Introduction The Paris program, initiated in 1992, is one of a number of Education Abroad Programs conducted by Penn State in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and Asia. More than 600 students from a wide variety of majors participate annually in these programs. Objectives The Penn State Education Abroad Program at the Ecole Commerciale de la Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Paris (ECCIP) in Paris, France, functions within the context of the objectives characterizing all of Penn State’s study abroad opportunities, especially to: 1. enable students to receive instruction in several disciplines within the context of another culture and to enrich their general academic studies. 2. provide adequate professional training when a study abroad experience is especially desirable, and to add to the intellectual and professional development of students in specialized fields of study. 3. enable students to expand their knowledge of the culture of a country or region of the world by living and studying abroad and at the same time to gain a more objective perspective of the values and way of life in their own country. 4. promote the educational goals of the University by providing an overseas program designed to increase the international understanding of students. Specifically, the Paris program aims to: 1. enhance the French language proficiency of participating students. 2. promote an awareness of, and appreciation for, the historical background and humanistic heritage of western Europe, specifically French culture. 3. increase students’ understanding of international business operations and international marketing. 4. provide students the opportunity to study, in situ, the business and economic issues confronting present-day Europe, especially France. Paris Paris is one of the great cultural and intellectual centers of the West, and a magnificent city with monuments from the glittering Gothic age of Notre Dame and Ste. Chapelle to the majestic palaces of the Louvre and nearby Versailles. Vestiges of its historic past abound, some of which date back to the neolithic period according to recent archeological discoveries. Originally home to the Parisii on the Seine, the city was named Lutetia by the conquering Romans in 52 BC. In 987, when Count Hugh Capet became King of France, he brought prestige to the tiny medieval town by naming it his capital. King Philippe August (1180-1223) consolidated the crown’s possessions and established the basic segregation of functions which still characterizes the city: political and ecclesiastical institutions on the Ile de la Cité, academic on the Left Bank, and commercial on the Right Bank. Over the centuries, the city expanded outward in concentric ovals, swallowing up whole villages, now called arrondissments. In the mid-19th century Baron Haussmann, the French administrator, redesigned the city by constructing grands boulevards through ancient residential neighborhoods. Although this new layout and physical organization of the city facilitated movement and allowed Paris to grow into an immense, modern city, winding medieval passages and small districts with unique reputations are still preserved. Paris remains the cultural, administrative, commercial, and industrial center of France with a population of over 10,600,000 people. ECCIP The instructional site of the Paris program is at the Ecole Commerciale de la Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie, which is located on the Left Bank, in the Montparnasse district. The school is located on a quiet side street, a few steps from the Montparnasse metro stop and bus station, in a modern building complete with classrooms, library, cafeteria, as well as language and media laboratories. The mission of the school is to provide post-baccalaureat training in business management. Even though ECCIP may be a stepping stone to a prestigious graduate programme for some of its students, the “Ecole” takes pride in the fact that all the students who have completed its comprehensive training in business practices are well equipped to work for a wide variety of organizations. About 1,000 students, admitted by competitive examination, are enrolled annually. The ECCIP has a full range of medical, counseling and advising services to assist international students with academic and personal matters. Program Description Participants in the Paris program enroll during the spring semester (i.e., from the beginning of January through the end of April), during which time they take five courses specially designed for students.* Students are able to earn a total of 15 credits as follows: Conversation and Composition - FR 499 (3 credits) Business French - FR 499 (3 credits) French Business Organization - BA 499 (3 credits) Business in French Fiction and Theatre - FR 499 (3 credits) Society and Economics in the New European Market - FR 499 or BA 499 (3 credits) The courses are designed to meet the accreditation requirements of Penn State’s academic departments, and are taught in special classes offered exclusively for Penn State students. *Studying French and Business. Grading As with any course at Penn State, responsibility for assessing the students’ academic achievement lies with the course instructors. Grades are recorded on each student's transcript. Accreditation All courses offered in the Paris program are accredited under the course numbers indicated, as listed in the Penn State Baccalaureate Degree Catalog. No transfer of credit is necessary since the student remains registered at Penn State while enrolled in the Paris Program. Living Arrangements Students pay Penn State for room and board. The on-site coordinator in Paris is responsible for making the housing arrangements and assigning students to their accommodations. Students live with families, who provide them with bed and breakfast seven days a week and dinner five days a week. Included in the cost for room and board are lunches at ECCIP five days a week. Students are responsible for their own lunches and dinners on Saturday and Sunday. Eligibility The Paris program is open to all regularly enrolled students at Penn State, although the orientation of the program makes it especially appealing to French majors with the business option. Applicants must be in good academic standing, and must show evidence of maturity, stability, adaptability, self-discipline, and strong academic motivation. Generally speaking, students are required to have a minimum cumulative average of a 2.5 GPA. Participants are usually a junior or senior during their time abroad. Program Prerequisites Students selected for participation in the Paris program must be of at least junior standing during their semester abroad and must complete, prior to departure, the following course prerequisites: French 201 (Conversation) French 202 (Composition) French 330 (Introduction to Civilization) French 350 (Introduction to Literature) Orientation A specially designed orientation program, conducted during the semester immediately prior to departure, is intended to prepare participants for the adjustment to living and studying in France. Attendance at all orientation sessions is mandatory. Costs Tuition for the Paris program is the same as at the University Park campus. Room and board charges are payable at the Bursar’s Office in accordance with the standard procedures and deadlines for regular charges at University Park and are somewhat higher, reflecting the greater cost of living in Paris. Students are also required to pay a $150.00 non-refundable program fee at the time of accepting an offer of enrollment and should be prepared to pay commuting costs in Paris. Round-trip air transportation is an additional cost to the student. Students are responsible for making their own flight arrangements. Textbooks and personal expenses are extra. The Office of Education Abroad Programs is able to provide an estimate of overall expenses for the semester. Financial Assistance The standard forms of financial assistance are available through the Office of Student Aid. Since students remain registered at Penn State, financial aid packages continue during the period of time in which a student is enrolled in this program. The Office of Education Abroad Programs coordinates closely with the Office of Student Aid to help needy students obtain funds to cover the additional costs entailed by study abroad. The Office of Education Abroad Programs also has a modest grant-in-aid fund that can be drawn upon for exceptionally needy and qualified students. Health and Liability Insurance All participants are expected to carry sufficient health, accident and personal liability insurance. Costs will be discussed during orientation. Planning Ahead To exploit the many advantages and opportunities of a study abroad experience, it is essential that students, in consultation with their academic advisers, plan well in advance. With careful planning, every participant in this program not only gains regular Penn State credit, but can often apply the credits earned abroad to general education requirements, electives, and/or major requirements. Like all of Penn State’s semester and year-long Education Abroad Programs, this program satisfies the University’s cultural diversity requirement. Students are required to check with their advisers or deans to discuss what impact study abroad may have on their progress toward graduation. For further information and application forms, contact your Campus Education Abroad Adviser or: Office of Education Abroad Programs 222 Boucke Building University Park, PA 16802-5900 Tel. (814) 865-7681