11 Academic Institutions

Three Academic Institutions

After the intensive language course, depending on the institution you qualify for and were accepted to, students will begin their direct enroll courses at one of three institutions: Aix-Marseille University (arts and humanities); Sciences Po (international relations, political science); SUL (French language and cultural institute for foreigners). Note that French educational institutions are often less “user-friendly” than American ones and the first few weeks of class may seem disorganized to an American not used to the system.  Courses and programs of study are not organized in the same way as undergraduate programs in the United States. In France, university students specialize from the beginning of their university studies (as opposed to the US model where students are expected to take a variety of classes in many different areas to obtain a “well-rounded” broader education). The following information is separated by institution so please review your specific institution information below. Upon formal enrollment in Aix, you will receive a local university email and online course platform account (similar to Canvas or Blackboard in the US). If you are not sure how to access this account, ask the onsite staff for assistance. While not as widely used as in the US, some professors use the online platform as a place to post course information and other important updates.

1. Aix Marseille University (AMU) – FAC ALLSH (Faculté des arts, lettres, langues, sciences humaines) 

The FAC ALLSH is currently the largest College at AMU, offering courses principally in Anthropology, French literature, Linguistics, Psychology, Sociology, Education, History, Geography, and foreign languages.

All classes at AMU are semester-long courses.  Some classes include a discussion section, called travaux dirigés (TD), in addition to a common lecture class.  If a course includes a lecture and a discussion section, students must take both. Credits for your courses in France are awarded based on the total number of contact hours per week. Generally speaking, 1 contact hour per week = 1 credit.

APA students studying at AMU are also required to take the in-house “Cours sur la méthodologie universitaire” course. This course is designed to help you understand how to write a French-style dissertation and commentaire compose, and will also target difficulties in grammar and writing. The course is worth 2 credits.

Students may enroll in a maximum of 5 AMU courses per semester. In addition, you may choose to take up to two APA-specific classes (these include Prise de Parole, La France dans l’Actualité, or the resident director’s course offered in spring semester). In sum, your semester schedule will look something like this:

Cours intensif  + Cours sur la méthodologie universitaire + FAC courses

OR

Cours intensif + Cours sur la méthodologie universitaire   + FAC courses + no more than 2 program courses

*Special note for science students: Students majoring in science may take one science course at the Faculté des Sciences at the Montperrin campus in Aix.  For students interested in taking a science class. It is imperative that close consultation about this occurs well ahead of the student’s arrival in Aix, between the student’s advisor in the US and the Faculty Director. The Faculty Director will provide available information on the course the student is contemplating taking. Both the student and the advisor are encouraged to be flexible in terms of course selection and allocation of credits, and to be cognizant of the value of cultural differences in science education.

2. Sciences Po-Aix

Sciences Po-Aix is one of France’s many “grandes écoles”, an elite institution that is separate from but parallel to the French public university system. The APA program has agreements with Sciences Po such that a certain number of program participants may register at this institution each year, providing they have an appropriate academic background and major. Science Po reviews each student’s application and ultimately decides whether or not to accept a given student to their institution. APA students who wish to attend Sciences Po are expected to have declared a major, or at least a minor, in one of the disciplines offered at Sciences Po (Political Science, International Studies, Social Science) prior to arriving in Aix and to have taken at least two university-level courses relating to Political Science, Political Theory, Political Philosophy, Social-Science Theory, European History, or similar topics. The Sciences Po Director will judge each candidate’s background in these fields and his/her level of French before making the final acceptance decision.

Contrary to what its name might suggest, Sciences Po should not be perceived as a Department of Political Science in the American sense.  Courses that one would normally find in an American Political Science Department are available; however, Sciences Po offers an interdisciplinary education which aims to provide students with a general knowledge with which to choose a field of specialization that is of particular interest to them. Linked to the Departments of Law, Economics and the Sciences at Aix-Marseille Université, Sciences Po offers classes taught by professors and researchers at the Law School and with professionals working in the fields of International Relations, Finance, International Commerce and Communication.

In addition to regular Sciences Po courses, APA students are required to take the Conférence de méthode class called “Français langue étrangère”. The course is aimed at improving students’ written French and helping them understand the methodological demands of Sciences Po. The course, worth 2 credits, will also help students overcome difficulties in grammar and writing.

Courses offered at Sciences Po are either formal lecture-type courses or discussion classes called conférences de méthode. Most lecture courses meet for 20 hours during the semester. Many courses at Sciences Po are now offered in a 5-week intensive format, called périodes. Courses may be offered entirely in a single period, or spread across two, while some (semester courses) run across all three. Courses that meet in only one period will generally meet twice per week. You are strongly advised to spread your courses for the semester across all three periods rather than grouping many of them into one or even two. Be aware that even if a course meets only in the first period (i.e., the first five weeks of the semester), its final exam may well be during the final exam period in May. Most final exams are oral and not written.

Students enrolled in courses at Sciences Po may not take first-year courses or the course Culture Générale. Students may choose one of two different programs of study at Sciences Po:

1. The Sciences Po Diploma Program – Certificat d’Etudes Politiques (CEP)

Students who participate in the Sciences Po year-long diploma program will earn 28 credits within Sciences Po. The FD will work closely with each student to plan their individually designed program at Sciences Po. The typical program of study is as follows:

• Two mandatory foundation courses – taught exclusively for international students (one-semester duration) – one course focuses on French institutions (La Vie Politique Française) and the other on France in the world (La France dans le Monde). Each course is worth two credits. Both courses have a three-hour written exam.
• Students select additional classes from a variety of elective courses for a total of 16 credits over the course of the year. Classes are formal lectures. Exams are mostly oral.
• Students are required to select two seminars (conférences de méthode) each semester. One of these two conférences de méthode must be « Français langue étrangère » (to be taken during fall semester). These courses meet for fewer hours in the semester than regular courses.  Since they are interactive in nature and require more work (they are similar to discussion sections held at your home institutions), they are 2 credits each.

1. Non-Certificate Program – Programme d’Etudes Politiques Annuel (PEPA)

Students who do not wish to pursue the Sciences Po Diploma Program (CEP) can opt to pursue the Programme d’Etudes Politiques Annuel (PEPA).

• Students who choose this option must select from a variety of elective courses and conférences de méthode for a maximum of 28 credits. The student’s choice must include one or two conférences de méthode classes per semester and one of these must be Français langue étrangère (to be taken during fall semester).

In addition, according to your Sciences Po degree program you may choose to take up to two APA-specific program classes (these include Prise de Parole, La France dans l’Actualité, or the resident director’s course offered in spring semester)

A Science Po semester schedule will look something like this:

Cours intensif + Programme d’Etudes Politiques Annuel (PEPA) including the conférence de méthode “Français langue étrangère” + no more than 2 program courses.

OR

Cours intensif + Certificat d’Etudes Politiques (CEP) including the conférence de méthode “Français langue étrangère” + no more than 1 program course.

3. SUL (Service Universitaire de Langues)

SUL is the French language and culture institute associated with AMU.

A student who has only 4 semesters of French prior to starting the program or who does not have the B2 language level (determined by the placement test provided by SUL will be enrolled at SUL for the semester. Students will be in class with other international students learning French language and culture. During the semester, SUL students will take French language classes at the appropriate level as determined by their placement test. In addition to the language course work, students will select several topic-focused French culture workshops.

There is a fixed curriculum of morning language classes offered through SUL, plus elective courses offered in the afternoon for a minimum of 13 US credits per semester. Specific course options will be shared with you upon arrival.

For your language courses you will be placed at the most appropriate level, determined by the SUL Placement test.  Your course program will depend on your language level: A2/B1=12.5 hours or level B1+=11.5 hours of language classes/week.

Thematic Workshops

Depending on your level, you may be required to take the Phonétique (1h30) workshop.

You will also need to select a minimum of 2 thematic workshops, such as the following:

• – Phono-graphie
• – Ecriture créative
• – Jeux de rôle
• – Bande dessinée
• – Régions françaises
• – Français parlé
• – Panorama de la littérature
• – Histoire de France
• – Débats société
• – Médias francophone
• – Grammaire renforcée
• – Philosophie
• – Arts et publicité
• – Ecrire avec les écrivains

No other combination of classes is allowed in the APA program.