SPRING 2008 COURSE SCHEDULE (updated 10/25/2007)
SUMMER 2008 COURSE SCHEDULE (updated 5/06/2008)
FALL 2008 COURSE SCHEDULE (updated 3/14/2008)
Le Centre d'Aix
Le Centre d'Aix offers a wide variety of courses taught in English and in French to meet the needs of the diverse group of students who come to IAU every semester. Courses in subjects ranging from Art and Archeology to Political Science and Psychology allow virtually any student to study abroad in France while still completing the courses needed for graduation from their home institution. A minimum of 15 credits per semester is required and constitutes a normal full-time load. To take fewer credits, written permission is required from the student's home institution prior to arrival. Students at the advanced level in French language are able to take all of their courses in French. Those without prior background in French are required to take two introductory courses per semester in the French language in addition to their courses conducted in English. All full-time students MUST take at least one course in French. All classes are subject to cancellation, if insufficient enrolment.
Note: Courses which begin with the prefix 'FRE' are conducted in French. Other courses are also taught in French and if so, it is noted within the course description.
Students can spend a semester (fall or spring), academic year, or six weeks in the summer at the Aix center. The summer Program at Aix runs from mid-June through the end of July. The summer program is ideal for students who cannot fit a semester or academic year into their college schedule but who still want the experience of studying abroad.
Faculty of Le Centre d'Aix
The Aix Center curriculum includes arts and sciences courses taught in English and French, as well as a complete range of French language offerings. Professors from the US, France, Great Britain, and some other European countries teach the courses offered in English, as well as the arts and sciences courses in French. Over 70% of the 15-20 faculty members teaching at any one time have appropriate terminal degrees. Professors who have taught for IAU recently received doctorates from Yale, Harvard, Columbia, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Strathclyde University (UK), l'Université de Toulouse-Le Mirail, l'Université de Montpellier I, and l'Université de la Mediterranée, Aix-Marseille II. The summer faculty roster includes guest professors from US universities who belong to departments of Art, Communication, Economics, French, and Music.
Each semester, 8-10 faculty members teach the language courses at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. All of them are native French speakers who have university degrees which qualify them to teach French as a foreign language: Master's Degrees, Diplôme d'Etudes Approfondies, and special certificate degrees such as Certificat d'Enseignement de Français Langue Etrangère or Certificat d'Enseigner le Français des Affaires.
The Director of the Aix Center is Dr. Paul Schwartz. Dr. Schwartz holds an AB from Harvard University and a PhD in French from Yale. He has taught and held administrative positions at the University of North Dakota, Lafayette College, Pennsylvania State University, and the State University of New York at Fredonia.
Options for Study at the French University
Qualified students may take one or two courses at the French university. In order to enroll at the Faculté des Lettres, Université de Provence—Aix-Marseille I, the student must be attending the Institute for American Universities for the entire academic year or for the spring semester, and must respect the French university academic calendar. Final exams are given in late January and in late May. This opportunity is made possible on the basis of 50-50 cost-sharing between IAU and the student for the additional tuition fees charged by the French university. Please inform Admissions if you are interested in this option.
Program Options for High School students
For information about high school summer study abroad programs, please visit: