Course Options for Academic Year in Tours, France

Academic Year Courses:

We encourage students to consider spending the entire academic year abroad to maximize their opportunity to acquire linguistic proficiency and cultural awareness.

In addition to options available at the Institut de Touraine, advanced year-long students may enroll in a variety of courses offered at the Université François Rabelais.  University courses (meeting two to four hours a week) begin at the end of September.   First semester exams at the university take place early in January.

Second semester university courses run from the end of January to early May.  Final exams at the university are held in mid-May and students may leave the program as soon as their exams are completed.

A wide range of courses is available at the Faculté des Lettres.  Students may choose from options in the following departments:

French Studies (literature, theater, cinema)
Comparative Literature
Linguistics
Classical Studies
Ancient and Modern History
History of Art
Musicology
Philosophy
Psychology
Sociology and Anthropology
English

Normally, students staying for the year earn eight or nine course credits.

FIRST SEMESTER COURSES FOR YEAR-LONG PROGRAM

During their first semester in France, year-long students may earn either four or five course credits in a variety of areas.

Courses all students take:

French 280   French Language and Culture in Paris
In the month of September in Paris, students are enrolled in daily language courses at the Alliance Française.  These morning sessions are complemented by a wide variety of afternoon and evening cultural activities in and around Paris.  Written work to supplement the morning language courses may take a variety of forms, including personal diaries and /or short papers.  Students also have free time for independent activities.

French 281, 282   French Language Study
Upon their arrival in Tours, students will be placed in one of six levels at the Institut de Touraine.  The language courses, which meet every day, promote further acquisition of conversational and written skills, increased refinement of French pronunciation and vocabulary, and the mastery of fundamental grammatical structures.

Other Course Options:
Each course yields one course credit or four semester hours.

French 229   Introduction to French Literature
Taught by the Davidson program director, this course meets three hours a week at the Institut de Touraine.  Content varies from year to year but generally includes the study of several different literary genres featuring works by major French authors.  All class discussions are in French as are the assigned papers and written examinations.

French 287-288 (387-388)   Studies in Civilization and Culture Abroad
At the Institut de Touraine, students combine two 90-minute modules chosen from the following subjects:  French civilization, history, and art history.  Advanced students may receive history credit by completing two modules in history, or credit in art history by taking an upper-level art history module in addition to the standard civilization module. 

At the Faculté des Lettres, advanced students may take courses on topics related to Francophone culture, history, and politics.

French 384-386   Studies in Literature Abroad

At the Faculté des Lettres, advanced students may take courses in Francophone literature.

French 389   International Relations
A course taught for Davidson students on the history and organization of the League of Nations, the United Nations, and the European Union.  Students may receive credit either in French or in Political Science.

SECOND SEMESTER COURSES FOR YEAR-LONG PROGRAM

During their second semester in Tours, year-long students enroll in a variety of courses offered at the Faculté des Lettres of the Université François Rabelais and typically receive four course credits.  Students may earn credit in French civilization, literature, history, philosophy, political science, or art history at the Faculté des Lettres.  Each course yields one course credit or four semester hours. 

French 384-386   Studies in Literature Abroad

At the Faculté des Lettres, students may take courses in Francophone literature.

French 387-388   Studies in Civilization and Culture Abroad

At the Faculté des Lettres, students may take courses on topics related to Francophone culture, history, and politics.

In addition, second semester students may have the opportunity to enroll in Davidson program courses in which they did not enroll during the first semester.

French 229   Introduction to French Literature
Taught by the Davidson program director, this course meets three hours a week at the Institut de Touraine.  Content varies from year to year but generally includes the study of several different literary genres featuring works by major French authors.  All class discussions are in French as are the assigned papers and written examinations.

French 285   Phonetics and Translation Abroad

Offered at the Institut de Touraine

French 389   International Relations
A course taught for Davidson students on the history and organization of the League of Nations, the United Nations, and the European Union.  Students may receive credit either in French or in Political Science. (Not offered if there is insufficient enrollment.)

Also:

French 283-284 (380)   Continued French Language Study
For those students who continue language study at the Institut de Touraine.  As in the first semester, language courses meet every day, and promote further acquisition of conversational and written skills, increased refinement of French pronunciation and vocabulary, and the mastery of fundamental grammatical structures.