French and Classical Studies in Southern France

French and Classical Studies in Southern France

Summer: 7 weeks (mid-May to early July)
NOTE: This program is not running in 2010; please continue to check this Web page for future updates

Sponsored by the Department of French, Classics and Italian in the College of Arts & Letters

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This program provides students a rich and exciting study abroad experience centering on the theme of Roman Gaul. Students will live in Nîmes, France and will be able to take a combination of language and cultural courses in:

Latin
French
Occitan
Classical Studies
History
Art
Archaeology

Nîmes is in the center of France's most beautiful landscapes and offers a wide variety of classical and medieval architectural and archaeological sites. The location gives students a study abroad experience that will be most conducive to their acquisition (or improvement) of the French language, and their immersion in the culture of Roman Gaul and medieval Languedoc.

Where does it take place?

Nîmes (the Roman Nemausus) is a city of roughly 150,000. Nîmes was the principle city of Provincia (modern Provence) from in the second century BCE and throughout the subsequent reigns of Augustus and later Roman emperors.

The city boasts of some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world. Located near the border of Languedoc-Roussillon, and only a short drive from the Mediterranean Sea, the Cévennes mountains, and the lavender fields of Provence, Nîmes is in the center of France's most beautiful landscapes. Nîmes and its vicinity offer students and scholars a wide variety of classical and medieval architectural and archaeological sites including Arles, Orange, Vaison-la-Romaine, Saint-Rémy de Provence, the medieval walled city of Aigues-Mortes, the fortresses of les Baux de Provence, Sommières, and the Romanesque churches and cloisters of Saint-Gilles and Saint Trophime. Nîmes gives MSU students a study abroad experience that will be most conducive to their acquisition (or improvement) of the French language, and their immersion in the culture of Roman Gaul and medieval Languedoc.

What can I study?

Students will be required to enroll in a minimum of nine (9) credits, maximum of twelve (12), from the following course offerings:

IAH 241C	Diversity and Dissent: The History and Culture of Languedoc	4 cr.
An overview of the cultural, artistic and religious diversity of the south of France (Languedoc), with special emphasis on the resistance to central authority (whether from Paris or Rome) and to religious, political and linguistic oppression that has shaped the history, literature and culture of France south of the Loire. Topics studied will include the importance of Occitan and Provençal in the development of European lyric poetry, as manifested through the work of the Troubadour poets, the founding of the University of Montpellier by Jews, Arabs and Christians, the local nobility’s tolerance of the Cathar “heresy” and the subsequent crusade against the Cathars, the rise of Protestantism and the Huguenot’s struggle for freedom of conscience, and the resurgence of a strong movement for regional autonomy today.
CLA 310	Roman Civilization	3 cr.
Politics, literature, intellectual life, and culture of the late Republic with particular focus on the figure of Julius Caesar with excursions to historical monuments from the Roman and pre-Roman eras, led by knowledgeable guides.
LTN 101	Elementary Latin	4 cr.
Intermediate reading course will be centered on the works of Julius Caesar with emphasis on the Caesar’s Gallic Wars.
FRN 101	Elementary French	4 cr.
An introduction to the fundamentals of the French language. Students will be able to practice in the acquisition skills in a French-speaking environment.
CLA 491	Caesar Meets the Gauls: Accommodation and Conflict	3 cr.
This offering of CLA 491 focuses on fascinating encounters between Roman and Celtic cultures that led to the “Romanization” of Gaul. Students will study the culture of the Celts, Celtic and Roman conceptions of “other” culture, Celtic and Roman settlement and architecture and the manifestations of the interaction of these two cultures in architecture and art. Guest lecturers and site visits to Glanum, Vaison-la-Romaine and other cities near Nîmes that have significant Celtic and Roman remains will be an important component of this course.
LL 151 sect. 008	Elementary Occitan	4 cr.
Elementary Occitan. An introduction to the fundamentals of Occitan, the language of the Troubadour poets, the leaders of the Huguenot struggle for religious freedom, the peasants depicted by Van Gogh during his years in Arles, and of many people living in southern France today. In recent years this poetic and colorful language, which Dante considered using to compose his Divine Comedy, has experienced a major renewal, with the creation of bilingual schools and an internationally acclaimed Occitan Institute held in Nîmes every summer. The course will be taught by native speakers of Occitan.

FIELD TRIPS: Field trips are an important feature of the program. The following sites are just highlights of what Nîmes and its vicinity have to offer:

The Tour Magne, Amphitheatre, and Maison Carrée in Nîmes itself
The Nîmes Archaeological Museum
Pont du Gard, the remarkable Roman aqueduct 40 miles from Nîmes
The Romanesque church and abbey at St-Gilles
The Roman amphitheatre and Romanesque cloister of St-Trophime at Arles
The striking Roman theatre at Orange
The Gallic oppidum at Nages, and the medieval cities of Sommières and Aigues-Mortes

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.00 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Students will be housed in the Agora, a modern educational facility near downtown Nîmes that has state of the art classrooms, dorms, a cafeteria, and swimming pool.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Laurence Porter
Department of French, Classics and Italian
341 Old Horticulture Bldg.
Phone: (517) 432-8739 ext. 136

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee in 2007 (this program did not run in 2008 or 2009) was $2,941 and included the following:

application fee ($100)
deposit ($200)
pre-departure orientation
accommodations
two meals per day
accident and sickness insurance
field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

MSU tuition and fees*
airfare
additional meals
books and supplies
passport application fee
visa application fees (if applicable)
pre-departure doctor visits
pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $2,397 (US07). Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

*Check Student Accounts for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is March 1st for summer programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by March 1st for summer programs. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.

*What's next?*

*Come to a study abroad fair*

*Talk with a Peer Adviser*

*Read program evaluations*

*Attend an info meeting*
*Apply online*

*Additional Resources...*

Office of Financial Aid	252 Student Services http://www.finaid.msu.edu

*MSU Travel Clinic*	East Circle Drive http://travelclinic.msu.edu

Academic Advisers	http://www.msu.edu/common/academic/units.html

Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities	120 Bessey Hall http://www.rcpd.msu.edu

*Area Studies Centers*	International Center http://www.isp.msu.edu

*MSU Global Access*	Information about the world -- its regions and peoples and important international issues International Center http://www.msuglobalaccess.net/

*OSA contact info:*	Office of Study Abroad Michigan State University 109 International Center East Lansing, MI 48824-1035 Phone: (517) 353-8920 Fax: (517) 432-2082 Email: studyabroad@osa.msu.edu