIPTS
All courses taken on the program are converted to an American grading scale and transmitted to students as follows:
Columbia students: Grades appear on SSOL and your transcript any semester grades from courses taken at Columbia. For more information, please see the section on Academic Credit in Steps to Study Abroad.
Barnard students: Grades appear on eBear and your transcript as any semester grades from courses taken at Barnard. For more information, please see the section on Credit and Transcripts for Barnard Students on our Barnard student pages.
Non-Columbia students: Grades are entered into Columbia system and you will need to request a transcript to obtain your final grades. Please see the section on Credit and Transcripts for Non-Columbia Students on the Non-Columbia student pages.
Life in Paris
Your daily life in Paris will be made up of moments, equally beautiful and challenging, that will help you construct your overall experience. The program will empower you with the tools to confront the myth of the city as it is commonly perceived and transform you into an active participant of its dynamic, multi-cultural life.
HOUSING
On this program, all participants are housed together at a student residence, just a short metro ride to Reid Hall. Students will be in single rooms with private bathrooms, and shared kitchen facilities. There is no meal plan offered, though many budget friendly student options are around the dorm and at Reid Hall. In general the residential dorm experience in France is different from a college experience in the United States, offering greater independence and fewer amenities. This residence does offer study areas, a music room and a fitness area.
MEALS
Meals are not included in the program fee. Grocery stores, boulangeries, fromageries, and charcuteries are abundant in Paris, and you will have no problem buying food supplies for casual dining. Countless low-budget travel guides and blogs will give information about where to eat in Paris. We recommend that you research beforehand if you aren't sure what to expect. Cafeteria-style restaurants are located within the Cité-U campus.
ACTIVITIES
The program offers activities that will help students engage with the cultural life of Paris, including:
- social and cultural activities
- local excursions
- volunteer opportunities
Also, the Columbia Global Center has a robust program of concerts, art openings, symposiums and discussions throughout the year that are open to students on the program, free of charge. Spring 2021 activities will be limited based on health and safety guidelines and may include virtual events where appropriate.
DAILY LIVING AND SCHEDULE
The daily schedule will vary depending on your courses. You will likely commute 20-30 minutes to class daily. This is part of Parisian life. Sciences Po is an approximately 25 minute metro ride from the Fondation des États-Unis and a 20-minute walk to Reid Hall (shorter by metro).
LOCATION
Located in the lively Montparnasse (sixth) district of Paris, Reid Hall was originally a porcelain factory, built in the early 18th century, before the French Revolution. Conveniently located near the Luxembourg Gardens, it is within walking distance of the Latin Quarter, as well as several branches of the University of Paris.
Today, Reid Hall primarily houses administrative offices and classrooms and also has a small reference library, a student lounge, and two large conference rooms. Students have access to WiFi in classrooms and all common areas of Reid Hall.
Reid Hall is known as a dynamic hub of art, culture, and intellect. At the center of this activity is its interior courtyard and private garden, overflowing with trees and flowers. Idyllic, Reid Hall is perfectly suited to be Columbia's location in Paris and gives students, faculty, and alumni a campus feeling in the heart of Paris.
People
You will have many questions throughout the phases of your experience abroad. Once you have reviewed the applicable information on this site, please feel free to contact our office.
NEW YORK
Please feel free to contact the adviser listed at the bottom of this page with questions.
PARIS
For staff and faculty in Paris, please see the Paris-based Columbia in Paris site.
Financial Considerations
Many students use a combination of federal student aid and home school grants to fund their undergraduate studies. Many, if not most, of these funds are applicable to studying abroad for a semester or academic year. The costs of studying abroad during the semester or academic year are frequently comparable to those of staying on campus.
All students should work with their home school financial aid office to determine what aid is available for studying abroad.
Please see below for the cost breakdowns for detailed information on all program-related expenses:
Fall 2024:
- Cost Breakdown for Columbia Students
- Cost Breakdown for Barnard Students
- Cost Breakdown for Visiting Students
*Please Note: Tuition and fees are subject to Board of Trustee approval and may change*
Finding Funding
For more information and resources on financing your time abroad, please see the pages below:
WITHDRAWAL & REFUND POLICY
If you decide to withdraw from the program after confirming your participation, please be aware of the financial consequences and the office policies by clicking here.