France: Avignon Semester

Le Centre d'Avignon in Avignon

Academic Highlights

The Centre d'Avignon program offers a variety of different modules, all designed to help students integrate into the dynamic everyday life of Avignon.  In addition to classes at the Centre d'Avignon, students may audit or take for credit courses at the Universite d'Avignon et des Pays de Vaucluse (at additional cost,) engage in internships in the working community, participate as volunteers in local organizations, and/or take part in activities organized internally or by local student groups.  Through individually tailored credit-bearing internships, students gain firsthand experience in their fields of interest.  Recent internships have dealt with theater, medicine, education, and psychology.

Le Centre d'Avignon is housed in the XIIIth century Chapelle Sainte Antoine in the old part of the city. The building has been renovated to accommodate the necessities of contemporary classrooms without losing the sense of the original integrity of the program. The aesthetic play between the ancient and modern provides a very special setting. Internet connections are simple with a fully operational WiFi system linked to a high speed ADSL line. For those students without a laptop and wireless card, desktop computers are provided.

Students typically receive 12-18 undergraduate credits per semester. A 2.75 overall GPA and a 3.0 GPA in French courses is required, along with transcripts and two letters of recommendation (one from a French professor.) An essay, written in French, is also required for admission into the program which is open to qualified sophomores through senior standing.

 

Student Life

Students are generally individually housed in the homes of French hosts, though independent living arrangements can be made when necessary. Living in a French home is considered the best form of housing because it provides an immediate introduction to life in this new place. Hosts come from a cross-section of society; they belong to no particular professional or social milieu, but all are carefully chosen, inspected, and monitored, and many have hosted American students for several years. Students find that speaking French at home, along with their participation in local activities and events, as the largest factors in increasing their facility with the language.

Daily continental breakfasts and six evening meals per week are taken in the student's French home. Students are responsible for lunches. There is a multitude of affordable cafés, brasseries, boulangeries, small sandwich and grocery shops from which to choose. The Center also has in-house commodities available to students such as a refrigerator, cutlery, and china. Avignon opens its plentiful indoor central market, Les Halles, every morning. Many other food markets are available around town during the week. Students can also bring in their own staple to create their own wonderful salads in the kitchen facilities available to them.

Le Centre d'Avignon, aware that local public transportation stops too early in the evening for students to enjoy a late movie, has made available a co-allocation taxi to students who live outside a perimeter roughly defined by the ancient city walls. Those students also receive a monthly bus pass enabling them to travel freely on the bus network.

 

Duration

Fall: September 5 - December 19, 2009
Spring: January 8 -  May 1, 2010

Fall Break - Sat. Oct. 24 - Sun. Nov. 1, 2009///Spring Break - Sat. April 3 - Mon. April 11, 2010

Application Deadline(s)

Fall: May 1
Spring: November 1

Costs

$9,811 (CCIS Member)
$10,861 (Non-CCIS Members)

Truman requires a $300 deposit deducted from total amount due, upon acceptance to the program, but does not have an application fee.

Costs Included

Instructional costs abroad, health insurance, CCIS and sponsor fees

Costs Not Included

Fixed costs:  Activity fee ($650), book fee ($180), room/half board ($4,600) Please note that these are fixed costs and a $750 deposit is required at the time of your acceptance, payable directly to the Institute for American Universities; this amount will be deducted from your housing fee.

Estimated costs:  Airfare ($1,200), Miscellaneous and food ($2,500) 

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.

 

Submit Application Materials To:

Alcidean Arias
Assistant Director
Center for International Education
100 East Normal, 114 Kirk Building
Kirksville, MO  63501
Phone:  660-785-4076
Fax:  660-785-7473
alcidean@truman.edu
http:/studyabroad.truman.edu

- or -

 

Eva Fernandez

Interim Program Manager

Office of International Education
Miami Dade College
300 NE Second Avenue
Suite 1450
Miami, FL 33132
efernan1@mdc.edu
(305) 237-3580
(305) 237-7439 (Fax)

How do I apply?

 

Start the CCIS Study Abroad application process by downloading and printing the following forms. These PDF documents are viewed using Adobe's Acrobat Reader plug-in, which is available free. If you don't have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, click here.

CCIS APPLICATION PACKAGE AND INSTRUCTIONS

All costs, fees, and dates are subject to change without notification. Please contact the appropriate individual to verify all costs, fees, and dates for this program.