Graduate Courses

Course Code Key

All courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted. 

Courses with an FRE, SP, or ARAB discipline are conducted either in French, Spanish, or Arabic, some of which are cross-listed with non-language disciplines. 300-level language courses or higher require previous completion of the 202 academic level prior to enrollment.

*There is no guarantee that all courses will be offered every semester. Please refer to your advisor for availability before choosing your courses each semester.

Master of Business Administration

Core Courses

BUS 685: Financial Accounting - All types of organizations and individuals develop and use financial accounting information in conducting their daily activities. The concepts of financial accounting, however, are most highly developed and clearly defined in the business world. Therefore, this course focuses upon financial accounting information relating to profit-oriented business organizations. This graduate course introduces the basic concepts and principles of accounting for preparing financial statements such as income statements (financial performance) and balance sheets (financial position). The course focuses on the detailed understanding of accounting informationsystems, accounting concepts, accounting principles, accounting cycles, recording of transactions, and financial statement concepts.

BUS 650: Strategic Management -This course introduces the key concepts, tools, and principles of strategy formulation and competitive analysis. It is concerned with managerial decisions and actions that affect the performance and survival of business enterprises. The course is focused on the information, analyses, organizational processes, and skills and business judgment managers must use to devise strategies, position their businesses, define firm boundaries, and maximize long-term profits in the face of uncertainty and competition. Field studies and externships may include visits to businesses in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Barcelona, and Paris

BUS 575: Operations Management -Our objective in this course is to introduce you to concepts and techniques related to the design, planning, control, and improvement of manufacturing and service operations. The course begins with a holistic view of operations, where we stress the coordination of product development, process management, and supply chain management. As the course progresses, we will investigate various aspects of each of these three tiers of operations in detail. We will cover topics in the areas of process analysis, materials management, production scheduling, quality improvement, and product design. Field studies and externships may include visits to businesses in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Barcelona, and Paris.

BUS 505: Global Marketing -Exploration of basic knowledge of global marketing focusing on the impact of environment on the strategies used by firms, and the understanding of consumer behavior management as it relates to the development and implementation of global marketing strategies.

ECO/ENS 501: International Economics -The effects of greater freedom and liquidity in world trade will be critically analyzed and explained, especially in the light of recent controversy concerning ’globalization.' We shall assess the performance of European Union, as a project of regional economic integration intended to redress many of the alleged defects of the liberalized trade model and ask whether and how it might offer a viable solution to the need to preserve economic and social cohesion and meet institutional pre-requisites of economic development.

BUS 585: Quantitative Methods for Decision Making -The purpose of this course is to provide students with a sound conceptual understanding of the role that Management Science plays in the decision-making process. The course will be taught in an applied fashion and whenever possible the "problem scenario approach" will be used. Particular attention will be given to problems, opportunities and decisions facing a manager in today’s business world. More specifically, we will discuss and extensively analyze the topics of descriptive and inferential statistics and decision-making. The course will primarily consist of lectures, outside readings, problems, and case studies designed to provide the student with the tools and techniques required to manage processes efficiently and make decisions effectively. At the completion of this course, the student is expected to have gained a working knowledge and understanding of the mathematical models used in Management, how they are constructed and used in practice, and the important contributions they have made to the success of managerial decision-making.

BUS 555: Organizational Behavior -This graduate seminar is designed for new GMBA students to gain an understanding of classic and contemporary research that addresses fundamental issues of organizational behavior. Drawing on theory and research in psychology, social psychology, and organizational behavior, we shall explore individual, interpersonal, and group processes in work organizations. Our emphasis will be on the development of theory and research. Field studies will include visits to local businesses in Aix-en-Provence and the general region.

FIN 500: Financial Management -This course is an introduction to the main areas of corporate finance. Its focus is on developing an understanding of the tools and methodologies available to the financial manager for decision-making in capital budgeting, working capital management, capital structure, and profit planning and control.

BUS 503: Intercultural Management -Fast-paced changes in innovative management in recent years, from mono-cultural to multicultural, from mono-linguistic to multilingual, has deeply affected the needs of global business and the hiring of global nomads and experienced expatriates in our shifting companies and organizations. This course will raise awareness on managing innovative and intercultural Human Resource to achieve new 21st century goals in diversity and inclusion and new solutions to the challenges and opportunities international work forces can generate.

BUS 504: Business Law and Ethics in the Global Marketplace - This course investigates ethical problems in business practice. Topics include personal morality in profit-oriented enterprises; codes of ethics, obligations to employees and other stakeholders; truth in advertising, whistleblowing, and company loyalty; self and government regulation; the logic and future of capitalism; and the changing responsibilities of the manager in a rapidly globalizing business environment.

Master of Fine Arts

Core Courses

Drawing and Painting

ART 501: Drawing I - This course emphasizes the articulation of space and pictorial syntax. Class work is based on observational study. Assigned projects address fundamental technical and conceptual problems suggested by historical and recent artistic practice.

ART 502: Drawing II - Studio practice and theory focusing on the nature of drawing and emphasizing the development of individual students' ideas and work. Systems and conventions of drawing and visual organization are explored in public open house presentations and final critiques with faculty members.

ART 630: Painting I - This course introduces concepts and techniques in painting related to formal elements and the relationship between those elements and content.  Students will investigate color and drawing, light and volume, figuration and abstraction, and their relationship to content and form.

ART 632: Painting II - Further exploration of concepts and techniques in painting, with an emphasis on the individuation of the students' pictorial language in relation to perceptually based studio work and culminates in a ten day painting field study in Venice.

ART 633: Painting III - Development of individual themes and technical approaches through independent studio practice is emphasized. Studio work is complemented by group discussions within Critical Studies III Seminar.

ART 634: Painting IV - This course focuses on the individual formative process. Research, development, and thesis formulation are done under the aegis of an atelier in conjunction with independent practices.

Critical Studies

ART/ARH/PHI 509: Art Criticism & Aesthetics Seminar I - Fall Semester - The Art Criticism seminar offers the student access to a wide variety of images (architectural, sculptural, painted, etc.).  The objective of this course is to improve critical awareness and to refine judgment based on an exploration of universal principles through visual experience. The seminar focuses on the elements of form: color, value, light and volume.

ART/ARH/PHI 510: Art Criticism & Aesthetics Seminar II - Spring Semester - The Art Criticism seminar offers the student access to a wide variety of images (architectural, sculptural, painted, etc.).  The objective of this course is to improve critical awareness and to refine judgment based on an exploration of universal principles through visual experience. The seminar takes students into an in-depth study of the elements of color, value, light and volume in their relation to content and form. Artworks and texts from varying periods and cultures throughout history are compared and contrasted to explore diverse issues such as the imagination, symbol in art, Zen principles in eastern art, motif, and tradition. Field studies are obligatory.

ART/ARH/PHI 511: Art Criticism & Aesthetics Seminar III - Fall Semester The Critical Studies courses are seminars in which students read and discuss criticism essays, artists' writings on art, and philosophical texts. They include field studies to museums, artist studios, and galleries. Critical studies I and II accentuate an overview of critical thought from past generations which will be used as a springboard for Critical Studies III, which accentuates modernist and postmodernist theory and will culminate in a final 15-page critical analysis paper. Critical Studies I II and III represent 6 credit-hours of critical and aesthetic analysis of multiple cultural and time period artistic achievements, 3 credit-hours of Independent research and analysis.

Thesis Practice and Thesis Project

ART 750: Thesis Project (MFA Exhibition/Show) - This course is the preparation for the final Thesis Project with faculty oversight. Students will complete and present their final body of work representing artistic achievement over the span of the program. The Thesis Project will include a digital portfolio outlining their MFA process with images of past and present work, artistic influences, and their culminating artist statement. Other critical components of the Thesis Project include planning and creating an exhibition catalogue, preparing the gallery for the MFA exhibition, offering a gallery talk for the community, defending the thesis at a final faculty critique, and a process paper.

Art History

ART/ARH 401: Introduction to Art History: Prehistory to Modern Times - Initiation to the language and techniques of art history, and study of painting, sculpture, and architecture of art from prehistory to the 20th century. Typically includes field studies to sites in the region.

ART/ARH 500: Methodology and Research in Art History - A graduate seminar required by art history students and taught by three members of the art history faculty. It addresses Western and non-Western current debates in art history and discusses the different approaches and theories in the field. The purpose is to provide students with the basic tools of visual analysis and with an overview of the history of the discipline. Some of the discussions take place in the classroom and others in museums and architectural monuments in the town of Aix-en-Provence.

ART/ARH 512: European & Mediterranean Prehistoric Art & Archaeology - This course deals with the apparition and the development of European and Mediterranean societies from the arrival of the first modern humans; known as Cro-Magnon until the birth of the Celtic aristocracies at the dawn of the Roman conquest. Within the chronological framework of the course, illustrated by major archaeological sites and artifacts, topics discussed include art (cave art, prehistoric "Venuses"), genders, identities, power & birth of leadership, ancient religious beliefs (shamanism, Mother Goddess worshipping, solar cult). Typically includes excursions to sites in Provence.

ARC/ARH 513: Powers and Identities in the Ancient Mediterranean - Overview of the Mediterranean basin from the first civilizations in Egypt and the Middle East up to the Roman expansion over Europe. The course objectives aim to “de-classicize” the Ancient Mediterranean history to tone down the “Mediterranean Antiquity/Greco-Roman” paradigm. As this Greco-Roman world did not appear abruptly, classes will have an equal emphasis on these “Non-Classical” civilizations such as the Etruscans, the Hittites, the Phoenicians, and the Celts/Gauls. As a result, the main direction taken for this course focuses on concepts of power and identity, which are demonstrated in politics, gender and social ideals, material culture, and religious practice. Finally, bridges will be created between the concerns of the Ancients and our concerns in modern societies. Typically includes an overnight trip to Paris and/or Provence (e.g. Arles, Marseille).

ART/ARH 515: Masters Forum: Gateway to the Arts of the World-Theory and Practice - A graduate seminar required by first-year students of fine art and art history. The purpose of this course is to bring the students into contact with a range of working methods and artistic viewpoints as a supplement to their painting practice. This course is divided into five parts and will set out to clarify basic questions about what constitutes art and what does not. The students’ practice is supported by independent research, close readings, and workshops from a diverse collection of local artists.

ART/ARH 520: Picasso, Matisse, and the Mediterranean - This course is an investigation of the development of late 19th and early 20th-century modern art within the context of the south from post-impressionism through fauvism, cubism, and surrealism.

MSM/ARH 537: History of Museums: The Memory of Mankind from Prehistory to Nowadays - Bringing together objects from all over the world and from all eras, museums are witnesses to human history and true mirrors of our contemporary societies.  This course studies the history of museums from prehistory to modern times and examines the ancestors of the present-day museums, which include prehistoric caves decorated with paintings, medieval churches and their treasuries, Renaissance princely palaces decorated by the greatest artists of their time, cabinets of curiosities bringing together the wonders of the exploration of the world in the 17th century.  It also aims to explore the role museums and their ancestors play in shaping our view of the world, and in shaping the way we relate to the world around us.  The course includes field studies to several museums in France in general and in Provence in particular.

ART/ARH 540: The Mediterranean and Beyond: Cross-Cultural Studies in Medieval Art and Architecture - This course goes beyond the borders of empires, states, and political history to discuss and analyze what makes the Middle Ages an artistic, architectural, and intellectual momentum from the 5^th to the 15^th centuries CE.  It studies the arts and architecture of various cultures and covers vast geographical and chronological scopes.  We will deal with West Europe, the Islamic World, Iran, India, China, the Byzantine Empire, and the so-called Vikings (Danes).  Field studies are an integral part of the course.

ART/ARH 542: Artistic Encounters in the Mediterranean: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in European Art - This course will study the cross-cultural influences on European art from the 6th to the 20th centuries. We will examine Byzantine Art and Italy (Ravenna, Venice, and Sicily), Islamic art and Europe (Spain, Sicily, and Venice), the Ottomans and Renaissance art, Mughal paintings and Rembrandt, Orientalist paintings, Japanese art and Impressionism, and the influence of African art on Modernism. Field studies will take us to various museums in the cities of Paris and Aix-en-Provence.

ART/ARH 563: Baroque Art and Architecture - This course investigates European art and architecture of the seventeenth century. Known as the Baroque, this artistically rich period saw the rise of major artists including Caravaggio, Bernini, Gentileschi, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens, Claude, and Poussin. Best known for dramatic, narrative scenes of intense psychological and emotional power, Baroque art, in its extravagant excitement, reflects the tumultuous times in which it was created. This course looks at regional stylistic variations – Italy, Spain, Flanders, Holland, France, England – within the context of historical circumstance including new ideas about the nature of time and space, the rebranding of the Catholic Church (on the offensive after the onslaught Protestantism), the consolidation of power by an absolute monarch (Louis XIV), and the creation of the Dutch Republic with a mercantile-based economy.

ART/ARH 573: Renaissance Art and Architecture -This course looks at regional stylistic variations – Italy, Spain, Flanders, Holland, France, England – within the context of historical circumstance including new ideas about the nature of time and space, the rebranding of the Catholic Church (on the offensive after the onslaught Protestantism), the consolidation of power by an absolute monarch (Louis XIV), and the creation of the Dutch Republic with a mercantile-based economy.

ART/ARH 581: The XIXth Century and French Impressionism - With an emphasis on looking at and discussing paintings (over memorizing dates and names), this course seeks to understand what happened in France in the 19th Century in the domain of art. What was Impressionism? Why did it happen at this particular moment?  And why was it centered around Paris?  Students will read texts, look closely at paintings, participate in class discussions, and attend a multi-day trip to the museums of Paris.

ART/ARH 582: Cezanne and Van Gogh - Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh remain two of the most influential painters in the history of European art, and both accomplished significant portions of their work right here in Provence. This course follows the career arcs of both painters, with an emphasis on reading primary texts and looking very carefully at the most significant works each artist produced (as well as some lesser-known gems). Additionally, students attend two day-long field studies, in which they examine reproductions of paintings by each artist, while standing in the exact spot the paintings were done, comparing the work with the real motif, to gain insight into each artist’s powerful imagination.

MSM/ARH 591 - Museums Today: Mission and Challenges (Museology Seminar) - Nowadays, visiting museums is a common practice for a large part of the population. However, beyond their function of display, what do we know about the life of museums? This course examines what takes place behind the scenes in these institutions.  Among the topics to be discussed in this class are: how the exhibitions are produced from their conception phase to their realization; what potentials and challenges the new technologies represent for museums; what actions are being taken to reach the widest possible audience; what phenomenon is pushing certain large museums to become brands that can be exported abroad in a globalized world; and what political, societal, economic and diplomatic role museums play in our societies.  A big part of the seminar will take place in Musée Granet in Aix.

Electives

ART 570: Creative Writing - The creative writing process and studying abroad have much in common -- both require reflection and critical analysis in order to realize their fullest potential.  Lyrical sentences, vividly rendered images, or even the most interesting set of anecdotes in the world won't take the reader far if the writer doesn’t lend shape and meaning to the material.  The same is true for studying and living abroad.  In this class, we will focus on an intensive writing practice and we will deconstruct and explicate various elements of the essay (particularly those oriented toward exploring a “new” culture and “self” within an intercultural context).  We will explore the use of effective narrative distance and locating the narrator “on the page” in service of the story.  Furthermore, we will look at how our beliefs and perspectives inform our thinking and writing, and how living within another culture challenges those viewpoints and processes as writers.

ART 585: Sculpture -  How do we see ourselves? What makes us unique? How much do we communicate by facial expressions alone? Can you tell what a person is thinking by the way they look at you? What value do you place on hair? make-up? skin? What parts of your identity are associated with the way you look? How many selfies have you taken? This sculpture course will challenge master’s students to use limited materials in creative ways to tell their story – or the story of someone else. What can you communicate to your audience through a three-dimensional portrait? This course will engage students with a variety of common materials (paper, cardboard, tape, wire, plastilina and clay) and result in an exhibition through which our class will introduce themselves or their subjects to the community. What story will you tell? The purpose of the sculpture studio course is to develop the student's capacity to look at the world, as well as themselves, and to transform that vision into art through sculpture. Students will master technical skills which will allow them to continue their exploration of three-dimensional art into the future.

ART 599: Independent Study 

ART 635/636: Ceramics I/II - Intended for graduate students with or without experience in ceramics or pottery. Through this course, students will learn the fundamentals of ceramics techniques and aesthetics. With an emphasis on throwing, hand construction along with surface and glaze techniques, students will gain the skills to create three-dimensional works. Students will develop an understanding of design, aesthetics, and the creative process within the development of clay objects through both functional and nonfictional works.

ART 701: Art Internship – Students may elect to be placed in internships in various museums and galleries in the region including the renowned Atelier Cézanne and the Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence. Students will receive three credits for their internship submitting regular reports to their advisors with a final report due at the end of term.

ART/BUS 327: Arts Administration: Cultural Management and Leadership – Careers in the creative industries are exploding—from entrepreneurial artists, cultural innovators, to leaders of arts organizations—job opportunities in the cultural economy are dynamic and growing. This course will introduce key concepts of arts management to students and help prepare them for a successful career in the arts. Through examinations of significant recent issues and trends within arts businesses, this course will focus on how organizational planning and structure, policy, fundraising, and stakeholder/audience engagement intersect to foster sustainable arts organizations.

Master of Arts in French Studies

Core Courses

FRE 588: Master’s Seminar: Critical Thought - The Masters of Arts in French Studies seminar includes all students enrolled in the Master of Arts in French Studies, no matter what their concentration is (Teaching French as a Foreign Language, Contemporary French Literature, Francophone World or International Relations). It is taught entirely in French and organized around the notion of “Critical Thought” through different perspectives: Sociolinguistic, Literary, Historic and Composite (Individual). It is composed of 4 units of 6 sections each. Each unit is taught by a different professor specializing in that specific domain. In this course, the notion of « Critical Thought » is envisioned as the capacity to develop one’s own thought from multiple external sources of knowledge and direct personal experiences.

FRE 589: Master’s Seminar: Methodologies - The Masters of Arts in French Studies seminar includes all students enrolled in the Master of Arts in French Studies, no matter what their concentration is (Teaching French as a Foreign Language, Contemporary French Literature, Francophone World or International Relations). It is taught entirely in French and is organized around the notion of “Methodology” envisioned according to different perspectives: Writing of university works, collection and analysis of given texts, Roland Barthes: a single “method” for approaching society, Don Juan’s “method:” a French critical mind. The seminar is composed of 4 units with 6 sections each. Each unit is taught by a different professor specializing in that specific domain.

FRE/LIT 511/513: Cultural Approach of The Other (Literature, Art and Experiences of New Cultural Spaces in Aix-en-Provence and the surrounding area) - This course will focus on the specificity of French cultural contexts especially in the South of France through the exploration of contemporary Literature texts and the works of contemporary artists. How can the work of writers and artists focused on Outer Space, Inner Space, the Body, the Other, Nature and the World help us to better understand and appreciate our study abroad experiences and more specifically our encounter of the French society in Aix-en-Provence and its surroundings?

The students will read excerpts from important literary texts, which will serve as a guide: Jean Giono, Jacques Roubaud, Guillaume Apollinaire, Gherasim Luca, Jacqueline de Romilly, Henri Michaux, Françoise Sagan, Albert Camus. These texts will be analyzed along with contemporary works of Art (visual artists, architects, choreographers...) such as Christo, Zaha Hadid, Andy Goldsworthy. Each theme will be explored in relationship with the new environment of the students and particularly, the different relationships that we can establish with different spaces.

During the program, each student will complete two “major” creative and analytical assignments and several punctual works in class and at home that will illustrate all themes studied in class; in fact, the students will have to keep a diary, build up a personal dictionary, write partial synthesis, express their sensations. The aim is to explore different types of use of the French language to improve our general linguistic abilities in both oral and written form.

FRE/LING 512: Contemporary French: The Linguistics of Everyday Language - The purpose of this course is to understand the use of French in today’s daily practices or in specific social fields including but not limited to: informal speech, new words and slang, language used in advertisements, and political discourse. Students aim to understand the operations of interpretations of speakers and to articulate the organization of language (signs, lexical relationships) and real linguistic practices (situations of real-life statements). In addition, this course puts students in direct contact with the practices of French in today’s society, and how linguistics can help us to better understand and thus better utilize the multiple forms that words take. This course takes advantage of the opportunity of students’ linguistic and cultural immersion (and all the possibilities of direct observations and investigations they represent) to develop the speaking proficiency of the students.

FRE 501: Translation & Structure I: From Colloquial to Literature - This course is designed to provide advanced instruction and supervised practice in translation from English into French and from French into English. During the course, students will be working with texts of moderate to high difficulty. Several text typologies will be entertained: different extracts from novels, short stories, and poems in both languages. The course includes both theory and supervised practice of translation. Using the selected texts, we will explore the challenges linked to the place of the individual in contemporary society: identity and family relationships, identity and relationships with others, social condition, normalcy and collective consciousness. These challenges become especially apparent in the study and practice of translation, as students will come to realize during the semester.

FRE/LIT 514/515: French and Francophone Literature: A Dialogue - This course will reflect on and explore the incessant dialogue(s) between literary expressions of the French language. Indeed, we find in this field, French authors and authors coming from countries formerly of the French colonial empire, consisting of North Africa, Central Africa, Indochina, or DOM-TOMs. How does one approach these relationships today, during the time of postcolonial studies? How does one assess the contradicting problems of these relationships? Who are the authors that, within their personal methodology, and thus, of their literary space, record and allow one to rethink these relationships in extreme complexity? The question of identity will establish the transversal link between the works and the problems studied. Students will read and discover a large variety of types of texts: short stories, novels, and poetry from different sources of origin such as: Algeria, Senegal, Guadalupe, Indochina, and France.

FRE/LIT 539/540: French Children’s Literature: Exploring Language, Culture, and Society -This course focuses on the way French children’s literature explores the creativity of language (with wordplay, for example) and the interaction between text and illustrations, while giving us an historical glimpse of French culture and society and of the underlying value system that pervades children’s literature. We will study classics (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Charles Perrault’s and La Fontaine’s tales, la Comtesse de Ségur) and more contemporary texts (Joseph Joffo, Daniel Pennac, Sempé and Pierre Gripari) to offer a comprehensive view of this literary category. The students will also rely on their own imagination to comprehend this genre and to conceive a literary text of their own.

FRE/LIT 562: Women and the Mediterranean: From Myth to Modernity- This course is designed to encourage students to question the notion of gender through the established works of French literature. By studying “great texts’ in varying genres, including novels, poetry, and theatre, and using images (paintings, engravings, and photographs), this course will examine the fabrication of gender (and particularly femininity) through the cultural and aesthetic devices presented in these works. It will articulate the socio-historical and geographic context in which they arose, and their reappropriation by the authors studied. How do these representations continue to shed light on the present? Does the geographical location affect the construction of the female gender?Readings combined with in-class discussions will allow students to synthesize the different issues raised by the concept before engaging in their own creative writing.

FRE 570/571: Translation and Publishing: Workshop – This course is designed to provide advanced instruction and supervised practice in translation from French to English and editing work such as rewriting. Students will work directly with a major French publisher.During the course, students will translate promotional materials (used by French publishers to promote books to booksellers) intended to sell the rights of unreleased books abroad and original French texts that have not been translated into English. Several genres will be encountered, including novels, short stories, essays. The course includes both supervised practice of translation, rewriting (in French and English) and familiarization with the publishing industry. At the end of this course, the students will have a professional translation portfolio.

FRE/POL 576: Contemporary French Identities - This course, entirely conducted in French, is dedicated to the study of French Identities, that is, the social, cultural, and political diversity of contemporary France. We will consider the ideals that the French tend to agree on or converge towards, as well as what the subjects over which there are continuing tensions, and which challenge the ongoing writing of the French ‘National novel.’  Three main themes will be tackled: French politics today and its history; the question of racism, islamophobia, and anti-Semitism; and immigration/refugee issues. The French situation cannot be properly understood without an understanding of the larger European framework.

The three main themes will, therefore, also be considered from the European perspective. This should help students better evaluate what is specific to the French case and what is not. In addition, a comparative European-USA approach will provide students with further frames of analysis. Interviews will be conducted by groups of students thus providing rich empirical data to be analyzed and put into perspective in class. During the course, students will acquire a better understanding of the French ‘Republican ideal’ and the meaning of secularism for the French.

HIS/FRE 528: Provencal History Through its Monuments - Provence is a unique geographical space: a vast opening on the Mediterranean Sea, with a very contrasted climate and vegetation often threatened by wildfires. This space often explains the human organization of landscapes. The history of Provence is very rich and very ancient, and has put in place a complex cultural region, at times mixed with continental and Mediterranean, Greek, Gaulois, and Roman, along with today’s relationships with other countries of the Mediterranean basin. This course approaches the history of Provence under an artistic (painting and sculpture) and architectural angle where the different monuments studied will be used as a foundation for the understanding of Provençal civilization.

ART 582: Cézanne and Van Gogh - Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh remain two of the most influential painters in the history of European art, and both accomplished significant portions of their work right here in Provence. This course follows the career arcs of both painters, with an emphasis on reading primary texts and looking very carefully at the most significant works each artist produced (as well as some lesser-known gems). Additionally, students attend two day-long field studies, in which they examine reproductions of paintings by each artist, while standing in the exact spot the paintings were done, comparing the work with the real motif, to gain insight into each artist’s powerful imagination.

BUS 503: Intercultural Management - This course is designed to introduce students to concepts and fundamentals of international management. The course will consider aspects of management within an international and culturally complex environment, while considering the business influences within the global workplace. Students with or without prior international management knowledge will benefit from the course. Organizational effectiveness demands that personnel do the right things efficiently. Therefore, the role of management is to strive for and maintain the goals of the organization. Being an effective manager is not just telling others what to do. It is also about effective leadership, training, and communication. Having effective managers can be a cost saving tool for all organizations of all sizes. Corporation executives, supervisors, and managers are aware of the importance of and difficulty in finding and retaining highly skilled employees (a time-consuming role of management).

HIS 501: European History: 1870-1918 - This course examines the major social, economic, political, and diplomatic developments in European history during the so-called long nineteenth century, meaning the period from 1789 (the start of the French Revolution) to1918 (the end of the "Great War," World War One). This course will cover the period 1789-1918. It will concentrate primarily on the historical experience of France, Germany, Britain, Italy, the Ottoman Empire and Russia with occasional attention paid to other European nations. The course attempts to balance political, social, and cultural history. The different topics will be covered based on the study of text extracts, maps, and pictures, paintings, cartoons, etc.

HIS/IRL/POL 521: Contemporary Politics of the Middle East - This course is an introduction to contemporary Middle Eastern politics. The main objective is to provide students with historical background and theoretical tools to address the main issues facing the region. The course tackles the following core themes: The persistence of Authoritarianism in the region, the context and reasons that led to the “Arab spring,” what accounts for the prominence of Political Islam, the structural reasons behind the region economic underdevelopment, the prospect for liberal or illiberal democracy in the region, the international spillover effect of the region’s instability, and the roots of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and its prospects.

IRL/POL 503: International Relations - International relations encompass more today than just relations between governments. This course will place the emphasis on the various actors in international relations. Central to the course are utilizing the advantage of living abroad for a semester. This includes following closely current events and attending local conferences. Students will write short papers and give presentations, while reading assigned texts and drawing frequently on Franco-American relations as a case study.

IRL/COM 516: Media and Conflict - The course will provide a structured approach to address different media systems. It will explore the dynamics of news, politics, conflicts and freedom of the press. Focusing on ongoing, international crises of global importance, we will examine how various international media report on topics including armed conflicts, human rights abuses. We will study the dynamics governing news media environment and structures. We will try to understand why different audiences from different cultural spheres perceive the same news in sometimes a diametrically opposed way. We will examine the rich arsenal of repression tools used by authoritarian and even democratic regimes to suppress press freedom or spin news to their advantage. We will look at the ways and means by which courageous journalists try to circumvent these obstacles.

PHI/POL 512: Political Ethics - From the perspective of selected topical issues of politics and society, students will be encouraged to develop an enhanced critical awareness of how major political and social thinkers in the past have treated the relationship between individual and society. The course will thus include the study of prominent texts in moral and political philosophy (from Plato and Aristotle to authors of the twentieth century), but it will also aim directly to improve students’ analytical skills for understanding conflicts that commonly arise in the practice of citizenship, while also helping them to develop a finer appreciation the significance of social change and of cultural diversity, in an emergent global society.

POL/IRL 508: Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin: Security in a Diverse Region - France is both a founding member of the European Union and an historic and active actor in the Mediterranean basin. Aix-en-Provence was founded by a Mediterranean people – the Romans, in support of another Mediterranean people – the Greeks. Living and studying in Aix-en-Provence gives students first-hand experience of one of the many identities that encompass the Mediterranean basin. This culturally diverse region has been connected for millennia by a shared geographic space. It has created some of the greatest monuments to human intelligence and creativity, and at times has been a cauldron of violence and instability. Students will read texts on the geopolitical issues facing the countries of the Mediterranean basin today as well as analyze contemporary policies to have a better understanding of the future of this fascinating region.

LIT 525: The European Novel - During the nineteenth century the realist novel had become the dominant form for depicting an evolving society and its mores. As the twentieth century dawned, would-be novelists began questioning the codes of realism and experimented with new techniques to explore more authentic versions of individual and social experience. The European novel in the twentieth century casts doubt on traditional elements of the novel form: an eventful plot and stories of dramatic adventure, the heroic protagonist, an omniscient reliable narrator, a purely rational approach to human psychology, and the capacity of language to capture the real. In this course, we will consider the evolution of the novel looking at some of the major social, philosophical and literary developments of the twentieth century: from point of view, verisimilitude and "impressionist" thought through existentialism and its aftermath to the open-ended approach as the reader becomes the subject of the author's work.

FRE 541: Internship - During the fall semester, and during the spring semester if they choose, students may be placed in internships in various organizations or businesses in the immediate region, that correspond to the students’ chosen track of study. Students will receive three credits for their internship submitting regular reports to their advisor.

FRE 542: Research Building & Methodology - During the spring or summer terms students participate in this research course to help inform their master’s thesis.

FRE 599: Final Research Thesis – 4 credits - Students in their final semester will choose a subject and advisor for the Final Research Thesis Project. The candidate’s thesis will be supervised by their faculty advisor with additional oversight from the French department. Oral defense of the thesis will be conducted in front of the MA in French Studies committee at the end of the term.

Master of Arts in International Education Administration

Core Courses

EDU 501: Foundations of International Education - This module is designed as a foundations course that introduces students to the field of international education. Topics covered include trends in international education, global competence, internationalization, education abroad, experiential education, international enrollment management, international students and scholar services, international schools, diplomacy, as well as other related fields. Through a combination of lectures, expert guest speakers, and in-person interactions with international professionals, students will gain an understanding of the breadth of the field of international education and will be exposed to the diverse opportunities that exist within the field.

EDU 503: International Higher Education Administration - An in depth look at U.S. higher education administration practices viewed through the lenses of campus business offices, student services, academic programs, and other perspectives. Special attention will be given to campuses operating abroad or with abroad programs and how those are managed. Module content will include institutional missions, structures, values, and cultures. Leadership and oversight, including shared governance and accreditation will be studied. Understanding of these topics will be incorporated into discussion of current issues in higher education, with emphasis on both analysis and policy making.

EDU 504: Internationalizing U.S. Colleges and Universities – This module will focus on the key concepts, history, and themes in internationalization of institutions of higher education. Students will explore the positive impacts of internationalization and the potential adverse consequences to consider. Students will learn about the various approaches as to how a campus can work towards the goal of sustainable comprehensive internationalization and will compare strategies on how this might be achieved.

EDU 505: Study Abroad Management – This module gives an overview of the major topics related to study abroad. These topics include study abroad program types, administrative roles and structure, financial structures, risk management, diversity and inclusion, risk management, and impacts on intercultural learning.

EDU 506: International Education Policy –This module gives an overview of the fundamental issues and topics in international education, with a focus on the challenges of implementing policies in a global context. Topics include regulatory practices such as immigration, federal financial aid, Clery Act and Title IX legislation, FERPA/HIPAA/ADA, and DACA and the implications these practices have on international programs.

EDU 507: Marketing in International Education - This module introduces students to fundamentals of marketing and recruitment in the higher education sphere. Students will learn now to identify and evaluate target market opportunities, define, and articulate the value proposition, and develop strategies that advance the goals of the institution or client. Students will learn by doing as they create their own campaigns in small groups.

EDU 508: Risk Management in International Education - This module gives students an overview of managing risk in international education programming. Throughout the course, students will learn about the broad risk landscape in education abroad, important safety and security issues that occur abroad, federal compliance requirements, and steps to take to manage crisis situations abroad.

EDU 510: Fostering Diversity and Inclusion – This module explores the barriers to education abroad as it relates to underrepresented students. These groups include students of color, first-generation students, low-income students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students. Students will dive into the parallel between students underrepresented in education abroad and those who have historically been marginalized in higher education. Students will learn best practices on reducing barriers to education abroad and strategies on creating inclusive environments in international programs.

EDU 511: Budgeting in International Education – This module will focus on the concept of budgeting in international education offices as it relates to institutional practices and program development. Students will learn about the elements of a budget and various management approaches based on desired outcomes. Students will also learn different strategies for developing, managing, and evaluating international program-specific budgets.

EDU 512: College Student Development - This module gives students an overview of managing risk in international education programming. Throughout the course, students will learn about the broad risk landscape in education abroad, important safety and security issues that occur abroad, federal compliance requirements, and steps to take to manage crisis situations abroad.

EDU 513: Developing Intercultural Competence - In this course students will gain a deeper understanding of the different theoretical models associated with intercultural learning and cultural adaptation. It is interdisciplinary, drawing from the fields of international education, psychology, communication, sociology, and anthropology. Scholarship from the field of study abroad will help students gain a broader understanding of the range of study abroad student experiences beyond the semester long program in Barcelona to which they are being exposed.

EDU 514: Mental Health in International Higher Education - This module will examine the concepts of mental health within an international education context. Students will explore the incidence and prevalence of mental illnesses in the higher education institutions, the social consequences of mental illness, barriers to care, and strategies to support students’ mental health in international contexts.

EDU 529: Study Abroad Management and Design -This module provides an overview of the major topics related to the field of study abroad as well as the fundamentals of designing and assessing international programs. Study abroad topics include program types, administrative roles and structure, financial structures, risk management, diversity, and inclusion, and impacts on intercultural learning. Related to program design, students will learn the various planning phases that are the make-up of high impact education abroad programs. Students will also learn about the diverse ways to assess program effectiveness and impact. During this course, students will compose their capstone project presented at the end of the course.

Mediterranean Regional Courses

POL 510: Comparative Politics - This is an introductory course in the study of comparative politics. It addresses the concepts, ideas, and analytical tools necessary to understand and analyses the processes of state formation, the nature of political regimes and the role of political actors. The study of the core concepts of comparative politics is followed by a close look at country cases. Students will be acquainted with the political history of these countries. They will study the interactions between State institutions and the civil society. They will analyze the determinants of their political evolution and the characteristics that set them apart. Case studies are mostly drawn from Europe and the Middle East and North Africa region.

POL/COM 516: Media and Conflict - The course will provide a structured approach to addressing different media systems. It will explore the dynamics of news, politics, conflicts, and freedom of the press. Focusing on ongoing, international crises of global importance, we will examine how various international media report on topics including armed conflicts and human rights abuses. We will study the dynamics governing news media environment and structures. We will try to understand why different audiences from different cultural spheres perceive the same news in sometimes a diametrically opposed way. We will examine the rich arsenal of repression tools used by authoritarian and even democratic regimes to suppress press freedom or spin news to their advantage. We will look at the ways and means by which courageous journalists try to circumvent these obstacles.

HIS/SOC 504: Muslim Presence in Europe - This course is an overview of the long-term interaction between the Muslim world and the West, not as two separate entities, but with emphasis on their historic commonality, and their dialectic relation. The course focuses on the debates regarding the Muslim population in Europe, covering concepts of religion and secularism, the history of Muslim populations in Europe, legal issues, human rights, feminism, and modernity. Field studies will take us to specific quarters in Marseille, historically linked with the Muslim community, and to Arrahma Mosque in Istres.

POL/IRL 508: Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin: Security in a Diverse Region - France is both a founding member of the European Union and an historic and active actor in the Mediterranean basin. A Mediterranean people founded Aix-en-Provence – the Romans and the Greeks. Living and studying in Aix-en-Provence gives students first-hand experience of one of the many identities that encompass the Mediterranean basin. This culturally diverse region has been connected for millennia by a shared geographic space. It has created some of the greatest monuments to human intelligence and creativity, and at times has been a cauldron of violence and instability. Students will read texts on the geopolitical issues facing the countries of the Mediterranean basin today as well as analyze contemporary policies to have a better understanding of the future of this fascinating region.

IRL 505: Contemporary U.S. Diplomacy in an Age of Change - This seminar will explore contemporary U.S. foreign policy and the challenges that face its practitioners. Students will explore the context of US diplomacy today, while honing essential written and oral communication skills. Modern diplomacy is conducted in a world of rapidly evolving global challenges: the spreading dangers of weapons of mass destruction; new and more malignant forms of terrorism; regional and sectarian conflicts; failed and failing states; global economic dislocation; and transnational health, energy, and environmental concerns. Rarely can these issues be addressed unilaterally. In addition, diplomacy has moved beyond state-to-state relations to include non-state actors, including private sector entities, international organizations and NGOs, criminal cartels, militant groups, and local and international media.

POL/IRL 512: Ethics in International Relations - The course is designed to introduce students to the increasing range and density of ethical issues affecting international relations on a global scale, and to develop their skills of analysis and critical evaluation in assessing practical consequences of such issues, especially in order to find moral solutions applicable in the making and implementation of foreign policy, as well as in the conduct of inter-personal and private cross-border relationships.

We shall follow R.B.J. Walker's injunction to treat ethics as immanent to international relations, not as a disjoined separate discipline confined to philosophy. In other words, we shall assume that the theory of international relations itself 'is already constituted through accounts of ethical possibility' (Walker). Students will need first, therefore, to be acquainted with the history and nature of ethical discourse and its contemporary relevance to political community, particularly as a source of limitation on prevailing ideas of sovereignty, citizenship, national identity, and justice. This will entail synoptic study of prominent contributors in the past to the   formulation   of universally applicable theories of ethics in relation to political community, including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Kant. However, students will be encouraged to engage in interactive class discussion, and to facilitate it from time to time, on a selection of key topical issues which demonstrate the pertinence of universal moral theory on an international dimension.

The choice of issues may vary according to students' interests, and current relevance, but will normally cover some aspects of the following: human rights; migration and refugees; prevention of nuclear warfare; terrorism; effects of climate change and possible preventive measures; mistreatment of women and children; economic inequality; rights of minorities; religious intolerance.

POL/IRL 504: Theories of International Relations - This course will review the history and progression of International Relations theory from the founding period of the discipline in the interwar period of the 20^th Century until the current period. We will examine realism (both classical and structural), liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, feminism, critical theory, green theory, post-structuralism, the English school, and postcolonial theory.

Master of Arts in International Relations

POL/IRL 504: Theories of International Relations - This course will review the history and progression of International Relations theory from the founding period of the discipline in the interwar period of the 20th Century until the current period.  We will examine realism (both classical and structural), liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, feminism, critical theory, green theory, post-structuralism, the English school and postcolonial theory.

POL 510: Comparative Politics - This is an introductory course in the study of comparative politics. It addresses the concepts, ideas, and analytical tools necessary to understand and analyses the processes of state formation, the nature of political regimes and the role of political actors. The study of the core concepts of comparative politics is followed by a close look at country cases. Students will be acquainted with the political history of these countries. They will study the interactions between State institutions and the civil society. They will analyse the determinants of their political evolution and the characteristics that set them apart. Case studies are mostly drawn from Europe and the Middle East and North Africa region.

POL/IRL 512: Ethics in International Relations - The course is designed to introduce students to the increasing range and density of ethical issues affecting international relations on a global scale, and to develop their skills of analysis and critical evaluation in assessing practical consequences of such issues, especially in order to find moral solutions applicable in the making and implementation of foreign policy, as well as in the conduct of inter-personal and private cross-border relationships. We shall follow R.B.J. Walker's injunction to treat ethics as immanent to international relations, not as a disjoined separate discipline confined to philosophy. In other words, we shall assume that the theory of international relations itself 'is already constituted through accounts of ethical possibility' (Walker). Students will need first, therefore, to be acquainted with the history and nature of ethical discourse and its contemporary relevance to political community, particularly as a source of limitation on prevailing ideas of sovereignty, citizenship, national identity and justice. This will entail synoptic study of prominent contributors in the past to the formulation of universally-applicable theories of ethics in relation to political community, including Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau and Kant. For the most part, however, students will be encouraged to engage in interactive class discussion, and to facilitate it from time to time, on a selection of key topical issues which demonstrate the pertinence of universal moral theory on an international dimension. The choice of issues may vary according to students' interests, and current relevance, but will normally cover some aspects of the following: human rights; migration and refugees; prevention of nuclear warfare; terrorism; effects of climate change and possible preventive measures; mistreatment of women and children; economic inequality; rights of minorities; religious intolerance.

ECO 501: International Economics & the European Union - The course examines critically the challenges to economic governance and policy presented by 'globalisation' of markets and increasing economic integration on a world scale. In particular,it will help students make a realistic and informed assessment of the success of the European Union as a model of regional economic integration which is designed to meet those same challenges - a model that is unique but which has been used in the formation of other regional entities in other parts of the world. Relevant theories of trade and development will be tested critically leading to an introductory analysis, in an historical perspective, of the customs union, internal market, economic and monetary union, freedom of movement of labour, along with other foundations of European Union, such as its policies for: external trade and development; competition between enterprises; economic, social and territorial cohesion; agriculture, environmental protection and technologically-induced, ecologically-friendly growth. Due attention will be given to the key role in integration of common institutions and the legal framework, and to the effects of successive enlargements of membership of the EU.

POL/FRE 576: Contemporary French Identities - This course, entirely conducted in French, is dedicated to the study of French Identities, that is, the social, cultural, and political diversity of contemporary France. We will consider the ideals that the French tend to agree on or converge towards, as well as what the subjects over which there are continuing tensions, and which challenge the ongoing writing of the French ‘National novel.’  Three main themes will be tackled: French politics today and its history; the question of racism, islamophobia, and anti-Semitism; and immigration/refugee issues. The French situation cannot be properly understood without an understanding of the larger European framework. The three main themes will, therefore, also be considered from the European perspective. This should help students better evaluate what is specific to the French case and what is not. In addition, a comparative European-USA approach will provide students with further frames of analysis. Interviews will be conducted by student groups, providing rich empirical data to be analyzed and put into perspective in class. During the course, students will acquire a better understanding of the French ‘Republican ideal’ and the meaning of secularism for the French.

HIS/SOC 504: Muslim Presence in Europe - This course is an overview of the long-term interaction between the Muslim world and the West, not as two separate entities, but with emphasis on their historic commonality, and their dialectic relation.  The course focuses on the debates regarding the Muslim population in Europe, covering concepts of religion and secularism, the history of Muslim populations in Europe, legal issues, human rights, feminism, and modernity.  Field studies will take us to specific quarters in Marseille, historically linked with the Muslim community, and to Arrahma Mosque in Istres.

HIS 503: France and Europe in the Cold War: Economy, Culture, Society, and Politics (1945-1989) - The main objective of the course is to acquire general knowledge of European history between 1945 and 1989, in its cultural, social, economic and political aspects. The history of Europe between 1945 and 1989 can be understood through the prism of Cold War history: Western Europe on one side, Eastern Europe and Soviet influence on the other side. The second objective is to contribute to a better understanding and analysis of Europe, in its contemporary complexity and diversity.

POL/IRL 508: Geopolitics of the Mediterranean Basin: Security in a Diverse Region - France is both a founding member of the European Union and an historic and active actor in the Mediterranean basin. Aix-en-Provence was founded by a Mediterranean people – the Romans, in support of another Mediterranean people – the Greeks. Living and studying in Aix-en-Provence gives students first-hand experience of one of the many identities that encompass the Mediterranean basin. This culturally diverse region has been connected for millennia by a shared geographic space. It has created some of the greatest monuments to human intelligence and creativity, and at times has been a cauldron of violence and instability. Students will read texts on the geopolitical issues facing the countries of the Mediterranean basin today as well as analyze contemporary policies to have a better understanding of the future of this fascinating region.

POL 518: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - This course addresses the causes and evolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict from the 19th century to the present. It provides an in-depth understanding of the conflict by exploring its history and the narratives of the parties. We will follow a timeline beginning with the inception of the conflict. We will study the 1948 War, the various armed confrontation which pitted Israel against its neighboring countries. We will address the various attempts at peace. We will do so by addressing the international, historical and political developments. A particular focus of the course will be the Israeli and Palestinian societies, their history and their culture.   

POL/COM 516: Media and Conflict - The course will provide a structured approach to address different media systems. It will explore the dynamics of news, politics, conflicts and freedom of the press. Focusing on ongoing, international crises of global importance, we will examine how various international media report on topics including armed conflicts, human rights abuses. We will study the dynamics governing news media environment and structures. We will try to understand why different audiences from different cultural spheres perceive the same news in sometimes a diametrically opposed way. We will examine the rich arsenal of repression tools used by authoritarian and even democratic regimes to suppress press freedom or spin news to their advantage. We will look at the ways and means by which courageous journalists try to circumvent these obstacles.

POL/ENS 509: Global Environmental Politics - The contemporary global environmental questions, including issues such as global climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, desertification and ocean acidification, are among the major concerns for the international community. As we are becoming increasingly aware of the consequences of our activities on our environment, on our civilization and ultimately on our lives, every year, numerous initiatives are launched to counter the ills we have already caused and to prevent further degradation. These include national and international legislations and laws, periodic meetings between international actors and decision makers in addition to worldwide events organized by grassroots movements involving thousands of local and international organizations.

POL/IRL 547: International Negotiation: Theory and Practice - This course will explore modern methods of negotiation in business and politics, and how they are utilized in international relations.  It will make extensive use of case studies, and explore the role of cross-cultural communications in international negotiations. International negotiations are one of the primary ways states and non-state actors resolve their differences.  In a globalizing world, there are those who argue that negotiations are gradually replacing violent conflict between states as the main tool used to mediate conflicts.  Others note that violence is still present, although increasingly it is located in civil conflicts that make special demands on negotiators.  Regardless of whether or not we are entering an era of low interstate violence, negotiations across cultures, boundaries and societies is an enduring feature of 21st century economics and politics.  

POL 542 : Internship – Summer Term - At the end of the spring semester, students will be placed in internships in various government and non-government organizations or international businesses in the immediate region. The ACM network includes places such as the US Consulate, City Hall, the Chamber of Commerce, l’Office du Tourisme, Maritime Organizations in Marseille, the International Red Cross, crisis relief agencies for immigrants, and many others. Students will receive four credits for their internship submitting regular reports to their advisors with a final report in July.

POL 599 : Master’s Thesis - Students will work closely with their chosen track advisor on a Master’s Thesis to be submitted no later than July 1st after the completion of their coursework. Students will attend graduation ceremony in May but will only receive their diploma upon the submission and successful completion of their Master’s Thesis.

Master of Arts in Art History

ART/ARH 401: Introduction to Art History: Prehistory to Modern Times - Initiation to the language and techniques of art history, and study of painting, sculpture, and architecture of art from prehistory to the 20th century. Typically includes field studies to sites in the region.

ART/ARH 500: Methodology and Research in Art History - A graduate seminar required by art history students and taught by three members of the art history faculty. It addresses Western and non-Western current debates in art history and discusses the different approaches and theories in the field. The purpose is to provide students with the basic tools of visual analysis and with an overview of the history of the discipline. Some of the discussions take place in the classroom and others in museums and architectural monuments in the town of Aix-en-Provence.

ART 505/506: Painting and Drawing Studio - Includes work from the figure, museum study, still life and landscape work in the Aix countryside. A course for students with intermediate/advanced skills. The goal of the course is to develop the student's capacity to see into the visible world and transform his/her vision into art. The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and artistic forms through the challenges of museum study, landscape, portraiture, model work, and still life. Instruction is individualized and adapted to each student's needs and interests. Painting and drawing are taught concurrently and are complementary.

ART/ARH/PHI 509: Critical Studies I - The Art Criticism seminar offers the student access to a wide variety of images (architectural, sculptural, painted, etc.).  The objective of this course is to improve critical awareness and to refine judgment based on an exploration of universal principles through visual experience. The seminar focuses on the elements of form: color, value, light and volume.

ART/ARH/PHI 510: Critical Studies II - The Art Criticism seminar offers the student access to a wide variety of images (architectural, sculptural, painted, etc.).  The objective of this course is to improve critical awareness and to refine judgment based on an exploration of universal principles through visual experience. The seminar takes students into an in-depth study of the elements of color, value, light and volume in their relation to content and form. Artworks and texts from varying periods and cultures throughout history are compared and contrasted to explore diverse issues such as the imagination, symbol in art, Zen principles in eastern art, motif, and tradition. Field studies are obligatory.

ART/ARH 512: European & Mediterranean Prehistoric Art & Archaeology - This course deals with the apparition and the development of European and Mediterranean societies from the arrival of the first modern humans; known as Cro-Magnon until the birth of the Celtic aristocracies at the dawn of the Roman conquest. Within the chronological framework of the course, illustrated by major archaeological sites and artifacts, topics discussed include art (cave art, prehistoric "Venuses"), genders, identities, power & birth of leadership, ancient religious beliefs (shamanism, Mother Goddess worshipping, solar cult). Typically includes excursions to sites in Provence.

ARC/ARH 513: Powers and Identities in the Ancient Mediterranean - Overview of the Mediterranean basin from the first civilizations in Egypt and the Middle East up to the Roman expansion over Europe. The course objectives aim to “de-classicize” the Ancient Mediterranean history to tone down the “Mediterranean Antiquity/Greco-Roman” paradigm. As this Greco-Roman world did not appear abruptly, classes will have an equal emphasis on these “Non-Classical” civilizations such as the Etruscans, the Hittites, the Phoenicians, and the Celts/Gauls. As a result, the main direction taken for this course focuses on concepts of power and identity, which are demonstrated in politics, gender and social ideals, material culture, and religious practice. Finally, bridges will be created between the concerns of the Ancients and our concerns in modern societies. Typically includes an overnight trip to Paris and/or Provence (e.g. Arles, Marseille).

ART/ARH 515: Masters Forum: Gateway to the Arts of the World-Theory and Practice - A graduate seminar required by first-year students of fine art and art history. The purpose of this course is to bring the students into contact with a range of working methods and artistic viewpoints as a supplement to their painting practice. This course is divided into five parts and will set out to clarify basic questions about what constitutes art and what does not. The students’ practice is supported by independent research, close readings, and workshops from a diverse collection of local artists.

ART/ARH 520: Picasso, Matisse, and the Mediterranean - This course is an investigation of the development of late 19th and early 20th-century modern art within the context of the south from post-impressionism through fauvism, cubism, and surrealism.

MSM/ARH 537: A History of Museums: From Prehistoric Caves to the Louvre Abu Dhabi - Housing artworks from all over the world and from all eras, museums carry memory of humanity. In the past, however, these artworks were displayed in various locations and settings such as nature, tombs, churches, palaces, and private dwellings. To understand better what is displayed in today’s museums, this course rereads history of art in relation to space/place from Prehistoric cave paintings to contemporary art centers. It includes field studies to several museums in the region.

ART/ARH 540: The Mediterranean and Beyond: Cross-Cultural Studies in Medieval Art and Architecture - This course goes beyond the borders of empires, states, and political history to discuss and analyze what makes the Middle Ages an artistic, architectural, and intellectual momentum from the 5^th to the 15^th centuries CE.  It studies the arts and architecture of various cultures and covers vast geographical and chronological scopes.  We will deal with West Europe, the Islamic World, Iran, India, China, the Byzantine Empire, and the so-called Vikings (Danes).  Field studies are an integral part of the course.

ART/ARH 541: Islamic Art and Architecture in Europe - This course studies the interface of Islamic visual cultures and European art and architecture from the 8^th century until nowadays. It explores the cultural interactions that took place and have provided inspiration for European architects and artists throughout the centuries.

ART/ARH 542: Artistic Encounters in the Mediterranean: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in European Art - This course will study the cross-cultural influences on European art from the 6th to the 20th centuries. We will examine Byzantine Art and Italy (Ravenna, Venice, and Sicily), Islamic art and Europe (Spain, Sicily, and Venice), the Ottomans and Renaissance art, Mughal paintings and Rembrandt, Orientalist paintings, Japanese art and Impressionism, and the influence of African art on Modernism. Field studies will take us to various museums in the cities of Paris and Aix-en-Provence.

ART/ARH 563: Baroque Art and Architecture - This course investigates European art and architecture of the seventeenth century. Known as the Baroque, this artistically rich period saw the rise of major artists including Caravaggio, Bernini, Gentileschi, Velasquez, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Rubens, Claude, and Poussin. Best known for dramatic, narrative scenes of intense psychological and emotional power, Baroque art, in its extravagant excitement, reflects the tumultuous times in which it was created. This course looks at regional stylistic variations – Italy, Spain, Flanders, Holland, France, England – within the context of historical circumstance including new ideas about the nature of time and space, the rebranding of the Catholic Church (on the offensive after the onslaught Protestantism), the consolidation of power by an absolute monarch (Louis XIV), and the creation of the Dutch Republic with a mercantile-based economy.

ART/ARH 581: The XIXth Century and French Impressionism - With an emphasis on looking at and discussing paintings (over memorizing dates and names), this course seeks to understand what happened in France in the 19th Century in the domain of art. What was Impressionism? Why did it happen at this particular moment?  And why was it centered around Paris? Students will read texts, look closely at paintings, participate in class discussions, and attend a multi-day trip to the museums of Paris.

ART 582: Cezanne and Van Gogh - Paul Cezanne and Vincent Van Gogh remain two of the most influential painters in the history of European art, and both accomplished significant portions of their work right here in Provence. This course follows the career arcs of both painters, with an emphasis on reading primary texts and looking very carefully at the most significant works each artist produced (as well as some lesser-known gems). Additionally, students attend two day-long field studies, in which they examine reproductions of paintings by each artist, while standing in the exact spot the paintings were done, comparing the work with the real motif, in order to gain insight into each artist’s powerful imagination.

MSM/ARH 591 - Museums Today: Mission and Challenges (Museology Seminar) - Nowadays, visiting museums is a common practice for a large part of the population. However, beyond their function of display, what do we know about the life of museums? This course examines what takes place behind the scenes in these institutions.  Among the topics to be discussed in this class are: how the exhibitions are produced from their conception phase to their realization; what potentials and challenges the new technologies represent for museums; what actions are being taken to reach the widest possible audience; what phenomenon is pushing certain large museums to become brands that can be exported abroad in a globalized world; and what political, societal, economic and diplomatic role museums play in our societies.  A big part of the seminar will take place in Musée Granet in Aix.

ART 599: Independent Study

ART 741: Art Internship - At the end of the Spring semester, students will be placed in internships in various museums and galleries in the region including the renowned Atelier Cézanne and the Musée Granet in Aix-en- Provence. Students will receive three credits for their internship submitting regular reports to their advisors with a final report in July.

ART 750:  Thesis Project (MFA Exhibition/Show) - This course is the preparation for the final Thesis Project with faculty oversight. Students will complete and present their final body of work representing artistic achievement over the span of the program. The Thesis Project will include a digital portfolio outlining their MFA process with images of past and present work, artistic influences, and their culminating artist statement. Other critical components of the Thesis Project include planning and creating an exhibition catalogue, preparing the gallery for the MFA exhibition, offering a gallery talk for the community, defending the thesis at a final faculty critique, and a process paper.

Language Courses

• Arabic Language Courses
• French Language Courses
• Spanish Language Courses: 
  
  

SP 101: Beginning Spanish I – Spanish Language in Context - This course is designed for students with little or no prior knowledge of Spanish. By the end of the course, the successful student will develop a basic foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening and speaking.

SP 102: Beginning Spanish II – Spanish Language and Cultures - This course is designed for students with very basic knowledge of Spanish. This course builds upon the skills acquired in SP101. By the end of the course, the successful student will develop a basic foundation in the five skills: intercultural communication, reading, writing, listening and speaking.

SP 201: Intermediate Spanish I - Spanish Language in Context - This course is designed for students with little prior knowledge of Spanish. Students who can already use a few basic words and phrases, and who can understand very simple requests and responses are appropriate for this level. Students entering this course are also able to read and interpret the basic meaning of simple sentences and phrases. Students who have studied basic Spanish in high school or in college but never continued to build their skills may find this level appropriate. Students who have studied another Romance language may also be capable of entering this level. At the end of this 3-credit course students will be able to: express themselves in a variety of contexts, relate different pieces of information, establish cause and consequence, and converse with ease in limited formal and informal situations.

January Term

For each J-Term program, students may select the course/discipline that most interests them or that aligns with their academic goals and program. Students must consult with the program dean and their advisor prior to choosing a J-Term program.

Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean

• Human Development 555: Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean
• Human Rights 555: Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean
• International Relations 555: Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean
• Political Science 555: Diplomacy & Human Rights in the Mediterranean

Diplomacy is about balancing multiple, sometimes competing, priorities. How can the US promote human rights in North Africa while also fighting terrorism? How does the US elicit cooperation from NATO allies while also getting them to pay their fair share? This study tour surveys how US diplomats balance multiple goals and foreign policy challenges while working with partners from other governments, international organizations, and civil society in Europe and North Africa. The Mediterranean region is one where the most pressing foreign policy challenges of the day converge, from migration to counterterrorism and climate change to great power competition with China and Russia. This course will introduce students to the tools the US uses to address these challenges, from public diplomacy to military partnerships.

Europe and the Islamic World

• Art History 595: Classical Islam and the European Renaissance
• Cross-Cultural Studies 595: Jews, Muslims and Christians in Europe and the Islamic World
• French 595: Cultural History of France and the Islamic World
• History 595: Cultural History of Europe and the Islamic World
• Political Science 595: European Politics and the Islamic World
• Religious Studies 595: Jews, Muslims and Christians in Europe and the Islamic World
• Spanish 595: Cultural History of Spain and the Islamic World

This seminar is designed for students interested in an academic and cultural experience in France, Morocco, and Spain. Students participate in a series of briefings from leading academic, literary, and political experts on the European relationship with the Islamic world. In each city, students attend daily lectures and meetings with distinguished scholars from IAU in addition to local guides and experts in the fields of politics, art history, history, and culture. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of immigration to Europe and its current socio-cultural implications on the region.

Great Cities

• European Studies 503: Europe and the Urban Space 
• Anthropology 501: The Artist and the City 
• Literature 575: The European City in Literature 
• Communications 575: The European City in the Visual Arts 
• Geography 501: Europe and its Cities

The Great Cities Seminar is designed for students interested in an academic and cultural experience in France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. Students explore major cities across Europe using literature and the arts as a guide to understanding the rise and establishment of the urban setting. Through readings and media studies, students examine the artistic process from inspiration to creation. Site visits and guided tours then allow students to experience the historical, geographical, and demographical foundations that inform the fictional representations of European cities and their impact on perceptions of those cities today. Students have the opportunity to learn from and exchange their observations with experts from IAU as well as distinguished on-site scholars and local guides in order to frame their own perception of the cities and these cities’ representation through the arts. 

International Business (not offered in 2024)

• Management 525: International Management
• Business 525: International Business
• Marketing 525: International Marketing
• Economics 525: Doing Business in Europe

The International Business Traveling Seminar is designed for students interested in an academic and cultural experience in France, Morocco, and Belgium. Students gain exposure to the diverse facets of international business while visiting countries at different stages of economic development. While in Europe and North Africa, students visit major multi-national organizations and locally-run businesses as well as meet with public officials responsible for economic policy in order to build a well-rounded understanding of the global market. Students have the opportunity to learn from and exchange their observations with experts from IAU as well as distinguished on-site scholars and local guides.

Photography: History & Digital Practice in Europe (not offered in 2024)

• Art 573: Photography: Advanced Digital Practice in France, Spain & the Netherlands
• Art History 577: The History of Photography in France, Spain & the Netherlands
• History 577: The History of Photography in France, Spain & the Netherlands
• European Studies 578: Photography: Digital Practice & History in France, Spain & the Netherlands

IAU’s Photography: History & Digital Practice in Europe January Term Traveling Seminar offers students in photography the opportunity to acquire an artistic vocabulary and a technical comprehension of digital photography through museum study and on-site experiential learning in European cities renowned for their art. The questions of observation, composition, digital process, print, and screen presentation will be addressed in relation to specific subjects, intentions, and aesthetic judgments. Each student's particular experience of place in Amsterdam, Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and Barcelona will serve as the catalyst for creation throughout the course of the traveling seminar. 

Mediterranean Basin

• Art History 585: Ancient and Medieval Classical Art and Architecture
• History 585: Ancient and Medieval Mediterranean Cultural History
• Archaeology 585: Greek and Roman Archaeology
• Cross-Cultural Studies 585: Cultural Identities in Mediterranean Europe
• Religious Studies 585: From Polytheism to Monotheism, The Early Christian Period in Italy, Greece & Turkey

IAU’s Mediterranean Basin January Term Traveling Seminar is designed for students interested in an academic and cultural experience in Greece, Italy, and France. Students build visual literacy in the history of art and archaeology as well as examine philosophical literature of the Mediterranean Basin from Antiquity to the Middle Ages. The seminar cultivates students' abilities to synthesize cultural, historical, political, and social information as it relates to the visual arts. The experiential learning component consists of a series of site visits made by academic experts from IAU in addition to local guides and faculty in the field of history, art history, and archaeology.

Museum Studies (not offered in 2024)

• Art 571: Museums of Europe: from Van Gogh to Gaudí
• Art History 571: Museums of Europe: from Van Gogh to Gaudí
• Art History 574: Museums of Europe: The Curatorial Process from Van Gogh to Gaudí
• Museum Studies 574: Museums of Europe: The Curatorial Process from Van Gogh to Gaudí

How does one preserve or even rejuvenate an artist's legacy? This January Term traveling seminar will focus on a selection of European museums in Amsterdam, Paris, Aix-en-Provence, and Barcelona dedicated to artists across a variety of disciplines, including painting, photography, sculpture, and architecture. Through discussions, museum visits, and other methods, students will analyze different curatorial methods of specific European museums as well as study original works by various artists with an emphasis on critical analysis. Students will collaborate with and learn from professionals in arts administration, practicing artists, and art history scholars linking the curatorial process to the history and content of specific works housed in specific museums. Students participating in this Museum Studies January Term program will have the opportunity to experience the inner workings of world-renowned museums and study the artworks that reside in them from this new perspective.

North African Studies (not offered in 2024)

• Religion 545: Religious Radicalism: North Africa as a Case Study
• Religion 555: Judaism in Islamic Land
• Religion 565: Understanding Islam
• History 555: Islam and the West: A Historical Perspective
• History 565: History and Politics of North Africa
• Political Science 565: History and Politics of North Africa
• Sociology 565: Human Rights in North Africa

The North African Studies Traveling Seminar is designed for students interested in learning about the major issues multi-ethnic, predominantly Islamic, and developing countries contend with. The Seminar will expose students to diverse and sometimes opposed views on these major issues. During the three-week seminar, students will visit six cities and will attend daily lectures and meetings with distinguished scholars and practitioners in regards to culture, human rights, politics, and economic development.

There is a strong social-service component to this seminar, as students will visit NGO's and meet with creative ordinary citizens who are striving to invent solutions to their most vexing problems such as fighting poverty and providing education to their children. 

Psychology of Peace and Conflict: Immigrants, Refugees & the Psychology of Diaspora (not offered in 2024)

• Psychology 570: Multicultural Psychology
• Psychology 585: Psychology of Peace and Violence
• Psychology 590: Psychology of Divided Societies
• Psychology 595: Special Topics in Psychology - Graduate Seminar
• Sociology 590: Sociology of Divided Societies
• Cross-Cultural Studies 590: Empires, Colonies, Hegemony
• Human Services 525: Special Topics in Human Services

The Psychology of Peace and Conflict: Immigrants, Refugees & the Psychology of Diaspora Seminar focuses on understanding violence and its impact on the Mediterranean region. Students are encouraged to imagine possible resolutions to conflict and to understand peace processes through the lens of interdisciplinary study. They learn to see communities that have previously remained erased or oppressed in Morocco, France, and Spain and to understand the political, psychological, and sociological side effects of violence. By the end of the seminar, participants will more deeply understand the psychology of political decision-making as it applies to international relations and the legacy that is determined by peace efforts across cultures and their borders. 

Wine, Gastronomy & Sustainability of the Mediterranean

• Business/Wine Studies 506: The Global Wine Industry
• Geography/Marketing/Wine Studies 503: Regional Wine Trade and Economics
• Hospitality Management/Wine Studies 507: Wine and Food Pairing 
• Marketing/Wine Studies 502: Wine Marketing and Analysis
• Environmental Studies 575: Environmental Security and Sustainability in the Mediterranean Basin
• International Relations 575: Environmental Security and Sustainability in the Mediterranean Basin
• Geography 575: Environmental Security and Sustainability in the Mediterranean Basin

The Wine, Gastronomy & Sustainability of the Mediterranean J-Term Seminar focuses on the appreciation of gastronomy and wine while exploring regional and local delicacies. Students will learn to appreciate how these products are produced, understand how they impact the environment and will begin to recognize how our consumption choices may be a potential solution or hazard to the global environmental crisis. In this multi-country traveling seminar, students will have the opportunity to taste Spanish, French, and Italian wines, speak directly with winemakers and industry experts, and visit cultural sites in Spain, France, and Italy.