Program Site
The Institute for American Universities is located in Aix-en-Provence, in the south of France. With a population of 130,000, Aix is one of the major university, legal, and cultural centers of France. Its lovely winding streets and sunny squares, lined with churches, cafes, and theatres, have captured the attention of many artists. Aix has easy access to Paris, Geneva, London, and other major European cities. The Institute for American Universities, chartered by the Board of Regents of the State University of New York, was founded in 1957 under the auspices of the Universite d'Aix-Marseille, and is one of the oldest and largest education abroad programs in Europe.

Academic Program Highlights
Courses offered at the Institute for American Universities in Aix are comparable to those offered in universities in the United States; subjects include Art History, Fine Arts, European Studies, French Language and Literature, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Business, and Economics. No previous knowledge of French is required, but two French courses, one of which must be French grammar, are required of all students each semester. Modules of study can also be arranged in specific disciplines, including Archaeology and Ancient History, International Business, International Relations, and Pre-Law; these modules of study are clusters of related courses which allow students immersion in a specific area of study (three core courses in each module, combined with two French language courses, are required).

For French majors, a full complement of courses taught in French is also offered, and some courses may be taken at the Universite de Provence. All courses are taught by French faculty of the of the Universite de Provence and by adjunct faculty from the U.K. and the U.S.

Students typically receive 12-18 undergraduate credits per semester.

Program Duration
September - December (Fall)
January - May (Spring)

Application Deadlines*
August 15(Fall)
December 5 (Spring)

*Note: Contact Rio Salado College for exact dates.

Recommended Credits
12 - 18 credits

Transcripts
For all courses taken at the Institute for American Universities where there are equivalent courses in the MCCCD, the official record for those credits will be posted on the MCCCD, Rio Salado College, transcript.

Eligibility
A 2.5 GPA is required, along with transcripts and two letters of recommendation, for admission into the program, which is open to students at freshman through senior standing.

Student Life
Students are housed in French homestays , which provide breakfast and dinner five days per week; semi-independent lodging is available upon request. Cinemas, restaurants, cafes, and discotheques, as well as a variety of sporting events, are available to students in the town of Aix-en-Provence. Shortly after arrival, students are linked with an animateur/trice, a French student who works with the students throughout the semester to foster integration into the community and improvement of French language skills. Various tours are offered as an integral part of the academic program.

Costs
The cost of a semester may vary as changes occur in the economies and currencies of the U.S. and France. The factors listed below are used to calculate program costs.

  • Tuition at Rio Salado College (assessed according to the student's residency status).
  • Program costs in France, including instruction, housing, application and orientation fees, insurance, books and field trips.
  • Transportation to France.
Financial Aid
Any financial aid for which students are eligible during the course of their study at Rio Salado College, including Pell Grants, can be used toward the cost of the program in France.

For More Information
Office of International Education
Rio Salado College
2323 W. 14th St.
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 517-8416
(480) 517-8849 Fax
Contact: Erma Abeyta, Director of International Programs
OIE@riomail.maricopa.edu