Program dates: Jun. 19 - Jul. 13, 2017
Explore international aspects of Environmental Sciences in a French city that offers unusual opportunities for hands-on learning. As a city dating to the Celtic era that became a Roman city, and then a Medieval center of Christian study, Poitiers exhibits layers of human modification of the natural environment from a Roman aqueduct to contemporary wind and nuclear energy sources. The four week program is comprised of:
- Human-Environment Interactions on the Plateau Poitevin (3 credits): Designed to explore the area around Poitiers and its history of human interaction up to the current day. Field trips to La Rochelle and the Marais Poitevin will be incorporated as will visits with local representatives. Taught in English by Prof. Becker.
- Animal Behavior (3 credits): Taught Université de Poitiers faculty, this course explores animal behavior both in theory and its practical application locally through field trips and excursions.
- Language and Cultural engagement: Central to integration in the local community will be a series of facilitated experiences allowing students to explore the city while using the French language in a practical way to accomplish daily tasks.
Prof. Larry Becker (Geography and Director, Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Program) spent the 2010-2011 academic year in Poitiers on sabbatical (see his blog post here) and will teach the Human-Environment course in addition to serving as faculty leader for the group. Students will be housed in host families or a university residence hall according to their preference.
For views of Poitiers and the surrounding area, check out photos from previous students who have studied there. More information about Poitiers can be found on the tourism office website.
For more information, please contact Program Leader Dr. Larry Becker or Laura Hampton.