Academics

With some careful planning and a healthy dose of flexibility, Dijon can be a great study abroad location for any major at Holy Cross. This said, the University of Burgundy is particularly strong in the fields of Psychology, History, Sociology, Philosophy, and Environmental Science. 

While HC students are required to take at least one continuing French language & culture class while at UB, their other three classes can be in any subject across the University's various faculties (departments). UB is a comprehensive university, meaning it teaches most, if not all subjects that are taught at Holy Cross. You can browse the various "faculties" here. 

Keep in mind that students do not register for classes until they are on the ground in Dijon. Class schedules will not typically be published until the first week of school, so it's important to go into the study abroad experience with flexibility. A great mindset would be the following:

I know I'm going to be taking one French language & culture credit. For my other 3 classes, I'm interested in European history & politics, so I know there will be a range of classes that would work for me in the History Department. Since I'm a philosophy major, I would like to take at least one PHIL elective, but when it comes to the course content, I am flexible! I also have a Cross-Cultural common area I still need to complete and a Religious Studies Common area, so I think between those two subject areas, I can find something that works with my schedule and fulfills a requirement. 

The Pre-University Language Intensive program in Tours, France, is mandatory. 

The language intensive appears as an overload on your HC transcript

Students take 21 hours of French courses per week for 4 weeks at the Institut de Touraine in Tours before the semester starts in Strasbourg. In Tours, you will stay with host families to further your language development and facilitate cultural immersion. You can also take advantage of cultural trips and excursions. We highly encourage you to participate in as many as the Institute runs.

Fall Semester in Dijon for students who have only completed up to French 202 at HC: 

Credit 1: Language & Culture Package (includes Theme, Version, Methodology, Conversation, and French Culture courses each semester) taught in French

Credit 2: Additional French language course taught in French

Credits 3 & 4: Content courses in any discipline at University of Burgundy taught in French

Spring Semester in Dijon for students who started out at the French 202 level:

Credit 1: Language & Culture Package (includes Theme, Version, Methodology, Conversation, and French Culture courses each semester) taught in French

Credits 2, 3, and 4: Content courses at University of Burgundy taught in French

Note for French Majors: Majors who spend two consecutive semesters in a French-speaking country may apply up to four approved Study Abroad FREN elective courses toward the minimum ten courses required for the major, and up to two FREN elective courses if they spend one semester abroad. Approved courses taken abroad must focus on a French or Francophone topic, such as French linguistics, French or Francophone literature, film, art, civilization, culture, politics or history. Courses taken abroad will be transferred (bearing no 300 or 400 level designation) subject to the French coordinator’s approval. Majors who study abroad must take at least six courses at Holy Cross.

Note for French Minors: Minors who spend two consecutive semesters in a French-speaking country may apply up to three approved Study Abroad FREN elective courses toward the minimum six courses required for the major, and up to two FREN elective courses if they spend one semester abroad. Approved courses must focus on a French or Francophone topic, such as French linguistics, French or Francophone literature, film, art, civilization, culture, politics or history. Courses taken abroad will be transferred (bearing no 300 or 400 level designation) subject to the French coordinator’s approval. Minors who study abroad must take at least three courses at Holy Cross.

Fall Semester in Dijon for students who have completed up to French 301 at HC: 

Credit 1: Language & Culture Package (includes Theme, Version, Methodology, Conversation, and French Culture courses each semester) taught in French

Credit 2: An additional French elective course taught in French

Credits 3 & 4: Content courses in any discipline at the University of Burgundy taught in French

Spring Semester in Dijon for students who started out at the French 301 level:

Credit 1: Language & Culture Package (includes Theme, Version, Methodology, Conversation, and French Culture courses each semester) taught in French

Credits 2, 3, and 4: Content courses at University of Burgundy taught in French

Note for French Majors: Majors who spend two consecutive semesters in a French-speaking country may apply up to four approved Study Abroad FREN elective courses toward the minimum ten courses required for the major, and up to two FREN elective courses if they spend one semester abroad. Approved courses taken abroad must focus on a French or Francophone topic, such as French linguistics, French or Francophone literature, film, art, civilization, culture, politics or history. Courses taken abroad will be transferred (bearing no 300 or 400 level designation) subject to the French coordinator’s approval. Majors who study abroad must take at least six courses at Holy Cross.

Note for French Minors: Minors who spend two consecutive semesters in a French-speaking country may apply up to three approved Study Abroad FREN elective courses toward the minimum six courses required for the major, and up to two FREN elective courses if they spend one semester abroad. Approved courses must focus on a French or Francophone topic, such as French linguistics, French or Francophone literature, film, art, civilization, culture, politics or history. Courses taken abroad will be transferred (bearing no 300 or 400 level designation) subject to the French coordinator’s approval. Minors who study abroad must take at least three courses at Holy Cross.

Class registration in Dijon is extremely different to what you have experienced at Holy Cross. For starters, registration doesn't happen until you are physically in France! The process might feel stressful since you won’t have everything planned in advance. However, our on-site director, Christelle Seree-Chaussinand, will guide you through the process. She is familiar with many professors and most classes and will advise you towards the best options. Please take Christelle's guidance seriously and keep in touch with her throughout the registration process.

Even though the registration process can be a bit bumpy, it always works out in the end! Part of studying abroad is leaning into cultural differences, and one of the first major differences you'll experience is class registration. Be patient, stay open, and listen to the on-site staff!

The various departments will release information about classes available for the upcoming semester at different times and in different ways. Our on-site staff gathers this information and communicates with students via email about the information that is available at any given time once students are in Dijon. Click here to see a list of courses available to visiting students. Please be aware you are not allowed to take classes in English - all classes must be given in French! 

The list of classes taken abroad for Holy Cross credit is a very good indication of the types of classes that will be available in Dijon. Please be aware this list is meant to give you an idea, only, based on what past students have taken. These classes are NOT guaranteed to be available, and you are NOT limited to the classes on this list. UB class offerings change each semester, of course, and you certainly can register for classes you do not see on this list.

One of the most common questions we get in the Office of Study abroad is whether or not a certain class abroad will count towards a student's major, minor, concentration, etc. The answer is...maybe! Here's how it works:

If you think a class might work for your major...

You need to talk to the official study abroad course evaluator in your department.  

If you think a class might work for your minor...

You need to talk to the official study abroad course evaluator in your department. 

If you think a class might work for a common area requirement...

You need to talk to the Registrar's Office! You can send an email to Jared Chapman (jchapman@holycross.edu to gain clarity on common areas requirements abroad. 

The Holy Cross credit approval system works like this: 

1. After you arrive in France, you will receive an email from Jared Chapman in the HC Registrar’s office with instructions for submitting Course Approval Forms (CAFS). You'll submit one CAF per class you are taking. Jared's instructions are extremely clear, and easy to follow. Follow them, and meet his deadlines.

2. Once the Registrar's Office receives your CAFs, they will send information about the classes you'd like to count towards your major(s) and minor(s) to the official Study Abroad Course Evaluators in the relevant department(s) for approval. The Registrar's office will also manage the approval of Common Area requirements. 

3. Once Jared hears back from the relevant parties about all of your classes, you will receive an email detailing which classes have, or have not, been approved. (If you talk to your advisors before you leave and stay in touch during the course selection process, you should not receive any 'surprise' rejections). 

Courses that are NOT accepted for Holy Cross Credit:

1. Online or hybrid (partially online) courses;

2. Pre-professional, business, law, and marketing courses;

3. Other non-liberal arts courses;

4. Courses of similar content to those you have already taken;

5. Any major courses required by your major department to be taken at Holy Cross;

6. Courses taken without a letter grade (e.g. NO auditing, pass/no pass courses, etc.)

GRADE CONVERSION DIJON

∙ 14+ A

∙ 13-13.9 A-

∙ 12-12.9 B+

∙ 10-11.9 B

∙ 8-9.9 B-

∙ 7-7.9 C+

∙ 6-6.9 C

• 5-5.9 D

∙ 4.9 & below-F

You can look forward to much more academic independence when you study abroad. In the Irish system, there is frequently only one (sometimes two) assignments that account for your entire course grade. This puts a lot more pressure on that one assignment, but it means you are free from the myriad of smaller assignments you are accustomed to at Holy Cross. There are resources available like the academic writing center and maths center if you feel you are struggling or would like extra help. You will need to take the initiative should you need assistance. Also important to note is that in Ireland, grades are given on ability, not necessarily merit. You should be studying for each class more than double the amount of time you are actually in the class. 

Academic accommodations are not as common in France as they are in the United States, and there can be more beuracracy involved in organizing extra time on exams, note-takers, and more. It's important to understand that we cannot guarantee that you will have the exact same accommodation in France that you have at Holy Cross.

 If you have any history of accommodations for learning disabilities or anything similar, you must let the Office of Study Abroad know so we can start making arrangements as soon as possible. It is very important that you take personal ownership over your own experience. It's a good idea to think about the support you might need in advance so we can start planning now.