CIEE Advanced Liberal Arts Program in Brussels, Belgium

Description

The Advanced Liberal Arts program has three goals: to provide opportunities for students to fully immerse themselves in a European university while taking classes in French; to offer insight into Belgium and Brussels' unique political, cultural, and linguistic situation in Europe; and to enable students to improve their French language skills.

Academic Program
The CIEE Study Center in Brussels, Belgium was established in 1994 and began its pilot program at the ULB in 2006. The CIEE Advanced Liberal Arts program opened its doors in spring 2009.

The Advanced Liberal Arts program is specifically designed for students with upper-level French language skills who want the challenge of direct matriculation within a European university. The program is particularly well-suited for those with an interest in language, literature, philosophy, history, political science, and business and economics.

Academic Culture
ULB, like other European universities, offers three-year undergraduate degrees, organized into different faculties. The CIEE Advanced Liberal Arts program is located at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters.

The academic culture of ULB courses follows a traditional European model. Students attend lectures for a semester or year and usually take a single exam at the end of the course to determine their grade. Papers are usually not required for these courses, making the final oral exam that much more important. Some courses may also include presentations or written assignments.

Class size at ULB varies, but is generally much larger than typical U.S. courses. The teaching method at ULB is primarily lecture-style. Students are advised that due to possible changes in the courses offered each term they should be flexible in course selection. Fall semester ULB courses extend into January, and spring semester courses extend into June. Professors may be willing to administer the final exam earlier than the officially scheduled date, allowing fall students to depart mid-to late December and spring students to depart in late May to early June, but CIEE cannot be responsible for arranging or guaranteeing early exams.

Highlights

• Enroll in French-taught courses in the humanities; take classes with Belgian and other European students; join a university club
  
• Integrate into the university environment with the help of student mentors
  
• Participate in field trips to EU institutions, excursions within Belgium and to France, the Netherlands, and Germany
  
• Visit places such as the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in the Hague, NATO, and the Museum of Fine Arts

Culture
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
Extracurricular activities and occasional group excursions are organized throughout the semester. Day trips may include Bruges, Luxembourg, Ypres, Bastogne, and Aachen as well as weekend excursions to France and Germany. Day trips to the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, NATO, European Parliament and Commission in Brussels, and the European Investment Bank or the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg may occur. Visits to the Brussels Museum of Fine Arts, and regular visits to French and European films complete program activities. Participants also have access to sports facilities at the ULB and may participate in student clubs and activities.

Mentoring Program
CIEE and the ULB collaborate on a mentoring program for CIEE students. Mentors are available to help students integrate into the University environment and serve as contacts in their classes. The ULB has a very highly developed student network in the classroom as well as online. Mentors serve as a bridge to this network as well as to all aspects of student life.