Paris, France
Program Overview
Experience Paris first-hand and on its own terms –no matter your language experience (or lack thereof)! Whether you’re majoring or minoring in French, minoring in Hip-Hop Studies, or are here for General Education credits, this program is for you! This isn’t Emily in Paris—love it, hate it, or love to hate it—this is You in Paris, peeling back cultural myths, de-constructing the division of so-called high culture and popular culture, and getting to know the city in all of its contrasts –by living them. That means participating in all of the forms that culture takes –food, art, music, language, fashion, and more– both in prestigious institutions and in neighborhoods well off a tourist map.
Highlights include:
- Visits to iconic institutions (like the Opéra Garnier, Orsay, and Rodin) and new classics (like La Place, Le Mur, a floating urban arts center, and sanctioned artist squats) that are paired with walking tours through Paris to experience the pulse of ultra-contemporary art and meet riverside artists, DJs, breakers, and muralists. All while we ask: “What counts as art?”
- Hands-on workshops with pastry chefs and tasting tours on “foodie street,” at local markets, and with award-winning artisans. All to help us think about foodways as culture.
- Walks that trace the steps of revolutionaries and bring to life the Belle Epoque, Jazz Age, and early Hip-Hop scene. As we move through the city, we’ll use this history to make sense of our experiences in the present (like “why is that Louboutin store, chocolate shop, graffiti, or protest there?”).
This program is offered in collaboration with the Department of French Studies in the College of Humanities.
Key Features:
- Offered during Summer
- No French Language skills or courses required
- Earn direct University of Arizona French credit
- Immerse yourself in contemporary French cultures and learn about their histories, including hip-hop cultures
- Excursions with your class
Program Facts
- Program open to: UA and Non-UA Students
- Program Type: Faculty-led
- GPA: 3.0
- Level of study: Undergraduate
- Class Eligibility: Sophomore, Junior, Senior
Whether you’re about as French as having tasted a French fry or you’re one class away from finishing a French major, this program will have you knowing more than just the Paris pop culture has been selling you!
Program Highlights
Program Type
Faculty/Teacher Led
Program Locations
Paris, France
Subject Areas
French Language And Literature; French Studies; General Education
Available Terms
1 Term
Study Abroad - Cultural Immersion in Paris: From Graffiti to Gruyère 2026 Information