Coordinated by the International Studies Office
 

Starting in the Summer of 2002, UVA has several new options for summer study abroad. One is the UVA in Lyon Program. Specially designed by UVA faculty to complement the university curriculum, this new program allows students to earn UVA credit and grades (not transfer credit) while being immersed in the cultural life of France.

UVA faculty will accompany student participants, making this an ideal experience for students who have not yet traveled to France. For those students with more advanced language skills and travel experience, this program also provides time for independent travel. This program will incorporate field trips and guest speakers from the host country into the curriculum.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

Experience first-hand the momentous changes occurring in today's Europe while gaining an historical and culturally based understanding of these changes for French society. Lyon, France's second largest city - whose historic center is a UNESCO world heritage site - provides an ideal location for the study of contemporary France as well as its rich historical and cultural traditions.

Five courses taught by UVA faculty and instructors from the Université Lyon II will offer students broad and in-depth analyses of France's role in an expanding Europe, contemporary French society and political culture, and the historic treasures of Lyon itself. Students will explore the challenges facing the French today as they strive to maintain - and redefine - a cultural identity forged by history while simultaneously becoming full citizens in Europe.

FREN 201- 202: We offer students the possibility of taking FREN 201-202 during a special 6-week session that will count toward fulfillment of the UVA foreign language requirement.

All courses will include local field trips, cultural events, and local speakers. Excursions, integrated into the curriculum, will most likely include group trips to the Beaujolais region, Pérouges, and Annecy. Independent travel to Paris, a mere 2-hr TGV trip from Lyon, is encouraged either over a long weekend or upon completion of the course.

LOCATION

Lyon offers an ideal location for studying France's historic, geographic and cultural development, especially its dynamic relationship with the rest of Europe, past and present. Capital of Gaul under the Roman Empire, a major center of culture and trading during the Renaissance, and an innovative industrial site of the nineteenth century, Lyon has become a grand European metropolis, benefiting from the rich influences that have swept across its beautiful landscape. Now included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Lyon has found its place alongside such prestigious cities as Venice, Prague, and St. Petersburg.

France's second largest city, Lyon is immersed in a rich historical and cultural tradition all its own. With approximately 1 million inhabitants, Lyon has the liveliness and energy of an urban setting yet avoids some of the pitfalls of the Paris metropolis. Housing is more affordable, the pace of life a bit slower, cultural life is abundant, and, of course, Lyon has the well-deserved reputation of being the gastronomic capital of France! Lyon's architecture, public squares, gardens, and hidden passageways (traboules), offer American students a vivid daily reminder of the area's beauty and historical importance. Each street is an invitation to learn more about Europe today and yesterday. Strolling through the meandering streets of Lyon's central districts or along its riverbanks is a simple yet cherished pleasure, not only for visitors, but also in the daily life of Lyon's residents. Finally, when darkness falls, lights illuminate the city revealing a thousand new facets of this remarkable site.

Located at the confluence of the Rhone and Saône rivers, Lyon is - and always has been - a unique crossroads of European cultures. The city's close proximity to Switzerland and Italy, not to mention Provence, makes it an ideal base for traveling. For those interested in touring the wine county the Beaujolais and the Rhone valley, Lyon is a logical place to start. Thanks to the TGV--France's high speed train--Lyon is no more than two hours from Paris. In Lyon, university life is just one part of a diverse, lively city and, as a result, American students will not hear English spoken at every café terrace as might occur in some other common destinations for study abroad in France. These are just some of the reasons that one might choose Lyon as an ideal location for studying and living in France.

COURSES

2005-06 Prospective Courses:

FREN 444: French Film, Past and Present
3 credits, taught in French by Professor John Lyons, University of Virginia.
Prerequisite: one 300-level French course beyond FREN 332 or instructor permission.

FREN 411 Francophone Literature of Africa
3 credits, taught in French by Professor Kandioura Dramé, University of Virginia.
Prerequisite: a 300-level French literature course.

FREN 345: French Cultural Studies
3 credits, Instructor TBA.
Prerequisites: FREN 331 & 332 highly recommended

FREN 334:Advanced Oral and Written Expression
3 credits, taught in French, Instructor TBA.
Counts for credit toward major or minor in French.

FREN 201-202 :Intermediate French
6 credits, Instructors TBA.
Credits count toward fulfillment of the UVA foreign language requirement.

TOTAL COST

TBA

Refund Policy: See ISO web site.

TRAVEL

Students are responsible for booking and purchasing their own international transportation to Lyon. Students will be given directions on when and how to arrive at the residence hotel for the start of the program. All in-country travel required by the program is included in the program cost.

HOUSING

Students will be housed in a business-class residential hotel located in a convenient area of the historic district.The Cercle Villemanzy is a hotel designed to welcome researchers and academics passing through Lyon within the context of their work. It offers fully equipped accommodations: family apartments and studios. It also provides common facilities (gym, lounge with cafeteria, reading room), along with meeting rooms and conference rooms. Within the heart of the city, just 5 minutes from the center, this historic building dating back to the 17th century perched on the slopes of the Croix-Rousse hill offers a magnificent view of the Rhône and the conurbation of Lyon.

Cercle Villemanzy
Résidence Internationale de Lyon
21, montée Saint-Sébastien
69001 LYON
Tel: (33) 4 72 00 19 00

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Applications and payment will be accepted at the UVA School of Continuing and Professional Studies, located at Zehmer Hall, 104 Midmont Lane. Application deadline: March 3, 2006.

A $200 (non-refundable) deposit is due on or before April 1, 2006. Upon acceptance into the program the deposit will be credited toward the balance of the program fee.

The balance of the program cost will be due on or before April 8, 2006. Students will make full payment directly to the UVA School of Continuing and Professional Studies, located at Zehmer Hall, 104 Midmont Lane. After April 8, a $200 late fee will be assessed. Late program balance: April 15, 2006.

Federal Financial Aid may be available to eligible students. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services to make an appointment with Donna Oliver or Carol Larson.

All payments must be made by stated deadlines. Students utilizing financial aid or scholarships will likely receive such funds after the start of the program. Thus they must be able to pay the full program cost and receive support funds after the payment deadline.

Applications are available in the International Studies Office, 208 Minor Hall. To obtain an application online or for any questions concerning study abroad at UVA, please consult the International Studies Office website on Study Abroad at: http://www.studyabroad.virginia.edu/

Drop date: TBA.