During a month of summer vacation, students live in the center of the city of Paris and take courses from EIU professors. Monuments, museums, parks, cafés, and shops are the classroom as assignments lead an exploration of this fascinating culture. In 2010, the dates will be May 24 through June 22.

The city of Paris has the greatest collection of cultural resources in the world.

The art history course focuses on the development of the city as it has functioned in the modern world since its complete rebuilding in the middle of the nineteenth century and the artistic and literary responses to both that process and France's volatile political history during "the long nineteenth century." The French course offers students an opportunity to engage in the native milieu by teaching both how to speak the language as well as how to approach and access French culture. An art studio course (beginning drawing, advanced drawing, or watercolor painting) will be offered for those who would like to try their hand at capturing the visual beauty of the "city of light".

The program is a month-long residency in Paris with day trips out to surrounding locations. Class meetings will consist of 3 mornings a week. The rest of the week will be devoted to independent exploration as required coursework.

Students may come from any major and there are no prerequisites for art history or drawing, while French students are only required to have had one previous semester of study, preferably taken in a special introductory course geared to this program which meets in the Spring before the program begins. Both French and art history courses may be taken to fulfill a general education requirement. All courses also serve as 3000-level advanced classes.

Housing is in a comfortable university dorm. Students utilize the efficient public transportation system of Paris to visit cultural sites. Two group field trips are included: to the medieval cathedral in the city of Chartres and to the house and gardens of the painter Claude Monet.