Sciences Po

Sciences Po

Paris, France

Program Facts

Program Type: Exchange

Credit Type: Transfer Credit

Terms Available: Academic Year, Fall, Spring

GPA: 3.0

Class Eligibility: Junior, Senior, Graduate

Program Open To: UA Students

Language of Instruction: English, French

Application Deadline: Fall, Academic Year: March 5
Spring: September 18

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Academics

The Sciences Po exchange program will resume in Fall 2022.

Participants must be vaccinated per France's entry requirements for U.S. travelers.

Sciences Po has a long tradition of educating French business and political leaders and ranks among the leading academic institutions in Europe. The seven campuses of the Undergraduate College host more than 1,000 students each year from Sciences Po’s 470 partner universities around the world, for a semester or an academic year. Graduate students may enroll in regular graduate-level courses at Sciences Po; please see Sciences Po's Graduate Programs.

UA students may apply to any of Sciences Po's 7 campuses, provided they have the required language level for some of them (the Dijon, Poitiers and Nancy campuses have French or other language requirements that the Paris, Reims, Menton and Le Havre campuses do not).

Paris (General Programme)
Dijon campus (European Programme, Central and Eastern Europe concentration)
Le Havre campus (Europe-Asia Programme)
Menton campus (Middle East and Mediterranean Programme)
Nancy campus (European Programme, Franco-German concentration)
Poitiers campus (Europe-Latin America Programme)
Reims campus (Europe-Africa & Europe-North America Programme) - Video

Students wishing to take social sciences and humanities courses in French (or to mix languages of instruction) must have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college level French. Later in the process when you fill out Sciences Po's exchange application, they will require a document from your French instructor stating that you have successfully completed the equivalent of at least four semesters of university-level French and have therefore attained a minimum B2 French level, according to the European framework of reference for languages.

When searching for courses at Sciences Po, keep several things in mind:

First, 5 ECTS credits at Sciences Po transfer back to UA as 2.5 UA credits, and 10 ECTS as 5 UA credits. While lecture and seminar courses could transfer, workshop credits won't. Please also note that full-time enrollment during a study abroad program is required; full-time status for an undergraduate student requires a course load of at least 12 UA credits per semester, and 9 for graduate students.

Second, you can find what courses are offered at the Paris campus here. If you are studying abroad in the Fall, look under 'Course lists for the autumn semester,' and if you are studying abroad in the Spring, look under 'Course lists for the spring semester.' You should be able to locate what are available for you, based on the language instruction of the courses. Please visit here for course information for the other Sciences Po campuses. The link takes you to the webpage on their Bachelor of Arts: Second Year course offerings (semesters 3 and 4), which are the courses exchange students take at Sciences Po. Please make sure you read the course descriptions provided on the website, taking careful note of pre-requisites (disciplinary and language requirements in particular).

Third, course registration at Sciences Po is done online, in July for the Fall semester and in January for the Spring semester. Please be aware that you cannot choose more than 30 ECTS credits per semester.

** French language courses (offered every semester) from beginner's to advanced level

Foreign Languages general info
Charter for French

The list of courses below have been approved for transfer, but is not an exhaustive list. You may search for courses in the Sciences Po Catalog but will need to submit information in your application to determine if the courses will transfer.

Fall Semester Courses

Finance

Trade and International Finance

Course Description:

The objective of the course is to offer students an introduction to two key dimensions of globalization: international trade and international finance. The course will cover both theoretical and empirical contributions and will often refer to current policy issues in both international trade and macroeconomics. Using theoretical and empirical tools, we will consider a wide range of questions such as: what are the gains of specialization? what is the effect of trade on inequality? How does market power of firms affect international trade? What are the consequences of trade policies? How to understand international financial flows? What is the relation between exchange rates and monetary policy? How does globalization affect the conduct of macroeconomic policies? Is the euro an optimal currency area? Why so many international financial crises? The prerequisite for this course is the core economics course in the first year. Although not very formalized (we will mostly use graphs to explain theoretical mechanisms), this course will use some basic mathematical tools that are common in any modern economic course.

Partner Course Code:

AECO 25A00

UArizona Equivalent Course:

FIN Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

Global Studies

European Integration and Its Challenges: The Euro, Migration, and Populism

Course Description:

The objective of the class is to provide students with a critical understanding of the major issues currently faced by European countries, and the interplay between Member States, European institutions, global challenges and democratic legitimacy concerns. We will analyse the facts to understand the major causes, potential consequences and think of possible solutions to address challenges existing in the euro area, those created by the unprecedented migrant flows in Europe, stemming from climate change. We will also look at the rise of Euroscepticism and the issue of democratic deficit in the European Union. Before concluding we will look at the dynamics of decision-making at the EU level through a simulation of Member State negotiations in the Council of the EU. By the end of term students are expected to have acquired a critical approach and a solid understanding of the major issues and debates on the topics covered during the class.

Partner Course Code:

DSPO 25A02

UArizona Equivalent Course:

ELCR Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

2.5

Law

Introduction to Public International Law

Course Description:

In the fields of trade, human rights, environment, international law has come to play a major role as it has already and still does for traditional issues such as the production of norms and the existence, the status of the main subjects of international law in their mutual relations either through transactions or in disputes settlement. Major steps have been taken through the adoption and implementation of conventions and principles some being regarded as peremptory. Events such as the Balkans crisis, civil wars in Africa, Arab uprisings have changed the exercise of UN powers and raised questions as to whether domestic matters may constitute a threat to international peace and security and how international action might be taken. The objectives of the course is to provide the audience with a methodology and legal tools to understand problems and procedures of modern international relations

Partner Course Code:

ADRO 25A11

UArizona Equivalent Course:

LAW Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

War, Peace, and the Sovereign State: Political Thought from Machiavelli to Kant

Course Description:

This course examines the evolution of political ideas from the early 16th century to the end of the 18th, with a particular focus on the emergence and development of the related concepts of sovereignty, the state and international law. Beginning with Machiavelli, in whose writings the shape of modern political thought is first discernible, it will examine successively the theories of Bodin, Grotius, Hobbes, Locke, Pufendorf, Rousseau and Kant. The course will be of equal interest to students of Political Science and International Relations.

Partner Course Code:

ASPO 25A12

UArizona Equivalent Course:

POL Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

Political Science

Applying Discourse Theory: Populism, Indignation, and Political Identities

Course Description:

What is the importance of political identities in understanding recent events that have turned the world upside down, such as the new “indignation” protests (Occupy, Indignados, Yellow Vests) and the emergence of populism (Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders, Front National)? How are ideologies formed in these movements? What is the role of political dispute in winning hearts and minds? To answer this kind of question, the course proposes to introduce, develop, and critically engage key concepts of Discourse Theory. In particular, the course, referring to a wide range of sources, including poststructuralism and psychoanalysis, explains how political identities are discursively constructed on antagonisms and how different discourses dispute the hegemony of the construction of these identities.

Partner Course Code:

DSPO 25A09

UArizona Equivalent Course:

POL Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

2.5

Citizen Politics and Democracy in Times of Crisis

Course Description:

This course explores the role of the citizen within contemporary democratic processes. It draws on insights from political sociology and comparative politics to answer essential questions regarding continuity and change on issues such as vote choice, political participation, public protest, trust in the political system, ideological orientations and political attitudes. Special emphasis is placed on the impact of the economic crisis on the changing preferences and behaviors of mass publics across Europe. The course aims to develop the students' analytical skills in comprehending current political events, public opinion, new social movements and current electoral dynamics from a comparative perspective. Each session of the course will draw on theoretical concepts and link them to empirical findings using comparative, time-series survey data. Students will be invited to critically combine theoretical tools with empirical evidence in order to comprehend the dynamic link between public opinion and political parties in postmodern Western democracies.

Partner Course Code:

DSPO 25A10

UArizona Equivalent Course:

POL Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

2.5

Comparative Politics

Course Description:

This comparative politics course aims to familiarize students with the methods and objectives of comparison in the field of political science in order to help them grasp the contemporary world of politics in all its diversity. It builds on the introduction to the first-year political science course with an in-depth analysis of a region (Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, etc.) and its comparison with a selection of extra-regional cases. Through a regional approach, this course facilitates a reflection on common dynamics and on the singularity of political experiences in a global perspective. This course intends to stimulate a reflection on the terms of comparison, whether they are states, regimes, institutions, electoral systems, political divisions, social movements, political personnel, political profession, behaviors or votes. These terms imply asking questions of scale, since the comparison, far from being solely reserved for the stato-national level, can also be applied to organizations for regional integration or to local ways of doing politics. Similarly, the term-to-term comparison should also be tied to a reflection on the circulation of concepts, institutional forms, public problems and political practices. In order to break with a static view of comparative socio-political contexts, the course will be open to analyzing political change and breaks, whether they take the form of revolutions, crises or renewal of the political order. The contexts that are compared and not predefined, but can be adapted to the offer proposed by each campus. The choice of terms responds to epistemological and methodological questions that the course will develop. Comparative politics is above all an approach that necessitates clarification. The objective consists in highlighting the heuristic qualities of historicization, by demonstrating how one compares different socio-political contexts, based on what data and by posing what questions. The importance of the collection and processing of empirical data will be emphasized in order to specify the conditions for the possibility of a convincing comparison. Far from being limited to political science work, the inspiration in this field will be drawn from sociological, historical, and anthropological texts, depending on the prerogatives of the instructor

Partner Course Code:

ASPO 25A11

UArizona Equivalent Course:

POL Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

Comparative Public Policy Analysis: Western European and North American Urban Policies

Course Description:

The course provides an introduction to comparative public policy analysis used in political science and administrative studies. It intends to develop theoretical and methodological skills for students interested in public policy analysis. This class provides the necessary tools for understanding and conducting in-depth research on a variety of political issues. Each class is divided in two parts. The first hour of lecture deals with the main concepts in public policy analysis. The second hour applies those concepts to a specific policy related to urban issues though a presentation by the instructor, a presentation by the students and a collective discussion with the class. Upon completion of this course, students should be able to: - Understand and criticize comparative analytical frameworks - Investigate policy processes, outputs and outcomes across various policy areas - Conduct their own research on a specific policy domain following a comparative perspective The course is structured so that the learning experience in class sessions is cumulative. Students will be expected to read all assigned readings, regularly attend and contribute to the class. They will develop their own comparative analysis of one policy in the US or Canada and in a European country.

Partner Course Code:

Comparative Public Policy Analysis: Western European and North American Urban Policies

UArizona Equivalent Course:

POL Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

2.5

Politics and Stategy of the UNPK

Course Description:

The aim of the course is to examine the problems and possibilities of peace operations conducted by the United Nations. Throughout the Cold War, the United Nations undertook a small number of traditional peacekeeping missions (PK) that helped to bring peace and security to some war torn regions. Most of those missions were small and basically uncontroversial (except Congo). No ambitious operations could be undertaken politically because Cold War antagonisms prevented the Security Council from approving ambitious interventions — the Security Council was politically deadlocked by the possibility of the use of the veto by one of its five permanent members. In the early 1990's, just after the Cold War ended, there was a huge growth in the number of peacekeeping missions undertaken by the UN.

Partner Course Code:

DAFF 25A02

UArizona Equivalent Course:

POL Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

2.5

Social Policies in Europe

Course Description:

Is there a “European social model”? If so, what are its main characteristics? What are the main institutions and policies aimed at supporting individuals when they are in social difficulties (sickness, unemployment, old age)? Are these similar from one country to the other? Are the social protection systems implemented in the post-war period still ‘alive and kicking'? What are the main difficulties and reforms occurring throughout Europe? How do European countries deal with these challenges? Is the European level interfering in the processes of national reforms? The aim of the course is to provide students with a clear idea of the diversity of European social policies, of their political background, and to allow for the assessment of their performance. The course will also provide an in-depth account of current welfare reforms, in the perspective of their historical development. The social science analysis concepts (de-/re-commodification, path dependency, Varieties of Capitalisms...) will also be used in order to understand the issues at stake in recent debates concerning the welfare state and the trajectories of their reforms.

Partner Course Code:

DSPO 25A00

UArizona Equivalent Course:

POL Department Elective, Upper division.

UArizona Units:

2.5

Spring Semester Courses

Coming Soon!

Location & Housing

Location

Sciences Po is located in the historic Latin Quarter neighborhood in Paris. Known as the City of Lights and the City of Love, Paris offers such local attractions as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Sainte Chapelle, and the Champs-Elysees. Weather in Paris ranges from a little around freezing in the depths of winter, though usually with little snow, to typically pleasant sunny days of 20-25 degrees Celsius in the summer. Public transportation is the best way to get around Paris. The Metropolitan (metro) is both inexpensive and efficient. It is also convenient with stations within 500 meters of any spot in Paris. Travel by train to within France and Europe is relatively inexpensive and an excellent way to see the continent.

Housing

The Sciences Po Paris campus does not have on-campus dormitories nor does the program coordinate housing for exchange students. However, Sciences Po has established partnerships with public and private organizations to obtain housing at preferential rates exclusively for the Sciences Po student body (under certain conditions). The Sciences Po Housing Service can help with your accommodation search; their staff will guide you towards the housing solution that best suits your needs. For more information, please visit here.

Housing in Paris
Housing in other campuses

Links of Interest

Click here to review the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in France's COVID-19 information page.

Sciences Po Undergraduate Exchange Program
Academic Information for Exchange Students
Welcome Program for Exchange Students - Video
Campus France
Steps to Apply for Student Visa
Consulate General of France in Los Angeles

Program Details

Participants must be vaccinated per France's entry requirements for U.S. travelers.

Please note: Exchange places fill up quickly and are based on a first-come, first-served basis. To assure there are placements available, please contact the study abroad coordinator for this program before applying. Only students who have turned in a complete application will reserve a spot for this program.

Semester Dates

This program may require a quarantine upon arrival in France
Please check the Sciences Po University Calendar for the most accurate program dates.

Semester Cost

$50 Study Abroad Application Fee
Mandatory Geo Blue International Health Insurance at a rate of $3 a day (approximately $360 a semester)
You pay Main Campus UA Tuition & Fees to do an exchange and receive all of the financial aid you use on main campus.
- To learn more about how financial aid is applied to studying abroad, please see the official OSFA website.
Other estimated costs include but not limited to housing, transportation (air & local), visa, meals, books and supplies
UA Study Abroad scholarships are available based on eligibility

Fall Budget

Scholarships

Arizona Global scholarships:

Arizona Global Study Abroad Scholarships
Study Abroad Scholarship Tracker

Departmental scholarships:

College of Humanities Scholarships
SILLC Global Award Fund
Department of French Studies scholarships
Honors College study abroad scholarships

External scholarships:

Gilman Scholarship (for Pell Grant recipients)
Fund for Education Abroad

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