Electives in France

Throughout this course, students will learn about many aspects of art history from the Middle Ages to present-day France. The aim of the course is to help students not only exercise their eyes, but also to develop their analytical and critical thinking skills. Part of this course will be composed of fieldwork, helping students take advantage of local resources and better understand the environment in which they are living.

This is an interdisciplinary course designed to appeal to a wide range of student interests, relevant to their everyday lives both in France and at home. The dual goal is for students to analyze current environmental issues, locally and globally, and to design and implement small-scale scientific investigations using an inquiry-based lab approach, utilizing Rennes and the environs as their laboratory.

Through lectures, readings, videos, field trips, discussions and debate, students learn about important environmental issues while conducting scientific investigations. Topics include:

• Biodiversity and environmental systems
• Demographics and populations
• Local and global resources of food, water and energy
• Global changes and sustainability

In this course, students explore the history of French cinema from its birth in the 19th century to the present day. They will cover the origins of cinema, its technical and aesthetic innovations, as well as the major movements that have marked its evolution. Using film, students will explore several key periods of the French society.

Students  watch a selection of films in collective projections, and then study them in class, focusing on some of the most striking aspects of each piece. They learn to manipulate the instruments of filmic analysis: through close observation of scenes and audio sequences, students will develop critical thinking skills and become more conscious of their role as viewers.

Finally, students will be given opportunities to exercise their creativity and self-expression through practical exercises that will put the knowledge acquired in class into perspective. The creative field of experimentation will be the city of Rennes.

This course introduces students to political issues that are currently discussed on the news and in the media. It is designed to enable students to better understand many of the concepts which are shaping the world today such as globalization, fundamentalism, nationalism or terrorism. The themes explored may include:

• Education
• Cultural exception
• Immigration
• The European Union
• Feminism
• Political institutions
• Modern wars
• New colonialism
• Fair trade
• Local economy

The course looks mainly at how France and Europe are dealing with these issues at the dawn of the 21s century and how their perspective might differ from the rest of the world. Coursework takes place both in and outside the classroom with the opportunity for the students to attend special exhibits, lectures and conferences. The course also facilitates the students’ participation in collaborative projects with French high school students and members of local organizations.