Academics

Your academic experience abroad is going to be very different from home. Students in French universities often take many courses with lower credit value to meet a full load that would be equivalent to 15 credits. The final grade may be based on only one or two exams or papers. More self-direction is required.

EDUCO and University Courses

EDUCO Center courses are small, discussion-based courses that may have activities or excursions attached.  They focus on subjects in a way that is not available to universities.  Only students from Cornell, Duke, Emory, and Tulane participate in these classes. They are designed to be 3000-level classes with no prerequisites so that they work for majors and non-majors alike. 

University courses do not specify prerequisites, but second year courses assume knowledge from courses offered in the first year, and so on.  It is not uncommon for courses to have a lecture ("cours magistral" or CM) and a section ("travaux diriges" or TD). Classes must meet 3-4 hours a week to count as a full course. EDUCO may assign supplemental instruction or you can take two mini-classes to count as one, if needed.

Course Selection & Enrollment

  • To find information on specific courses,
    • Go to the "Programme d'Etudes" tab on the educo.fr website.
    • Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the course catalog for previous semesters prepared by EDUCO staff that lists courses at Parisian partner universities.  Use the most relevant semester, not the most recent, to determine what courses are likely to be offered the semester you will be there.  You will receive the "catalog" for your semester after you arrive when full course information is available.
    • Courses are listed by subject area, university, and level (L1= first year of the undergraduate degree, or "licence" and L3 is the third or final undergraduate year - only recommended if you have a background in the subject).
  • At the end of the French class during orientation, you will take a placement test to see whether you place into or out of the advanced language class that is offered.  If you are placed into the Grammar or Pronunciation and Communication, it will be one of your five classes.  If you place out of the class, you will be invited to a personalized workshop to focus on any areas of your writing or speaking that could use a little attention.
  • Classes at Sorbonne University are limited to students who place out of EDUCO's advanced language classes and are majoring in the subject in question.
  • For assistance in selecting courses, see your faculty or college advisor. (Note: You may earn elective, distributional, minor or major credit depending on your major and college.)
  • Course enrollment is finalized after you arrive. In the first week of university classes, you will be advised to sit in on many courses so that you can choose the ones that are best for you.
  • You will need to look at courses from a previous semester (i.e.: the most recent spring semester if you want to select classes for a future spring abroad). 

Course Load & Credits

  • Because you are taking classes in French, you do not need a "language class" if you place out of the language classes offered at EDUCO.
  • EDUCO students take five courses for 15 credits.  Two or more must be regular university courses at one or more of EDUCO's partner universities. You can have a Center course and one or more at all three universities if that is what makes the most sense for your academic interests. You can also seek permission to take three Center courses if needed for academic interests or linguistic support.
  • Students may take four courses for 12 credits, a common course load at EDUCO.
  • EDUCO gives you an "Add-Drop" period when university classes start, but once you are fully enrolled, you cannot later drop the class and have it not appear on your transcript.
  • Decisions on the final allocation of credit are made upon successful completion of the course (must earn grade equivalent of a “C” or higher—all courses must award a letter grade).
  • For more information on courses and credits from abroad, including policies regarding start/end dates, refer to the Academic Policies page on the Education Abroad website. 

Transcript & Grades

  • Grades will appear on the Cornell transcript in the same format as they are recorded on the original transcript generated by the host institution. Grades are not factored into the Cornell GPA.
  • For information on how grades appear on the transcript and frequently asked questions, including transcript dates for graduating seniors, please refer to the Transcripts and Credits page on the Education Abroad website.
  • Your program will send your transcript to the Education Abroad Office.