Professor of French - Languages, Literatures, and Cultures odelers@richmond.edu
View BioFrance
PARIS, NORMANDY, LA ROCHELLE
June 22–July 25, 2025 (five weeks)
Spend five weeks in France and discover its rich history and culture. Students have the opportunity to join exciting excursions in Paris, Normandy, and the La Rochelle region, including:
- Three days in PARIS – Take an insider tour of Paris led by your faculty leader, a French native. Find out how history has shaped this great city and experience life in the “City of Lights”.
- Three days in NORMANDY – Visit the D-Day museum in Caen and the WW2 American cemetery in Coleville. Walk on D-Day beaches in Normandy and spend the night at Mont Saint Michel.
- Four weeks in LA ROCHELLE – This city of rich history on the Atlantic Ocean is small enough not to get lost, but full of life in the summer. French classes in the morning with free time following.
Academics
FREN 221
2 units
Intensive Intermediate French
(Com 2 Second Language Proficiency)
FREN 301
1 unit
French Conversation through Cinema
FREN 311
1 unit
French and Francophone Culture
FREN 402
1 unit
Advanced French Conversation
Courses are offered through the Institut d’Études Françaises (IEF), a branch of Excelia Business School. Students will enroll in 2 units and are encouraged to talk to the faculty leader early about course options.
Students taking FREN 221 and FREN 311 will be enrolled in a course with the general population of students at the IEF. Instruction for all courses at the IEF is provided by faculty members from the Institut, all of whom meet professional standards agreed upon by the Director of the IEF and University of Richmond’s faculty leader. FREN 301 and FREN 402 will be taught by the UR faculty leader.
Faculty Leader
Cost & Program Information
$6,300
Costs are approximate, do not include airfare, and are subject to change without notice as a result of fluctuations in currency values and other factors. Participants are responsible for arranging and purchasing their own transportation to and from the program location. Airfare and airport transfer costs are not included in the program fee.
- Scholarship Assistance: UR students are eligible to apply for the Holt Summer Study Abroad Scholarship. Selected recipients will receive approximately $1,000 toward the cost of an approved UR Summer Study Abroad program.
- Financial Aid: Students who anticipate needing additional financial aid should view the Nuts and Bolts section of this website and make contact with the Office of Financial Aid with questions.
- Student Athletes: You are eligible to apply for a Weinstein Grant to provide reimbursement toward the cost of airfare. The application deadline is February 14. More information and the application can be found here.
- Cost Calculator: Estimate total program costs and payments here.
What's included?
- 2 units of University of Richmond credit
- Course materials
- On-site orientation
- Welcome and farewell dinner
- Excursions to Paris and Normandy as listed below
- Home-stay accommodations and half-board in LaRochelle
- On-site supervision by faculty leader
Orientation
During orientation on campus in the spring semester, participants will meet to receive important logistical and cultural information, and begin to prepare for their exploration of France. Attendance at all orientation meetings during the spring semester is mandatory.
Housing and Meals
Once in La Rochelle, students live in the homes of selected French families with whom the Program has built relations over the years. Participants take their breakfasts and dinners with their host families during the week. Note: Lunches are not included in the program cost.
Activities and Excursions
Students will begin the program with a 3-day stay in Paris. Cost of breakfast is included. Sites include l’Arc de Triomphe, les Champs-Elysées, Notre-Dame, La Sainte-Chapelle, le Musée Rodin, le Musée d’Orsay (impressionist art), la Tour Eiffel, Montmartre and le Sacré-Coeur, le Louvre, and le Quartier Latin. All fees for these sites as well as transportation in Paris are included in the program cost.
Ready to apply?
Application Deadline
February 14
Apply online through Gateway Abroad, our study abroad application portal.