France: Avignon Semester

Le Centre d'Avignon in Avignon

Academic Highlights

Le Centre d'Avignon offers an Honors French Program with an entirely French-speaking environment. A rigorous interdisciplinary seminar on La france d'aujourd'hui invites all students to discover the richness and diversity of Avignon, Provence, France, France in Europe and beyond. Professionals and guest lecturers of local and national reputation are invited to participate and share their perspectives with students in both formal and informal settings. Regular attendance and vigorous participation are not only required, but are also part of a successful integration process to life in France. To complement the seminar, students select courses in archeology, art history, business French, civilization, history, linguistics, literature, phonetics, political science and visual arts. The program welcomes all students with third-year level college French interested in using French to enlarge their horizons.

The Institute for American Universities 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.

IAU has an informal agreement with L'Université d'Avignon et des pYs de Vancluse under which qualified full-year or second-semester students may audit courses under the supervision and with the approval of the Institute's Academic Director.

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 6 - December 20, 2008
Spring: January 10 -  April 30

Fall Break - Sat. Oct. 25 - Sun. Nov. 2, 2008///Spring Break - Sat. April 4 - Mon. April 13, 2009

Application Deadline(s)

Fall: May 1
Spring: November 1

Costs

$9,048 (CCIS Member)
$10,098 (Non-CCIS Members)

Costs Included

Instructional costs abroad, insurance, administrative fees

Costs Not Included

Airfare, personal costs, activity fee ($630), book fee ($170), room/half board ($4,480), damage deposit ($100)

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

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.