UCSB’s French Department strongly urges its students to complete some portion of their undergraduate study abroad through the University’s Education Abroad Program. Given the increasing globalization of our world, living in Europe will help expand your understanding of diverse, culturally rooted attitudes and behaviors. You will enhance your cross-cultural awareness, competency, and adaptability. Living and studying in France and Europe will expand your perspective, improve your critical thinking, increase your independence and better prepare you for a career in an increasingly internationally competitive world.
Being a French major, you have already shown that you have international
interests. Why not take that interest a step further and have a transforming and life-enriching experience? Go live in France, enroll at a French university
and experience French language and culture firsthand.
Improve your knowledge of the language you have already studied by using it for everyday life as well as intellectual endeavors. Learn how to better express your thoughts on complex topics and follow your interests in French. Participate more fully in national and international politics and events. Find a greater access to
French films, music, and the visual and dramatic arts.
French majors who study abroad find that a term, or better yet, a full year spent in France not only is critical for their language fluency, but that the experience of adapting to another academic and cultural world expands their self understand- ing and gives them a sharper sense of the political, cultural, and social differences in today’s world.
The intellectual and personal growth students experience during their time abroad will serve them well through out their lives. Participating in EAP provides further advantages when it comes to the challenges of graduate school and the competitive job market.
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While it is possible for students to go abroad at almost any point in their academic careers, the particular quarter, semester, or year that you study abroad depends on what courses you plan to take. Students interested in language and culture programs, or in fulfilling major preparation and General Education requirements, can participate as early as their sophomore year. Students wanting to fulfill upperdivision major requirements should, in most cases, go abroad in their junior or senior years.
PLAN AHEAD! Applications are typically due six months to a year prior to the program’s start date and some programs have academic or language pre- requisites that must be satisfied in advance. Please check the EAP website
for application deadlines: http://www.eap.ucsb.edu.
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EAP offers a variety of short-term and year-long programs in multiple locations
in France. Possibilities include:
Intensive Language and Culture
• University of Bordeaux or Lyon - Fall
Special Focus Programs
• Introductory Studies in Western Civilization, American University of Paris - Fall, Spring
• French and European Studies, UC Center in Paris - Fall, Spring
• Science and Engineering, University of Grenoble - Fall
• Critical Studies, Paris Center for Critical Studies - Fall, Year
• Political Science, Sciences Po, Paris - Year
Immersion Programs
• University of Bordeaux- Spring, Year
• University of Grenoble - Fall, Year
• University of Lyon - Year
• University of Toulouse - Year
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All EAP coursework is automatically credited towards your degree require- ments. Depending on your course selection, you may fulfill major or GE requirements as well. Plan ahead and consult with the department and college advisors.
The French Department strongly encourages its students to take all of their courses abroad in French. In addition to language classes, we recommend
students consider taking French literature courses. If you are a French major, you can use up to 20 upper-division units taken abroad towards your major. If you plan to minor in French, you can use a maximum of 8 upper-division units towards the minor. You must, however, complete a minimum of 20 upper-division major units (or 12 upper-division minor units) in residence at UCSB along with other residence requirements. Consult an advisor in the College of Letters & Science for more information.
The undergraduate advisor will work individually with each student to ensure the most effective use of courses taken abroad for major requirements. Internships, independent study and field work completed abroad can be used for major requirements upon approval of the department.
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Come by the EAP office at 2431 South Hall. Staff advisors and peer advisors
who have recently returned from studying abroad are eager to answer your questions.
Make an appointment with the undergraduate advisor (893-3111) to discuss
EAP opportunities and options.
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If you go abroad in your junior year, you should strongly consider doing a senior honors thesis based on the coursework and intellectual interests you developed abroad. This provides an ideal way of integrating time abroad with the comple- tion of the French major. For requirements for the senior honors thesis, please check: http://www.french-ital.ucsb.edu/undergraduates/french/honorsN.html.
Returnees must submit a Petition for Degree Requirements EAP in order to
receive French major credit for work done abroad.
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