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PROGRAM	PROGRAM CODE	PRICE	DATES
Spring 2010	AVFS	$15,580	January 8 - May 1
Eligibility: This program is for students who have an advanced level of French. Students must be at least 18 years of age. Students must have completed at least 1 year of college and at least 2 years of college French (or equivalent) and have at least a 3.0 GPA in that field. Total contact hours: 225 - 270 per semester. 15 contact hours = 1 semester credit. 10 contact hours = 1 quarter unit. Possible U.S. Credits: 15 - 18 semester credit hours. Normal course load per semester is 5 classes. The final transcript for the ASA Avignon program is issued by the Institute for American Universities. If your school requires an American transcript, click here

AVIGNON, FRANCE: Spring 2010 Courses

Le Centre d'Avignon offers all of its courses in French within an entirely French-speaking environment. The semester program is based on a rich curriculum that invites students to discover the richness and diversity of Avignon, Provence, France, France in Europe and beyond. Students choose courses in archeology, art history, civilization, history, linguistics, literature, political science, and visual arts. Regular attendance and vigorous participation are not only required but are also part of a successful integration into life in France.

All courses are in French only (no English is spoken). Students take 5 courses from the list below, including advanced grammar, French or francophone literature, linguistics, political science, art history and civilization. Internships may be a complementary part of this course for a limited number of qualified students.

Courses are 3 credits each, unless otherwise noted. Normal course load per semester is 5, 3-credit courses.

COURSES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

* = Credit for this course may also be applied to the other disciplines listed.

ART 332* - Histoire de l'art des 19ième et 20ième siècles / History of Art: 19th and 20th Centuries
(*Art History, European Studies, French Civilization, Visual Arts)

French Description: La „découverte. du sud-est de la France par les artistes de la fin du 19ième et du début du 20ième siècle. Poussé par le développement du chemin de fer et par les nouvelles découvertes en matière de lumière et d.extérieur, des artistes comme Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, Picasso, etc., vont quitter Paris et la Normandie pour venir peindre dans le Sud. Leur vision en sera profondément bouleversée. Enseigné par un professeur de l.Université d.Avignon, ce cours comporte des visites obligatoires.

English Description: This course deals with the "discovery" of Southeastern France by artists at the end of the 19th century and early 20th century. Enticed by the railway extension to the Mediterranean coast, made more aware of the richness of the exterior and of light, artists such as Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet, Cézanne, Picasso, etc., will leave Paris and Normandy to come paint and establish themselves in the South of France. Their vision and paintings will be changed. Taught by a University professor from Avignon, this course includes compulsory field trips.

ECO 303* - Economie et société en Europe et en Amérique du nord / Economics and Society in Europe and North America
(*Business, International Relations, European Studies, Political Science)

French Description: La fin du 20eme siecle a consacre la fin des economies collectivistes dans le monde, ainsi que la suprematie et la generalisation quasi-universelle des systemes economiques fondes sur la liberte d.entreprendre et la propriete privee des moyens de production . ce que l.on nomme le ¡ì capitalisme ¡í ou ¡ì l.economie de marche ¡í. En ce debut de 21eme siecle, cette perspective de mondialisation (ou de globalisation) cree le sentiment generalement partage que tout se passe comme s.il n.y avait qu.une seule et unique maniere d.organiser l.economie capitaliste et la societe de marche. Ce modele d.organisation presente comme universel et atemporel est parfois percu par les Europeens comme la generalisation d.une conception ¡ì americaine ¡í de l.economie et de la societe, ou comme la negation de leurs propres ¡ì modeles ¡í d.organisation economique et sociale. Qu.en est-il vraiment ? Ce cours vise a apporter des elements de reponse a cette question en deux temps. Tout d.abord, il faudra interroger les theories economiques afin de connaitre l.origine du concept de ¡ì liberalisme economique ¡í, mais aussi pour comprendre qu.il existe une diversite de liberalismes theoriques possibles. Ensuite, nous pourrons tenter quelques comparaisons entre les modes concrets de fonctionnement de l.economie et de la societe de part et d.autre de l.Atlantique. Par exemple, nous pourrons chercher a comprendre (par la mise en evidence de divergences historiques et culturelles) pourquoi le role de l.Etat dans l.economie n.a pas ete concu de la meme facon en Europe et aux USA ? Ou encore, on cherchera a mettre en evidence les differences entre les analyses europeennes et americaines du ¡ì tiers-secteur ¡í associatif de l.economie sociale . un secteur ¡ì non-lucratif ¡í qui est pourtant accepte et encourage, mais de maniere tres contrastee, en Amerique du Nord comme en Europe.
N.B.: ce cours, s.il peut evidemment interesser des etudiants specialises en economie ou en sciences sociales, ne necessite pas de connaissances prealables particulieres dans cette discipline.

English Description: The end of the 20th century saw the end of state controlled economies, and the rise to dominant status of economic systems based on freedom of enterprise and the private ownership of means of production. This concept is referred to as ¡°capitalism¡± or ¡°market economy¡±. As the 21st century begins, it gives rise to a sense of globalization and to the general feeling that there is but one and only one way to organize the economy in a capitalistic society. While this pattern is often presented as universal and good for all times, it may lead some Europeans to perceive it as an extension worldwide of the American way of life and of its economic system. In this regard, it may also be understood by some as negating Europe.s own version of social and economic models. In this context, this course attempts to bring answers on two fronts. On the one hand and in order to understand the concept of economic liberalism, we will investigate its origin as well as the multiplicity of possibilities available. Then, we will attempt to compare some specific models of economic and societal examples on both sides of the Atlantic. We could, for example, look at the role played by the State in European and in American societies. Or we could also look at the differences in understanding the economic role played by non profit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic.
NOTE: While this course may be useful for students majoring or minoring in economics, it does not require a specific background in economics. It is therefore open to all those who want to better understand the central role played by economics in our societies and the different manners in which this role is understood in Europe and in North America.

FRE 341 - Internship / Stage*
(*Archaeology, Art History, Business, Economics, Education, European Studies, French Civilization, International Affairs/Business, Special Topics, Theater, Visual Arts)

French Description: Dans le cadre du cours d'économie, le Centre d'Avignon offre la possibilité à 5 étudiants par semestre de haut niveau personnel, linguistique et de motivation d'effectuer un stage non rémunéré, dirigé par le Professeur d'économie dans une entreprise, organisation, musée, etc. Chaque stage est spécifiquement sélectionné pour un étudiant bien précis qui suivra en contrepoint le cours d'économie afin de baser son travail sur une expérience académique reconnue.
Si vous êtes intéressé, contactez au plus vite la Directrice et envoyez-lui un CV et une lettre de motivation en français.

English Description: For students also taking the Economics class, there is the possibility for 5 selected, highly motivated students per term to take part in a two months unpaid internship in local businesses, museums or newspapers, in conjunction with preparation, follow-up and evaluation by the Economics Professor. Please contact ASA early if interested and send a CV and a letter of motivation in French.

Internships are arranged for interested and qualified students with the help of faculty at Le Centre d'Avignon, after being accepted to the ASA Avignon program. These customized internships are available on a first come, first served basis, as Le Centre can only arrange five internships per semester. Each internship is considered an independent study course and will earn students 1-3 credits, depending on the number of hours devoted to the internship. Please note that these internships are unpaid.

The following is a brief description of how the internships are arranged:
Once students are accepted to the ASA Avignon program, they may express interest in an internship by contacting ASA and providing a CV and a letter of motivation (preferably in French) stating the student's qualifications, experience and desires. ASA will put the student in touch with the Internship coordinator at Le Centre d'Avignon, who will work closely with each student to create a syllabus and find an appropriate location. Students are free to request an area of specialization, and the faculty at Le Centre will do their best to arrange an internship in that area. Though there is no guarantee, every effort is made to match the student with the interests expressed.

Past internships have placed students with the local newspaper, local library, local high school and local restaurants. Once the syllabus is planned, students will need to obtain approval from their home institution before departure in order to receive the credits.

Students are expected to work at least 1 half day per week throughout the semester. Grading is based on weekly Journal entries, an oral presentation and a final paper that combines the Journal entries along with a final overall assessment of the learning experience. Students are also required to attend 1-hour weekly meetings with the other interns as well as the Professor in charge to discuss their experience and to learn from each other. All work is to be done in French.

FRE 412 - Traduction et Stylistique / Translation and Stylistics

French Description: Ce cours, enseigné par deux professeurs, l'un francophone et l'autre anglophone permet d'appréhender de manière immédiate les subtilités, les nuances et difficultés de la traduction d'une langue dans l'autre.

Team-taught by two professors, one Francophone and one Anglophone, in order to better understand the subtleties and the difficulties in translating the nuances of either language into the other.

HIS 345* - La Grande Mutation française (1945-2005) / Changes in French Society (1945-2005)
(*French Civilization, European Studies/International Relations/Business/Political Science)

French Description: Comme l.indique le titre de ce cours, l.histoire recente de la France est marquee par une grande mutation. De 1945 aux annees 2000, l.histoire de la France contemporaine est marquee par la construction d.un modele original, tant sur le plan politique que social, economique ou culturel. Comprendre la nature et la specificite de ces transformations et s.interroger sur l.existence reelle ou supposee d.un ¡ì modele francais ¡í constitue l.objectif central de l.etude. Organise autour de documents sources ecrits, sonores et audiovisuels, ce cours doit permettre aux etudiants d.acquerir des connaissances sur l.histoire de France recente et une meilleure comprehension de la societe francaise d.aujourd.hui.

English Description: From 1945 to approximately the year 2000, French history was marked through the creation of an original model politically, socially and culturally. Our study will focus on the nature and on the changes which France underwent during these years. Do they really create a specifically French model? Through the presentation of original written, oral or audiovisual documents, this course aims to enable students to better understand contemporary French history and the contemporary society which derives from it.

LIT 412* - L'Expérience de la traversée
(*Literature/European Studies/French Culture and Civilization/Cultural Studies)

French Description: L'EXPÉRIENCE DE LA TRAVERSÉE, pour une approche culturelle de l'Autre à travers l'expérience des espaces nouveaux
Ce cours propose une série d'explorations et de réflexions aux étudiants sur les notions d'espaces intérieurs et d'espaces extérieurs. Le cours prendra appui d'une part sur leur immersion nouvelle dans le contexte socioculturel français et d'autre part sur le livre " Espèces d'Espaces " de Georges Pérec. Ce livre de base sera accompagné de références très précises à des travaux d'artistes et écrivains:
-Andy Goldsworthy, Eugène Guillevic et André du Bouchet pour l'expérience de la nature
-Nathalie Sarraute, Marina Abramovic et Julien Blaine pour l'expérience du corps et de l'espace intérieur
-Ernest Pignon Ernest, Guillaume Apollinaire et Henri Michaux pour l'expérience des espaces extérieurs.
Ce cours fait appel à la fois à la créativité et à la réflexion des étudiants. Il pourra mettre les étudiants en contact avec des travaux et des ouvres pouvant être considérés comme choquants hors d'un contexte artistique.

English Description: Subtitle: In Search of a Cultural Approach to the Other through the Experience of New Territories.
Throughout this course, students will reflect on interior and exterior spaces relying both on the students' own immersion in the socio-cultural French context they find themselves in and on Georges Perec's text: "Espèces d'espaces". Definite references will be made to such artists and writers as:
-Andy Goldsworthy, Eugène Guillevic and André du Bouchet for the natural world
-Nathalie Sarraute, Marina Abramovic and Julien Blaine for the connection between interior space and the body
-Ernest Pignon Ernest, Guillaume Apollinaire and Henri Michaux for the experience of external spaces.
Note: Some works may be considered shocking outside of the art sphere.

PHI 412* - Esthétique / Aesthetics
(*Literature, European Studies)

French Description: Quels regards ont porté sur l'art quelques uns des plus grands penseurs ? quels types d'interrogations ont dirigé leurs recherches ? On cherchera dans l'espace de ce cours à retrouver le fil de la pensée de ceux qui ont influencé et influencent encore notre rapport à l'art et aux ouvres d'art. On tentera de défricher ce milieu d'une très grande richesse pour, à notre tour, ouvrir notre regard, éclairer notre perception et élargir notre compréhension. Il s'agira avant tout de trouver des outils conceptuels simples pour rentrer à l'intérieur des ouvres.
Les textes seront tirés des auteurs suivants : Platon, Plotin, Hegel, Novalis, Baudelaire, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Diderot. Les ouvres le seront à partir des collections des musées de la ville d'Avignon et des environs.

English Description: This course, using as its starting point the many works of art present in local Avignon museums, will lead students to philosophical texts dealing with aesthetics and with such questions as: what is Beauty? What is the role of the artist in society? How does one reconcile mind and body in the practice of art?
Texts by the following authors will be examined: Plato, Plmotinus, Hegel, Novalis, Baudelaire, Merleau-Ponty, and Diderot.

POL 304* - Sciences politiques: La Communauté européenne / The European Community
(*European Studies/International Relations)

French Description: Enseigne par un professeur de l.Universite d.Avignon, ce cours porte sur la Communaute europeenne : ses origines, son developpement, son originalite et ses difficultes.

English Description: Taught by a professor from the local French university, this course deals with the European Community: its origins, development, originality and its difficulties as well.

VIS 492* - La France par son cinéma / France as Seen Through its Movies
(*French Civilization, French Cinema, Cultural Studies)

French Description: Ce cours presente des films francais depuis la seconde guerre mondiale jusqu.a nos jours. Il consiste en une initiation a l.analyse filmique : acquisition du lexique specifique, decryptage semiologique de l.image. Il presente conjointement une approche de la culture et de la societe francaises. Il se concentre sur les elements qui assument encore aujourd.hui culturellement un role preponderant dans les systemes de valorisations culturelles et sociales en France : figure du resistant, modernisation du pays et nostalgie du passe, liberalisation des moeurs, regionalisme, figures de l.exclusion dans la societe actuelle. Note : Le programme est different en automne et au printemps.

English Description: From Les Enfants du paradis to La Voleuse de Saint Lubin, this course will attempt to present a view of France and the French from the end of the Second World War to the second millennium through either highly representative movies of a certain kind, such as Jour de fête and also through films which could, through their auteur-réalisateur, be placed in counterpoint to literary (A bout de souffle) and social (Relations humaines) movements of the period. NOTE: Movies selected differ each term.