Location

Paris is a city of many faces.  It has been likened at once to a battlefield, a beehive, a lion, a ship, an ocean, a volcano, a furnace, a sewer, a paradise, a brothel, a labyrinth, a beacon, and a star. Over the course of two weeks, students will consider these metaphors and be invited to invent their own.  To that end, we will explore some of Paris' most oft-visited sites--like the Musée d'Orsay, the Garnier Opera, Montmartre, and the Centre Pompidou--as well as a number of places off the beaten path. 

In their free time, students will have frequent opportunities to explore those places they might find most relevant to their own scholarly and professional interests.  They will be invited to stop, look and listen closely as the world goes by in a place where, as in most modern metropolises today, the increasingly hurried pace of life often prevents its own inhabitants, and most visitors, from ever doing so. 

Courses and Credit

FRTR 2553: Taught in English.  No pre-requisite required, 3 credits.  Students from all schools of the University are encouraged to apply

FREN 3553: for French majors and minors who want to receive 3 credits toward their major/minor.  While the primary language of instruction will be English, students receiving credit toward the major/minor will complete all required work in French.  Students will also make daily use of their French language skills in small group discussion sections.

Accommodations

Our home base of the duration of our stay will be the FIAP Jean Monnet, an international student center conveniently located in a safe and quiet neighbothood in Paris' 14th arrondissement, a short walk from Montparnasse and the Jardin du Luxembourg.  Students will share double rooms, each with en-suite bathrooms.  Daily buffet breakfast and dinner is included in the fee.

Faculty

Ari Blatt is Professor of French at U.Va., where he teaches courses on modern and contemporary French literature, film, and culture.  He spent a year studying abroad in Paris as an undergraduate, and has lived and worked in France, on and off, for 5 additional years.  He delights in sharing his knowledge of the city with UVa undergraduates during an intense and always rewarding two weeks every winter.

Dates

The course usually runs from Dec. 28-Jan. 10 each year. See here for more details.

Costs

Tuition and program fees generally run around $3200-$3500, depending on whether students are eligible for in-state tuition. The cost includes lodging, most meals, and site visits and entry fees. In addition to tuition and fees, students will need to cover the cost of transportation to and from Paris.

View the program Budget Sheet online for additional details.

Financial Aid and scholarships are available for education abroad.  Application information is available at: https://educationabroad.virginia.edu/.