Programs & Courses

When applying to IAU, students will select from among four academic programs: 

• The French Honors Program - The French Honors Program is designed for students with a high level of French proficiency looking for an immersive and intensive language and culture experience. IAU offers the French Honors Program in which students take all their courses in French. The program is intended for all majors interested in a multidisciplinary program that accentuates dialogue and reflection across cultural and literary themes. To qualify, candidates should have a minimum of four semesters of college-level French (or the equivalent) and must be recommended by a French professor and study abroad advisor. All French Honors students take their courses at IAU’s Centre d’Études Françaises (CEF), where only French is spoken, and live with host families.  Students enroll in the multidisciplinary seminar, which is an academic discovery and reflection process that addresses the deepening awareness and understanding of the culture.  Students earn a Certificate in French Honors Abroad upon successful completion of the French Honors Program.
  
  
  • Open to all majors
  • Advanced level in French required
  • All five courses taken in French
    
    

• The School of Art - The mission of the School of Art is to help students sharpen their visual perceptions of the world around them, decipher their emotional responses to these perceptions, and through a holistic (studio, historical, and critical) discipline, relate their discoveries to an intensive investigation of the nature and aim of art. The Arts Core Program takes an interdisciplinary approach that unifies the studio art discipline, liberal arts coursework, intensive critical dialogue and aesthetics seminars, spontaneous perceptual painting and drawing, a community of students and artists at all levels, extensive museum study, and painting field studies and study tours to places like Paris, Giverny, Venice, St. Rémy, Arles, and other locations around Provence. Situated on the renowned Route de Cézanne the school's location in Aix-en-Provence has many advantages, among them its light-filled space, the studio's proximity to the famed Chateau Noir and Mont Sainte-Victoire, and, most importantly, its calm and contemplative atmosphere conducive to sustained, artistic concentration. IAU's main studio was designed by architect Fernand Pouillon and was formerly Leo Marchutz's studio.
  
  
  • Open to all majors
  • No previous art experience required
  • 1 Drawing Studio Course + 1 Painting Studio Course + Interdisciplinary Art Criticism & Aesthetics Seminar Course + 1 French Course + 1 Elective 
    
    

• The School of Business & International Relations - Through IAU’s School of Business & International Relations, students will have the unique opportunity to learn about international business and international relations strategies and practices with a specific focus on the global market and the Mediterranean region.  Each course includes field studies to political organizations and guest lectures from diplomats and policymakers. Participating students will have access to unpaid, for-credit, semester-long internships at local governmental and non-governmental organizations. 
  
  
  • Open to all majors
  • 3 courses in Business or International Relations + 1 French Course + 1 elective course
  • As part of the School of Business & International Relations, students can elect to participate in the Wine Studies Certificate Program, in which 3 courses would be in wine studies, 1 French course, and one elective course.

• The School of Humanities & Social Sciences - The mission of the School of Humanities & Sciences is to help students deeply explore the fields of study within the social sciences, the humanities and/or the arts in the context of the Mediterranean region while fostering individual, intellectual, and personal growth. The multiple course offerings allow students to fulfill many general education requirements and complete major and minor courses linked to these areas.  Students find courses in subject areas such as psychology, language, science, comparative literature, philosophy, education, history, theatre, and more.
  
  
  • Open to all majors
  • Students take (at least) 1 French course and 4 courses from among IAU's course offerings

Disciplines Available:  Anthropology, Archaeology, Art, Art History, Business, Communication Studies, Creative Writing, Environmental Science, Economics, Education, Film Studies, Finance, French, Geography, History, Literature, Management, Marketing, Political Science, Philosophy, Photography, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Wine Studies

Course Schedules: To explore course offerings for a particular semester, please visit the IAU Course Page.

Internships: Adapting to a new culture involves not only learning the language and culture but also gaining a better understanding of the work environment and how methods and habits may differ from the student’s home setting. Students in the Business and French Honors Program will receive priority placement in internships and can expect to earn three credits. 

Internships are available in the following fields:

• Commercial Development   
• Community Management    
• Communications    
• Education               
• Event Planning      
• Human Resources               
• Law         
• Library Science   
• Marketing               
• Museum Science
• Public Relations
• Research
• Sales
• Social Media
• Support - Purchasing - Finance
• Theatre
• Tourism
• Translation
• Web Development & Animation

In addition, thanks to IAU’s connections in the local community, more internship opportunities are added every term. If there is not an internship that suits a particular student’s academic interests and career goals, IAU will gladly seek out appropriate internships on a case-by-case basis.