PARIS
Summer
ABOUT CUPA
By virtue of its location in Paris, France and its partnerships with some of France’s best universities, CUPA is part of a long academic tradition that helped lay the foundation for modern thought. While we pride ourselves on this solid background, the real strength of our programs is our constant desire to innovate and adapt our offerings to the evolving needs of our students. The Program is committed to providing exceptional students with the highest quality international experience, both academically
and personally. CUPA’s approach to intercultural learning is holistic and based on the belief that the pursuit of knowledge is not limited to the classroom. To this end, the Program creates a framework of support that allows students to take full advantage of the opportunities available in Paris. CUPA seeks to help students thrive in an increasingly global world in which intercultural adaptability is an essential skill.
The Center for University Programs Abroad
THE SUMMER PROGRAM
CUPA Summer is a six-week immersion program in Paris that combines intensive work in the French language, a selection of content courses, and unique opportunities for significant contact with French culture. The program is open to highly motivated undergraduate or graduate students with previous background in French and the desire to engage in a challenging summer program. Participants sign a language
pledge encouraging them to speak only in French at CUPA, during all program-sponsored activities, and in their homestays. Classes take place at the CUPA center, located down the street from the Luxembourg gardens and within walking distance of the Latin Quarter.
CURRICULUM
The Summer Program curriculum consists of two courses, a language course and a content course, carrying 60 contact hours each. Numerous co-curricular excursions and visits to museums, Paris neighborhoods, and cultural centers complement the work covered during class sessions. Students wishing to pursue research or particular interests (music, dance, the arts, etc.) may contact CUPA to implement a tailor-made study program best suited to their needs. They can receive support in research methods and resources, with access to the Bibliothèque François Mitterrand, Bibliothèque Forney, Bibliothèque Historique de la Ville de Paris, etc. For very advanced students, the language course may be waived upon review. Please visit our website to see an updated list of summer courses.
_ Advanced French Language: Grammar, Composition, and Conversation (60 hours/One Semester)
A course designed for students with the equivalent of three to four semesters of college French, wishing to build on their already solid French language skills. Students develop a higher level of aural and written comprehension while becoming familiar with specific aspects of French culture and society through French press articles, audio recordings, literary texts, films, etc. Strong emphasis is placed on helping students develop better proofreading and editing skills when writing in French. The course places particular emphasis on written proficiency to prepare students for more advanced language courses at their home universities. _ Cours de Perfectionnement (60 hours/One Semester)
A highly advanced French language course designed for students with at least five semesters (or the equivalent) of college French, wishing to develop greater proficiency and elegance in their written and oral French. The course draws from literary theory, prose texts, theater, and literary criticism, but also press articles and editorials covering current issues in French society. In-depth discussion and debate, coupled
with extensive written work, lead students to develop argumentative strategies and a more sophisticated and precise style in French. _ Paris 1850-1939: The Birth of Modern Art (60 hours/One Semester)
From the middle of the 19th century marked by Courbet’s uncompromising Realism to the post WW1 period culminating with Breton’s Manifeste du surréalisme, Paris attracted a great diversity of artists whose aesthetic experiments fueled an exceptionally rich artistic era. The scandalous debut of Matisse’s Femme au chapeau at the Salon d’Automne in 1905 is considered to have marked the birth of Modernism, yet as early as 1850, a series of controversies were already beginning to challenge aesthetic norms that had prevailed since the Renaissance. In addition to lectures and discussion examining what constitutes modern art and its manifestations, students will explore and analyze the impact of major works in situ. These works include Manet’s infamous Déjeuner sur l’herbe, as well as masterpieces of Impressionism, Fauvism or Cubism, at the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Picasso, or the Centre Pompidou, among others.
_ Diversity in Paris: From Communities to Communitarianism? (19th-21st Centuries) (60 hours/One Semester)
A study of the history of immigration in Paris, and its reflections in the contemporary city. The course is split between in-class discussion and field trips to neighborhoods rich in their relationship to immigration, with a particular focus on immigrants from the Maghreb and
Sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to understand the experience of immigrant and migrant populations in Paris, how these diverse communities situate themselves in the city, and how they assimilate and make Parisian culture evolve. Understanding these relationships helps put into perspective contemporary debates on issues such as immigration and secularism.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
CUPA sponsors and organizes a variety of activities, such as: • Overnight excursion (e.g. Loire Valley, Burgundy, Honfleur and the Normandy coast) • Soirée de bienvenue
• Tickets to performances (e.g. Opéra, Comédie Française) • Farewell dinner
HOUSING Living with a French family is a privileged form of housing that provides students with the opportunity to establish personal relationships, use French intensively and be immersed in French culture and traditions on a daily basis. Students have a private room in the home of one of CUPA’s carefully selected host families. They receive breakfast daily and share five evening meals per week with their hosts. CUPA strongly encourages this housing option. However, students may opt for independent housing if desired.
For more information on dates, program cost, eligibility, and application deadlines please visit our website: cupa.paris.edu
PA R I S
Summer
A unique community of exceptional students dedicated to their learning experience
A stimulating cultural program combining tradition and innovation.
Opportunities to pursue instruction in the fine and performing arts; internships, and undergraduate research
Challenging full-credit content and French language courses that allow students to take advantage of their summer term
Small class sizes allowing students to have a personalized academic experience
A six-week intensive immersion experience in the heart of Paris
Co-curricular visits where Paris becomes the classroom
More than just another study abroad program in Paris
cupa.paris.edu
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cupa@cupa.paris.edu
