Aquinas College's France Program is located in western France in the town of Angers. To achieve the cultural immersion objective we have designed the academics, excursions, and housing to interrelate and intensify the experience. The France Program is designed to accommodate a full range of language levels so that participants can earn a variety of credits toward the French major or minor while gaining an intensive cultural experience.

Learn full details of the Study Away program in France here.

Academics
Courses are taught by instructors at the Centre International d'Etudes Francaises (CIDEF) Institute at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest. Curriculum is focused on intensive French language acquisition. Upon arrival, students will take a placement exam which will determine the program level in which the student will participate. Each level includes study of written and spoken French as well as French culture and civilization. Additional electives vary.   Advanced students have the option of attending a selected course - in consultation with the resident director - at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest. Under certain conditions, students with special needs in their majors may study independently. Arrangements should be made with the resident faculty directors and the major advisor. The arrangements must conform to the standards set for independent study on campus.

Learn more about studying French at Aquinas here.  

Excursions 
A series of excursions designed to augment the program’s curriculum will take students to various cities and cultural sites both locally and regionally. In addition, participants will be able to construct their own experience through independent travel.  

Housing
Participants will be placed in home-stays with local families. This setting provides the opportunity to build friendships and gain insight into daily living, as well as an immediate local resource for the individual student. Also, integration into the daily workings of the home represents regular and practical language application and insight into cultural values and behaviors.