French Language & Liberal Arts

The contact hour at the Institut Catholique de Paris is 60 minutes. The cover letter that will accompany your transcript upon completion of your program will reflect the adjusted U.S. 50-minute contact hour. Please discuss credit transfer with your home university prior to departure.

Credits earned varies according to the policies of your home institution. You must maintain full-time enrollment status, as determined by your home institution, for the duration of the program to satisfy our enrollment policy and avoid potential visa implications.

The transcript from the Institut Catholique de Paris will reflect contact hours for each course listed below. Please be in touch with your U.S. University regarding credit transfer for this program.

Most students will take one French language course which counts as the majority of their total credits/hours (126 contact hours each). Depending on your language placement exam, you may be required to take a French language courses. See the language courses and placement section for more information.

The remainder of your schedule can consist of cultural courses in French or English.

Courses and course hours of instruction are subject to change. Eligibility for courses may be subject to a placement exam and/or prerequisites. Course availability is based on enrollment numbers. We suggest seeking pre-approval for alternate courses in the event of class cancellations. Some courses may require additional fees. If you require sample syllabi, reach out using the Contact Us button.

Early Start:

Prior to the standard semester, you'll enroll in Catho's intensive month session where you'll take an intensive French language course followed by your regular semester of coursework. For the standard semester, you'll enroll in 3 - 4 additional courses.

Standard Semester:

Per semester, you'll enroll in 3 - 4 courses.

Enrollment in French courses is determined by the results of a language placement exam administered by the Institut Catholique de Paris. Please note that your performance on the placement exam may not reflect the number of semesters of language instruction you've already completed at your home university. We strongly suggest that students who are trying to place into any level of language beyond true beginning prepare for the language placement exam by reviewing previous coursework.

If you place into the Beginning French courses (A1-A2), you will be required to take a French language course. You are strongly encouraged to take Written and Oral French as your electives. If you place into B2.2 or C1 French, your class will consist of students in either level.