UA Aix-en-Provence

Overview of the Mediterranean basin from the first civilizations in Egypt and 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, Marseilles).

An introduction to the phonology and writing system of modern standard Arabic, its basic vocabulary and structure. Students will learn foundations of Arabic script and build vocabulary to read and engage in simple conversation.

This course builds upon skills acquired in ARA 101, and aims at developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Students will be exposed to Arabo-Islamic culture through learning the Arabic language.

What does it mean to occupy a space? How do artists represent their experience and/or relationship to place? Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and its surroundings will become source material for students to build a body of work exploring these questions. Students will conduct field studies and develop a personal archive of objects, photographs, and sketches that will guide their project over the semester.
This course will focus on experimentation through visual language. Mark making, color, composition, shape, line and material will be understood as forms for expression. This is a two-dimensional mixed media course, focusing on collage, drawing, and painting. However, students are encouraged to introduce other media into their practice such as photography, performance, or video if they have
prior experience in those fields.

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 included.

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.

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.

Intended for students with intermediate to advanced skills in painting and drawing. Includes work from the figure, museum study, still-life, and landscape work in the Aix countryside. Additional fee required. 6 contact hours per week.

In this course, students experiment with the techniques and approaches developed by artists working along the Mediterranean shores. Finding inspiration in the quality of the light, the particularities of the natural environment and the rich variety of its cultures, artists responded with a range of distinctive works reflecting their unique perceptions both real and imaginary. In a series of drawing and painting projects, our investigations will take us from the stratagems of classical artists in their search for harmonious proportions to the canon-breaking abstraction of Picasso’s cubist style. We will work with the expressive mark-making techniques of Van Gogh and the decorative patterns of Matisse. We will also experiment with color theory as found in the calculated pointillism of Signac and the wild brushwork of the Fauves.

The overarching purpose of the studio drawing courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art. The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio drawing courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio drawing courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio drawing courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio drawing courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio drawing courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.
Pre-Requisite ART 300.

This is an introductory studio art course to the techniques and approaches related to drawing and
painting. Students will be encouraged to explore a variety of media, techniques, and subject matter
as a means of discovering their own creative capacities while developing their perceptual as well as
manual skills. Each week a new project will be presented to expose students to the varieties of
relationships found between content and form. The course will include an investigation of still life,
portraiture, and landscape through treatments in pen and ink, charcoal, oil pastels, and acrylics.

Intended for students with little or no experience in photography, this course is designed to introduce photography as a means of personal expression and quality composition of an image. Areas of concentration include: creativity, composition, basic computer/digital imaging/editing and critiquing the work of others. Assumes no previous knowledge of photography. Assignments are to be completed with a digital camera. Additional fee required.

The overarching purpose of the studio painting courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio painting courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio painting courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums.

The overarching purpose of the studio painting courses, at all levels, is to develop the student’s capacity to
look both into the visible world and into themselves with the intention of transforming their vision into art.
The student is led gradually toward a deeper understanding of the relationship between natural and
artistic forms. This is achieved through disciplined study in the landscape, through portraiture and model
work and museum study. Combined total of 6 hours of instruction per week in both the studio and outside
in the landscape, as well as excursions to European museums. Pre-Requisite ART 330

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.

This course surveys contemporary art practices along the Mediterranean with a focus on cross-cultural exchange between Europe, North Africa, and the Levant. Through an array of post-war artworks, films, and texts, this course will address the role representation plays in forming our knowledge of place. Students will engage in post-colonial theory, critical-race studies, and signifying practices as a way to develop a deeper understanding of the Mediterranean basin and the complex social, historical, and political issues at play in the region. Studio visits, exhibitions, and artist talks will be an important element to this course in order to introduce students to the contemporary art community of Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and its surroundings.

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.

Today's museums are challenged in many ways: They have got to collect and pass on a common
heritage for a broad community, reflect the diversity of cultures and identities, handle the restitution
of objects stolen in times of wars and colonization, play economic and diplomatic roles, lead scientific
research, include new technologies and pop culture, and contribute to critical thinking and
citizenship... To explore these issues, this course will combine 1) the study of press articles, movies
and museums’ online resources that will be discussed in class, 2) meetings with artists and museum
professionals who will share their working experience, 3) a project in partnership with the Musée
Granet where the students will gain an experience as organizers of cultural events, exhibition guides
or visual artists promoting their own works.

This course studies Renaissance art and architecture in western Europe from the late 13th to the early
16th century in the context of the cultural, philosophical, social, political, economic and religious
transformation of the continent. We will not only look at at the Italian Renaissance, with major artists
including Giotto, Donatello, Botticelli, Masaccio, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael, but also
at the Flemish Renaissance (Jan van Eyck, Robert Campin, Rogier van der Weyden, Hans Memling, Hugo
van der Goes and Hieronymus Bosch) as well as the regional stylistic variations in Provence and France.

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, whistle-blowing, 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.

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.

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.

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.

Businesses face a new dynamic, one that poses significant challenges as well as opportunities–the need to “green” their products and services. Many analysts forecast that environmentally driven businesses will represent one of the world’s major forces and industries in the 21st century. This course also analyses issues of constant change by focusing on the internet and robotics, info-tech and social media in the promotional mix, legal and ethical practice, entrepreneurial activity, socially responsible business and business culture and etiquette.

Today’s business environment is unpredictable, volatile and complex. Leading a business or
international organization requires learning to manage crisis effectively. The good news is that with
crisis comes change: evaluation, awareness, and improvements. This course examines the entire crisis
management lifecycle – from prevention and preparedness through response, recovery, and
mitigation. Through the use of a toolkit, you will consider challenges faced by business leaders and
will develop a complete crisis management plan, including tools and methods to identify potential
crises, implement response and mitigation strategies, manage crisis response teams, and create
communications to address stakeholder and public relation issues.

Based on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), this case study-based course program enables students to analyze how business can be a force for good and tackle some of the world’s biggest problems. Sustainable entrepreneurship (SE) differs from traditional entrepreneurship by emphasizing climate innovation, sustainable living and environmental improvement. The course involves searching for opportunities for new products or services, new technologies, and new production processes that alleviate social or environmental issues and make more efficient use of energy and natural resources. Students will go through the entire process of starting up a sustainable enterprise or nonprofit project, from developing and testing a social business model to pitching to impact investors and developing all aspects of the organization.

In today’s digital world, paid advertising is no longer sufficient. Consumers and stakeholders need a
cohesive narrative in order to buy into a product, a cause or an organization’s mission. This course
will introduce a framework for creating an international communication strategy coupled with
meaningful storytelling. After learning the steps in the development of a communication strategy,
students will apply this knowledge to their own personal project. The course will also examine
inbound and outbound marketing in the corporate, government and NGO spheres. Finally, we will
learn about different channels for content generation and media-based interactions, such as: social
media, blogs, podcasts, advertisements, newsletters, email marketing, video posts, interviews, press
conferences, reels, interviews, and public relations.

This course examines the role media play in the progression and public perceptions of conflict. Relevant topics will include media and military intervention, portrayals of protest movements, and news and entertainment coverage of crime, rumors, domestic politics, violence, and ethnicity.

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.

Exploration of the rise and the establishment of the urban setting as the nexus of contemporary European culture and civilization through cinema, the novel, poetry, music, and paintings. Typically includes an excursion to sites in Paris.

Course will explore the portrayal of shifting perspectives not only in terms of narrative style, but more assertively in terms of how life as a European shifted. We will examine changing social and political orders as well as how characters place themselves in history.

IN FRENCH. Study of the different facets of France — from literary imagination to social issues, from the 1980’s to today — through a varied selection of films.

Our classroom will primarily be IAU/ACM’s vineyard, 250 grapevines of Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault. Every week we will learn and/or apply organic and biodynamic viticulture techniques to help our grapevines develop physiologically and produce wine worthy fruit while benefitting surrounding biodiversity. Additional fee required.

The "International Wine Trade" course provides students with an understanding of the business aspects of the global wine trade. Subjects include business planning, finance, supply chain management, wine as an alternative investment and how the media affects the pricing and buyer/seller cycle of wine industry. Extra fee required.

Viticulture and wine production have been embedded in the Mediterranean region for thousands of years and these activities have become synonymous with many local cultures. Students will study the evolution of wine from its pre-historic origins near the fertile crescent through to the modern era in the Mediterranean basin. We will learn how production methods and consumption habits developed over time and space, how a culture of wine and local identities co-evolved and how many Mediterranean countries, through regional and external forces, came to be the world’s standard bearer for the global wine industry. This class enjoys field visits and tastings of regional wines. Extra fee required.

This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting and wine and food pairing. Students will learn vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Students will learn how the structure of wine and food complete a pairing. Course includes Field Studies to restaurants, wineries, guest chefs. Extra fee required.

This course is a combination of lecture and professional tasting to analyze the quality levels,
marketing of wine, import and export, sales positioning, and pricing structures. Students will learn
vineyard and winemaking techniques utilized to achieve certain styles of wine. Course includes field
studies to wineries and vineyards.

Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of four semesters or two years of college level French. Advanced written and oral practice and grammar review. Essay topics follow a simulation enriched with a variety of documentation and multimedia activities.

Intended for student who have completed the equivalent of five semesters of college level. Students improve their advanced command of oral and written French.

Intensive training in French for business and commercial purposes, emphasizing specialized forms and vocabulary. (In French)

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college-level
French. Study of contemporary French civilization through political, cultural, and social issues.
Definition of French identities through political, educational and cultural perspectives.

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of five semesters of college-level French. Examining some of the main points of division as well as of unity in France today, this course explores the republican ideal, its background, the crisis it is currently undergoing and contemporary French identity(-ies).

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of five semesters of college-level French.
This course presents the main areas of language sciences: phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and discourse. For each area, the main concepts are addressed in theoretical form and on the basis of practical exercises. Students will manipulate and analyse French linguistic data, but not only, they will also apply their knowledge to other languages.

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of three to four semesters of college-level French. Both the Mediterranean diet and French Gastronomy have been declared by UNESCO as world heritage. This course will explore the language and the culinary customs of French cuisine, examining differences in food patterns between the US and France, the fundamentals of French and regional food and eating. A typical course will present: linguistics exercises, discussions and cooking workshops. Extra fee required

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of four to five semesters of college-level
French. This course proposes an exploration of literary and artistic themes related to the notion of
space, both personal (internal) and geographic (external), and specifically the tensions created by the
crossing (“Traversée”) between one space and another. Students will better understand their
relationship and understanding of French society in Aix-en-Provence and in Provence and,
simultaneously, improve their global skills in advanced French language (oral and written) through
creative and analytical work. Typically includes outdoor activities.

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of five semesters of college-level French. This course will introduce students to the field of second language acquisition, considering specific issues in learning and teaching French. Students will understand the roles a learner's mother tongue, motivation, memory, and personality play in the learning of a new language. They will consider how do social factors affect language learning. They will define the nature of the relationship between language and culture. Models of second language acquisition will be studied, as well as a variety of approaches to the teaching of French as a foreign language.

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of four to five semesters of college-level
French. This course focuses on the way French Children’s Literature explores the creativity of
different genres (Fairy Tales, Fables, Bildungsromane, Historical Fiction and Graphic Novels) in order
to redefine Literature’s canons. By studying varied texts and writing a children’s book of their own,
the students will explore the multiple possibilities of imagination through the viewpoints of authors
and readers from different times and ages.

A year of college credit in one semester intended for those with little or no previous study. Intensive four hours’ classroom learning tied to two hours’ workshops and activities. Development of an understanding of oral French through listening and speaking practices.

A year of college credit in one semester intended for those who have completed the equivalent of one semester of college level French. Intensive four hours’ classroom learning tied to two hours’ practical workshops and activities. Development of an understanding of oral French through dialogue and roleplaying

A year of college credit in one semester intended for those who have completed the equivalent of two semesters of college level French. Intensive four hours’ classroom learning tied to two hours’ practical workshops and activities. Development of oral French through conversation.

Intended for those who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of college-level
French. Intensive four hours’ classroom learning. Development of oral French through conversation.

Intended for those who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of college level French. Intensive four hours’ classroom learning. Development of oral French through conversation.

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of two to three semesters of college level French. Intensive focus on oral practice looking at popular French culture.

Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of three to four semesters of college-level French. This course is an introduction to French literature from the Middle Ages to the present day. Designed to focus on the major literary movements and genres, including poetry, novels, theater, short stories, epistolary novels and autobiography, the course will also emphasize the development of language skills, including vocabulary building, reading comprehension, and effective communication in French. By the end of the course, students will have gained a comprehensive understanding of the major literary pieces of French literature, as well as an appreciation for the cultural and historical contexts that shaped them.

Intended for those with little or no previous study.

Intended for those who have completed the equivalent of one semester of college-level French.

Intended for those who have completed the equivalent of two to three semesters of college-level
French.

Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of four semesters of college-level French. The history of Provence is rich and old. A complex regional culture, both Mediterranean and continental, where Greeks, Gauls and Romans mingled, relations we even see today in the Mediterranean Basin. The course approaches the history of Provence from the angle of art and architecture where the various artworks studied will serve as a basis for understanding the Provencal culture and civilization. Typically includes field studies to sites in Provence.

Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of three to four semesters of college-level French. This phonetics course aims to teach the essential characters of phonemes and intonations of contemporary French and will focus on the particularities of oral language. Over sessions, several approaches will be applied (articulatory, comparative and verbo tonal methods), thus the students will become aware of the difference between the phonological system of French and the one of their own language.

Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of three semesters of college-level French. This phonetics course aims to teach the essential characters of phonemes and intonations of contemporary French and will focus on the particularities of oral language. Over sessions, several approaches will be applied (articulatory, comparative and verbo tonal methods), thus the students will become aware of the difference between the phonological system of French and the one of their own language.

Translation from English to French and French to English, with constant reference to technical, theoretical, and colloquial considerations.

Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of four to five semesters of college-level French. Reviewing some of the « great books of French literature in the forms of the novel, poetry and theatre, this course investigates the construction of gender (feminine gender in particular) and explore its fabrication in Mediterranean basin through cultural cues and textual arrangement. The works thus articulate their socio-historic and geographic contexts and the individual expression of the authors studied. How do these representations reflect on the present moment?

IN FRENCH. Intended for students who have completed the equivalent of four to five semesters of college-level
French. Explores the ongoing dialogues between French-language literary expressions and the
conflicts at stake around the questions of might, power and identity. The authors studied in this class
were all born in former French colonies, whether in North or Black Africa, South-East Asia or in the
overseas departments and territories. Their relationship to their motherland, to France and their
experience of exile and racism will be apprehended through an artistic and linguistic perspective:
the students will hence appreciate Literature’s power to voice the unspeakable and write on the
hidden side of History.

Study of the evolution of the European societies from the post-war period to the fall of the Berlin Wall through arts, literature, architecture, alternative cultures and social evolution linked to the exceptional economic growth of the post-war period ending with the oil shocks (1970’s).

The study of representations of France during World War II in history, literature and media, in both the Occupied and Unoccupied Zones, the German presence, the government in Vichy and the Resistance. The course includes a review of French and European history from World War I until 1940, a detailed look at France's role in World War II, and a survey of French attitudes about the Occupation during the 70 years following Liberation. Typically includes excursions to sites in Provence.

This class will examine the region’s contemporary political foundations, with a focus on how the recent colonial past has helped shape the political institutions that were recently toppled.

Internship positions in various enterprises from small local businesses to regional chains to multinationals with offices in the Aix area. Students usually work 10-12 hours per week on site, submitting
regular written reports to their professors at IAU. An upper-intermediate level of French or higher is essential. Availability depends on company offers. Flexible hours according to your course schedule.

This course introduces the students, through creation and musical workshops, to the music of the
Mediterranean; North Africa, South Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East. It explores music and
sound within their social, cultural, geographical, historical and political contexts reflecting the
everyday life and the zeitgeist of its shifts; immigration, exile and colonialism, as well as the contact
and influence among different societies. The course is not aimed at musicians or those who necessarily
have a musical background; it is open to all students.

This course aims to help students discover ways to come to terms - both individually and collectively - with the tensions of living in a modern globalized society. It draws on the wisdom we inherit from a lineage of great teachers and thinkers in the past, from different traditions, to seek guidance on how to live better as citizens of the world, and as human beings, confronted by rapid technological change, cultural diversity, environmental degradation, organized violence, and economic insecurity.

This course offers students an in-depth survey of some of the major figures, themes, and movements within recent political philosophy and political theory, giving equal emphasis to both the analytical and continental traditions. Topics covered include liberalism, libertarianism, communitarianism, feminism, postmodernism, poststructuralism, biopolitics and biopower. Students will develop an understanding of how different conceptions of power, ideology, and sexuality intersect with and modify normative concerns around autonomy, justice, and democratic rights.

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.

Exploration of the main environmental problems facing the international community today with an analysis of the roles of states, international organizations, multinational corporations and civil societies in the causation and solution process.

Introduction to international relations with emphasis on how international relations have changed as a result of globalization. Typically includes an overnight class trip in relation with a visit to a European/International Institution.

Analysis of the historical evolution, the institutions, and the policies of the European Union within the context of European diplomatic history.

The UN Charter vows to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” The purpose of this course is to explore how international law, international organizations, states and NGOs interact in response to armed conflict, and how such responses can contribute to, or undermine, efforts to end violence. Topics will include the origins and basic principles of the law of war, the changing nature of warfare in the 21st century, the challenges facing humanitarian aid and the prospects of peacebuilding and transitional justice. We will explore these topics through a combination of lectures, class discussions, films, literature and case studies

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.

With 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, diplomacy has moved beyond state-to-state relations. Today it includes private sector entities, international organizations and NGOs, criminal cartels, militant groups, and local and international media. This seminar will explore the context of US diplomacy today, while honing essential written and oral communication skills. Course open to Masters’ students and International Relations Majors only.

Study of human development from a psychodynamic perspective. Draws extensively on the theories ofsuch psychoanalytic thinkers as Freud, Melanie Klein, Wilfred Bion and Donald Winnicott.

History of the first centuries of the Christian Church. Split between Judaism and Christianity, the influential theologians and leaders, heretical movements and their orthodox responses, waves of persecution and martyrdom, and cultural (role of women in the Early Church), artistic (oldest Christian monuments and artworks) and ecclesiastical topics (monasticism, liturgy…). Will conclude with a perspective of Modern World and focus on the Great Schism between East and West Christianity, the Avignon Papacy, the rise of protestant movements.

Course offers a critical assessment of the contemporary relevance and plausibility of belief in God,
against the background of an historical review of attempts to propose its philosophical basis and
justification. Students will be invited to critically reflect on such perennial questions as: What is evil?
Does God exist? What is the good life? Why do we have religion? What is the relationship between
religion and science? Particular attention will be paid to situating the human spiritual experience within
the philosophical discourse of modernity, assessing religious faith within the context of major political,
social, and intellectual upheavals of our time.

The objective of this course is to investigate the many social and environmental issues of today’s fast-paced, global fashion industry and to explore ways in which we can slow it down, reduce its impact on the environment and provide urgent solutions to make it sustainable. The course takes a hands-on approach, encouraging students to explore aspects of sustainability in developing strategies and methods for the future through case studies, a visit to a sustainable fashion business, videos, and class interaction.

The course deals primarily with the key question “What is French Luxury Today” and also takes into consideration of how a new generation of Luxury clients will transform Luxury in the future. In this course you will seek out for yourself what French Luxury is today, through a visit to Paris, the high temple of French chic, combined with field trips to Luxury hotspots in Aix-en-Provence and the South of France. The trips will be brought to together with a semester of lessons, discussions and on-going analysis of Luxury from Fashion Brands, through to Hotels, Perfumes, Concierge Services and more. We look into how brands differentiate themselves in today’s digital world and ask the fundamental question: Can Luxury and Sustainability go hand-in-hand?

While predominantly considered an elitist art form today, opera has often been transgressive in its
confrontation of divisive polemical issues. Its treatment of religion, race and above all gender is often
versatile and complex. This course will explore and study how opera challenges moral and political
expectations towards women using both musicological and sociological perspectives