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Programs : Brochure

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  • Locations: Montpellier, France
  • Program Terms: Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: UM Learning Abroad Center  
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction: French Click here for a definition of this term Class Status: 1-first year, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior
Housing Options: Apartment (alone), Apartment (shared), Homestay Click here for a definition of this term Areas of Study: Anthropology, Art History, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Communications, Creative Writing, Culture, Earth Science, Economics, Film, Film & Media Study, French, Geography, Government, History, Humanities, International Relations, Liberal Arts, Linguistics, Literature, Math/Statistics, Mathematics & Statistics, Media Studies, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Russian, Russian Literature, Russian Studies, Sciences, Sociology, Spanish, Sustainability
Program Type: study abroad Minimum GPA: 2.5
Program Description:


Language & Culture in Southern France

Integrate into French culture in Montpellier, a vibrant city located just miles from the Mediterranean. Hone your French language skills and take classes in a variety of subjects. Enjoy the city’s college-town atmosphere, medieval and contemporary architecture, and sunny climate. 
Southern France

Academics

Based at Paul Valéry University and at the University of Montpellier, this program provides access to humanities, engineering, sciences, and business courses through an extremely flexible course structure. Choose from a mix of special courses for study abroad students and regular courses with French students.

  • Program type:
    • Based at Paul Valéry University and at the University of Montpellier.
  • Level:
    • 1,000–3,000 level.
  • Term:
    • Fall semester, spring semester, academic year, and summer session.
  • Prerequisites:
    • 2.5 GPA
    • Freshmen and above
    • Language requirements vary
  • Courseload:
    • 15–18 credits per semester; 3–10 credits for summer.
    • Choose from the following options:
    1. Beginning Track (0–1 semesters of college-level French; summer only)
    2. Intermediate Track (2–3 semesters of college-level French; semester, academic year, and summer)
    3. Advanced Track (4+ semesters of college-level French; semester, academic year, and summer)
  • Internships/Community Engagement:
    • Advanced Track students can earn credit in an internship, as well as in an accompanying seminar that provides theoretical background for these unpaid positions. Students in the Intermediate Track can participate in the English-taught Community Engagement course, which includes a placement in the community.

Faculty

Françoise Defrecheux-Chaton is the on-site director. She and her staff provide housing arrangements, an in-country orientation, academic advising, and on-going support during the program. She has coordinated this program for many years and has taught at US and French institutions.

How to Apply

Click the button below to visit this program's web page for more information about the application process for this program.

About This Program

Live and study in Montpellier, one of France's fastest growing cities and an emerging cultural and educational center. Within easy reach of both mountains and the Mediterranean, and home to 100,000 university students, Montpellier is a young, vibrant city with a centuries-old history of intellectual advances and social tolerance. It is the ideal place for an introduction to French language and culture.

 

 

Students smiling in a garden
Live with a French host family, in a shared apartment, in an efficiency apartment, or in the University dormitory, depending on your preferred level of independence.

Multiple day-long excursions are included each term to introduce you to the unique character of southern France. In addition, the program’s social and administrative assistants organize activities to familiarize you with the city and provide you with opportunities to meet French students. Optional longer excursions at an extra cost are also organized by the program. These include excursions to Normandy, the Loire Valley, and Morocco.

About Learning Abroad Center

The Learning Abroad Center in the Global Programs and Strategy Alliance is the University of Minnesota's comprehensive resource for study, intern, community engagement, research, and volunteer experiences worldwide.

The Learning Abroad Center is a leader in providing innovative international learning experiences that expand and redefine the world for a diverse population of students, colleagues, and staff. The Learning Abroad Center staff and University of Minnesota faculty and staff participate in numerous leadership opportunities and serve on the advisory boards of organizations who provide and/or support education abroad programs. Through collaboration and individual attention, the Learning Abroad Center continues to promote empowerment, development, understanding, and responsibility in the global community.

A variety of program options--more than 200 programs in 60 countries--have been developed to address the diverse needs of students. Programs vary in length, level, academic focus, teaching format, language requirements, cost, and degree of independence demanded of the participant.