French Education
General Planning Tips For French Education
- Start planning for your study abroad experience early. You can take admission requirements, French content, and teacher education courses abroad and still stay on track for graduation.
- Study abroad is a great way to satisfy your admission requirements. Therefore, it is a good idea to reserve some of those classes to take overseas.
- Summer options: Summer is a great time to take admission requirements. You could also participate in a unique field experience through one of the summer teaching programs.
- Scholarships are available for study abroad both through KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement and national organizations. The Department of French & Italian offers scholarships for both semester and full academic year language study in France. The American Association of Teachers of French offers the Walter Jensen Scholarship for Study Abroad. Research your opportunities early.
- U.S. Specific Courses: Courses that include special education content (SPED) are based on United States law, so you should plan to take these courses at KU. In addition, the courses during your student teaching semesters will include field work and practicum requirements, thus these must be taken at KU as well. (C&T 489, C&T 490, C&T 495, C&T 544, ELPS 537, EPSY 520)
When To Go
Freshman and Sophomore
- Schedule a meeting with an education advisor during your first semester at KU to discuss your four year plan and identify specific courses as well as specific timing opportunities for your study abroad experience.
- After you've met with your academic advisor, continue your program research by visiting the KU Study Abroad Info Center in Lippincott Hall. Study abroad peer advisors can help you to identify suitable study abroad options based upon the information you received from your advisor.
- Studying abroad usually requires two letters of recommendation, so it's good to start identifying individuals who can speak to your academic qualifications as well as your ability to be successful during an international experience.
- There are both summer and full semester study abroad programs that offer admission requirement courses. The best time to pursue these programs is the summer after your freshman year or the fall semester of your sophomore year.
- The summer after your freshman or sophomore year is a great time to complete some of your French content courses through KU's French Language Institute in Paris (see more information under Recommended Programs below).
Junior
- The ideal time for French Education students to study abroad is the fall semester of junior year. The application deadline for fall programs is March 1st.
- There is some degree of flexibility with your course sequencing during this time. If you need an education class (C&T, ELPS, EPSY, SPED) that is not available through your study abroad program and only offered at KU during the semester you are abroad, the School of Education is usually willing to work with you in arranging access to the course via Skype, Lecture Capture, or some other technology.
- Some junior level French and Teacher Education courses that are commonly offered abroad include: FREN 310, FREN 350, FREN 375, FREN 376, FREN 430/440, FREN 465, C&T 331, C&T 448, ELPS 301, EPSY 306 and EPSY 456.
Senior
- Senior year is not a good time to study abroad for French Education students because of your student teaching requirements.
- There are a couple of senior level Teacher Education courses available overseas (C&T 448 and EPSY 456), so you may want to plan on taking these early during your junior year while abroad.
Courses and Credit
- French faculty and Education faculty have already pre-approved a number of French and education courses abroad. To see available pre-approved courses, visit the Course Equivalency Database.
- If you want to take a class/classes that have not been pre-approved, complete the credit approval process.
Recommended Programs For French Education
Programs Offering Admission Requirement Courses
Korea University - South Korea
Recommended Timing: Summer - after freshman or sophomore year
Sample Courses: Intro to Sociology, Intro to Psychology, General Biology I, Calculus I
University of Leicester - England
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: American History 1607-1877, American History 1877-Present, Evolution of the Earth's System, PSYC 104
University of Newcastle - Australia
Recommended Timing: Spring semester - sophomore year
Sample Courses: Calculus I, Foundations of Psychology, Intro to Physical Geography, Intro to Sociology
Programs Offering French Content Courses
French Language Institute - Paris, France
Recommended Timing: Summer - after freshman or sophomore year
Sample Courses: FREN 230, FREN 240, FREN 375, FREN 376, FREN 440
IAU College: French Honors Program - Aix-en-Provence, France
Recommended Timing: Summer - after sophomore year OR Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: various FREN courses
Universite Catholique de L'Ouest - Angers, France
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: FREN 230, FREN 240, FREN 300, FREN 310, FREN 350, FREN 375, FREN 376, FREN 430, FREN 440, FREN 465
Programs Offering Teacher Education Courses
Macquarie University - Australia
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: C&T 331, EPSY 306, EPSY 456
University of Wollongong - Australia
Recommended Timing: Fall semester - junior year
Sample Courses: C&T 331, C&T 448, EPSY 456
Programs Offering Teaching Experience
These programs may count for KU Core Goal 4.2. Recommended for summer after sophomore or junior year.
Education Majors: A Cross-Cultural Experience in Carpi - Italy