Columbia in Paris: English Program (2023)

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 2023 COURSES AT REID HALL

CLFR3821OC: City Diplomacy. 3 points.

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.

Elites, Privilege and inequalities: A global history of social boundaries building and dismantling (18th-21st century). 3 points.

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 is approved as a Global Core at Columbia.

FREN 3723 OC: The rise of tech politics: political and geopolitical issues of data economy. 3 points.

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.

Spring 2023 courses at reid Hall

AHIS3682OC. Issues in Nineteenth Century Art. 3 points.

ECONOMICS TRACK

Students interested in doing the Economics track can choose from other courses offered at Reid Hall and at the Economics department of our partner university, Paris I: Panthéon-Sorbonne.

Pre-approved Courses offered at Paris I:

Microeconomics: Organizational Theory and Markets (3000-level elective)

The purpose of this course is to analyze organizations, based on the tools of extended microeconomics. Like other fields of application of economics, such as labor economics or public economics, the economics of organizations (Organizational economics) experienced sustained development from the 1970s, which led, as Gibbons and Roberts note, to a progressive, though still imperfect, individualization. The economics of organizations implies, according to these authors, “the use of economic analysis and its methods to understand the existence, nature, design and performance of organizations.” The economic analysis of organizations is carried out in comparison with the markets and it relates, beyond the firm, to organizational forms of great diversity (unions, social movements, agencies, schools, etc.). The approach adopted is to offer as wide a range as possible of the tools available to economists today to understand the workings of production and exchange in contemporary economies. The main objective of this course is to make students aware of the complexity and diversity of these workings in order to offer a relevant and coherent analysis.

European Economics and Policies (2000-level elective)

The theoretical approach of this course intertwines the institutional political economy of European integration and the literature on the diversity of capitalisms. It covers the history of European integration since 1950, an analysis of European monetary policy and the economic architecture of the Eurozone, the roots of the Eurozone crisis, and policy responses to the crisis.

Other courses may be available, and all courses are subject to final approval by the Columbia Department of Economics.

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.

COVID-19 Related Program Updates

Below please find information and links to resources about how COVID-19 might impact your upcoming study abroad experience so that you can remain informed as the situation evolves. Please note that these planning protocols as well as participation policies are still being finalized and may be modified at any time prior to your departure or while you are in-country.

Columbia in Paris Vaccination Policy

Columbia in Paris will require the COVID-19 vaccination and booster (if eligible) for all students participating in the program.

Flights and Arrival

Students wishing to enter France are subject to all restrictions and recommendations that the French government has put in place in regards to Covid-19. Students are responsible for understanding these restrictions and regulations. Please check with the French Consulate for the latest entry requirements.
In order to enter France, most students are required to apply for a long-stay student visa. Read through the steps of the visa application process!
Students should follow CDC guidance for those traveling to France.

COVID-19 Protocols

All students should abide by local Covid-19 protocols set forth by the French government.
Columbia in Paris is not currently requiring mandatory regular testing but students will be expected to do daily symptom self-monitoring and obligatory observing of pandemic risk mitigation policies. PCR testing is available at many laboratories and testing centers and self-tests are available for purchase at most pharmacies. Students would be financially responsible for these costs and should check what costs are covered by their individual insurance .
Any student suffering from respiratory illness or problems (flu, cold, or cold-like symptoms) should not come to Reid Hall, even if they have not tested positive for COVID.

If a student tests positive for Covid-19:
- You must-self isolate yourself for seven days from the first symptoms or the date of the positive test. After five days, you may leave isolation under the following conditions:
  - You take a PCR or antigen test and it is negative
  - You have not had any symptoms for 48 hours

If you still have symptoms or the test is positive, you must continue to self-isolate for a further 48 hours.

If you have already had Covid-19 less than two months before you test positive, you do not need to self-isolate unless you have symptoms or at your doctor’s recommendation.

If notified through contact tracing via the French Government:
- You must take a Covid test (PCR, antigen or auto test) within two days of being notified by the French Government or the positive person.
- If the test result is positive, you must self-isolate immediately and follow the rules listed above.
- If you are fully vaccinated and have a negative test result, you do not have to self-isolate any further. You should continue to monitor yourself for any symptoms and follow barrier measures, including wearing a mask both indoors and outdoors.
Students are expected to notify Reid Hall staff in case of a positive Covid test. If they require urgent medical assistance at any point they should contact SAMU (emergency services). For intermediary care, students can have a doctor come for a house visit through SOS Médecins. Contacting these different services requires having a working French phone number.
- The student is expected to notify their emergency contact in addition to the Resident Director after calling SAMU.

Academic Policies

Should general pandemic developments or an individual COVID infection interfere with the completion of the semester, the program will ensure that all students or the affected individual participant can continue his/her/their coursework and studies in order to complete the full semester, including the use of online resources and/or directed self-study. To prepare for this, all students should bring their own laptops or PC to use.
While hybrid and/or virtual class sessions are made available in cases of COVID illness, infection, or quarantine, classroom attendance is otherwise mandatory, and absences or virtual participation is up to the discretion of the class instructor. Please refer to each course syllabus for details.
All Columbia in Paris language and disciplinary courses at Reid Hall can move online or be offered in hybrid form. All instructors will be prepared to provide alternative assignments as needed only in the case that a student is not able to attend class due to COVID-19 diagnosis or exposure. Otherwise students are expected to attend classes and mandatory program activities in person. In the case of any disruption, Columbia in Paris cannot guarantee that students will be able to attend their local university courses virtually, or receive credit for these courses. Columbia in Paris staff will do their best to support students, but these decisions are subject to the policies and arrangements made by the local university.

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:

Spring 2023 :

Cost Breakdown for Columbia Students
Cost Breakdown for Barnard Students
Cost Breakdown for Visiting Students
Cost breakdown for University of Pennsylvania 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:

Columbia students

Resources for Accepted Students

Passports and Visas
Health and Safety
Identity and Diversity Abroad
CU Course Registration and Housing
Gender Based Misconduct Resources
Cultural Awareness