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France: Mission Interuniversitaire de Coordination des Échanges Franco-Américains (MICEFA) - Academics

Prerequisites

• Must have completed sophomore year of college prior to attending program.
• A minimum of four semesters of college level French. (The higher the level of French obtained before exchange, the more academic options available to the student.)

Courses

AU students directly enroll in one of the universities in the Paris University system for either a semester or for a full year and earn AU credit. Because you are directly enrolling in a French university, extensive course offerings are available to you. Options may vary, depending on your level of French. MICEFA administers a language placement test upon your arrival to Paris. MICEFA will also assist you in determining the appropriate university for your course of study and level of French. Students who have an advanced level of French may enroll in any of the university options, depending on the academic programs available at that university campus.

You receive an intensive language training and a language placement exam during a two-week orientation at the beginning of the program. Once your level of French is determined, you will meet with the Program Director and a French language faculty member to determine your university placement. Depending on your language level, you may take a combination of French academic content courses, French language courses, English Department courses, or MICEFA Center courses. Normally students take a combination of between 12-17 credits. MICEFA translates all grades from the French university and provides a transcript to AU at the end of the term. In addition to courses at a French university, the MICEFA Center offers a variety of electives offered in English.

Here are the most common academic combinations for MICEFA students, determined by French language level -

Intermediate French
Language Course at University of Paris X - 2 credits
Language Course at University of Paris X - 2 credits
Content Course at University of Paris X - 2 credits
MICEFA Course 3 credits
MICEFA Course 3 credits
Total 12 credits

Advanced French
Language Course at University of Paris VIII - 2 credits
Content Course at University of Paris VIII - 3 credits
Content Course at University of Paris VIII - 2 credits
Content Course at University of Paris VIII - 3 credits
MICEFA Course 3 credits
MICEFA Course 3 credits
Total 16 credits