Lyon Courses – 2025 Spring
Studying abroad can be a more meaningful and invigorating learning experience than at home—both inside and outside of the classroom. You may be more curious and alert than you usually are so use this heightened energy to enhance your studies as well as your cultural and geographical explorations. You may also encounter different teaching styles and course processes; be prepared to adapt and to learn.
Academics
You will enroll in 9 credits of intensive language courses taken at the Université Catholique Institut de Langue et de Culture Françaises (ILCF) with other international students, plus 3 to 9 credits of elective courses in French culture or European Studies designed specifically for USAC students. Course availability is contingent upon student enrollment and is subject to change.
Click the course title to view course details, description, and availability.
Fall & Spring Semesters
ILCF Intensive French Language Courses
ILCF language level placement is determined by a placement exam administered on-site. Courses at each level are outlined below.
ILCF LEVEL A2: Intermediate Low (9 credits)
Prerequisite: 2 semesters of college French
- FallFrench 200-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 200-level 3 credits Taught in French
Second Year French I is a three-credit course offered to students who have completed a year of college French or its equivalent. In this course, the students will learn to narrate in the main time-frames, as well as to recognize the different uses of the subjunctive mood in the expression of different degrees of certainty, the expression of wishes and advice.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 200-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 200-level 3 credits Taught in French
Second Year French II is a course designed for students who have completed a year and a half of college French or its equivalent and want to learn how to use the language with increasing syntactic complexity and grammatical accuracy, paying special attention to the change of time-frames, as well as the expression of hypothesis and different degrees of certainty.
Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Compulsory three-credit course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in composition courses emphasizing the oral mode of the French language It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as oral interactions.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
ILCF LEVEL A2+: Intermediate Low/Mid (9 credits)
Prerequisite: 3 semesters of college French
- FallFrench 200-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 200-level 3 credits Taught in French
Second Year French II is a course designed for students who have completed a year and a half of college French or its equivalent and want to learn how to use the language with increasing syntactic complexity and grammatical accuracy, paying special attention to the change of time-frames, as well as the expression of hypothesis and different degrees of certainty.
Prerequisite: three semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
This is a third year course for students who have completed two years of French at the college level or their equivalent. Emphasis is placed in improving the students´ writing abilities with the analysis first, and the subsequent production of different types of texts. In addition, a number of grammatical topics are reviewed in order to enhance and improve learners´ grammatical competence. The extensive reading of a novel or short stories will accompany and strengthen the formal instruction.
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Compulsory three-credit course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in composition courses emphasizing the oral mode of the French language It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as oral interactions.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
ILCF LEVEL B1: Intermediate Mid/High (9 credits)
Prerequisite: 4 semesters of college French
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
This is a third year course for students who have completed two years of French at the college level or their equivalent. Emphasis is placed in improving the students´ writing abilities with the analysis first, and the subsequent production of different types of texts. In addition, a number of grammatical topics are reviewed in order to enhance and improve learners´ grammatical competence. The extensive reading of a novel or short stories will accompany and strengthen the formal instruction.
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
The focus of the course is improving the learners´ writing abilities with the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, a number of grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and increase learners´ grammatical competence. The extensive reading of a novel or a collection of short stories will strengthen the formal instruction.
Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Compulsory three-credit course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in composition courses emphasizing the oral mode of the French language It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as oral interactions.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
ILCF LEVEL B1+: Intermediate High/Advanced Low (9 credits)
Prerequisite: 5 semesters of college French
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
The focus of the course is improving the learners´ writing abilities with the analysis and the production of different types of texts. In addition, a number of grammatical topics will be reviewed in order to enhance and increase learners´ grammatical competence. The extensive reading of a novel or a collection of short stories will strengthen the formal instruction.
Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
This advanced level course of French has been designed for students who have completed three years of French and although they may manage in completing daily tasks and interactions, they still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course offers the students the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve their grammatical accuracy in oral and written production.
Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Compulsory three-credit course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in composition courses emphasizing the oral mode of the French language It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as oral interactions.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
ILCF LEVEL B2: Advanced Low/Mid (9 credits)
Prerequisite: 6 semesters of college French
- FallFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
This advanced level course of French has been designed for students who have completed three years of French and although they may manage in completing daily tasks and interactions, they still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course offers the students the opportunity to enhance their vocabulary in specific and technical areas, and to improve their grammatical accuracy in oral and written production.
Prerequisite: six semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
Fourth Year French II has been designed for students who have completed more than three years of French and although they may manage in daily tasks and interactions, they still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course will offer them the opportunity to enhance the coherence and cohesion of their production, and to improve their grammatical accuracy.
Prerequisite: seven semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Compulsory three-credit course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in composition courses emphasizing the oral mode of the French language It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as oral interactions.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
ILCF LEVEL B2+: Advanced Mid/High (9 credits)
Prerequisite: 7 semesters of college French
- FallFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
Fourth Year French II has been designed for students who have completed more than three years of French and although they may manage in daily tasks and interactions, they still need to improve their control over different oral and written registers. In addition, this course will offer them the opportunity to enhance the coherence and cohesion of their production, and to improve their grammatical accuracy.
Prerequisite: seven semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
Seminar is a course designed for students who have taken at least three years of French at college and want to improve the four skills in a balanced way: speaking, listening, writing and reading, as well as enhance their vocabulary and improve their grammatical accuracy.
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Compulsory three-credit course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in composition courses emphasizing the oral mode of the French language It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as oral interactions.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
ILCF LEVEL C1: Advanced High (9 credits)
Prerequisite: 7+ semesters of college French
- FallFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
French Stylistics is an elective course for students of French as a second language at an advanced level, who have probably taken at least three years of college French. The goal of this course is to enhance the writing abilities, taking the written text as a contextualized communication event, addressed to an audience and with a clear and defined purpose. Therefore, class activities are centered around the analysis and the understanding of different written genres, so that they can be produced latter. In addition, this course does not neglect the oral interaction and expression, since the class is conducted entirely in French, reinforcing collaboration through group work.
- FallFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
Seminar is a course designed for students who have taken at least three years of French at college and want to improve the four skills in a balanced way: speaking, listening, writing and reading, as well as enhance their vocabulary and improve their grammatical accuracy.
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Compulsory three-credit course that complements the development of the linguistic skills facilitated in composition courses emphasizing the oral mode of the French language It aims to improve students' ability to maintain a sustained monologue as well as oral interactions.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
Fall Semester
Language and Literature
- FallFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchFallFrench 300-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 1 credit Taught in French
This course will provide guidance for students who are preparing for the French language placement exam. Students will develop French grammar, vocabulary, listening, and fast reading skills at the intermediate level.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Ce panorama de la littérature française donne à voir 5 mouvements littéraires (Humanisme, Pléiade, Baroque, Classicisme, Lumières), des auteurs et des textes français majeurs du Moyen-Age au XVIIIème siècle (La Chanson de Roland, Ronsard, Montaigne, Molière, La Fontaine, Diderot, Voltaire, …) que les étudiants découvriront principalement à travers l'étude, dans leurs contextes, d'extraits d'œuvres significatifs et/ou connus pouvant donner lieu à certains prolongements (analyse d'un document iconographique, projection d'un document audio-visuel, sortie au théâtre,...).
Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level French; students who have completed second-year French with strong grades may be considered with home university approval
French and European Studies
- FallGeography Political Science 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course focuses on the political, economic, and social factors in the European Union and in the United States that have shaped conceptions of environmental management in terms of both environmental protection measures and legislation since the beginning of the twentieth century. Students will analyze the evolution of environmental protection legislation and management practices from an international perspective, focusing on efforts to improve environmental quality and sustainability, including the circular economy, carbon taxes, cap and trade and permit systems, and feed-in tariffs as well as how political and social issues have influenced popular understandings of environmental challenges and the need for sustainable solutions; how legislation is conceived, written, implemented, and enforced; and how water, waste, land, and air management is conducted in practice.
- FallArchitecture Art History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
A chronological analysis of Western art and architecture will be approached by firsthand exploration of the art and architecture of France via field trips complemented by in-class student-led seminars consisting of presentations, discussions, debates, and activities. The metropole of Lyon’s rich artistic and architectural history will be our laboratory for exploring movements from the Classical to the Beaux-Arts. Beyond the ability to identify the works of these eras by appearance, the course aims to help students understand how art and architecture express civilization’s history throughout the industrial era. Tracing Lyon’s artistic and architectural history from ancient Rome through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and Neoclassicism and into the beginning of the modern era will expose how French art, architectural thought, and urban planning have affected how we live in France and far beyond its borders.
Prerequisite: one semester of college-level art history
- FallNutrition 200-level 1 credit Taught in English and FrenchSpringNutrition 200-level 1 credit Taught in English and French
This course is designed to teach students how to prepare typical French recipes that are quick and easy to replicate at home with a minimum number of ingredients. The course will use local and seasonal products and show students how to adapt them to different recipes, both sweet and savory.
Taught in French with some English, but appropriate for all.
This course has an additional fee
- FallFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in French
This non-traditional course will introduce students to different aspects of French life from a local perspective. Each class lecture will take place at a different location in the city and students will learn about topics including education, politics, history, and social organizations. Students will visit various places throughout the city, meet people, and exchange ideas about their work and their involvement as members of French society. A short list of relevant vocabulary and basic knowledge about the subjects treated will be available prior to or after the visits.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallPolitical Science 400-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course aims at showing the specificities of French politics. It will present balance of power and go into detail about each power. It will also go into detail about elections and political parties so the students can understand the roots of today’s political debates. A review of major policies by the Presidents of the 5th Republic will also be done in order to explain some evolution in the French society and illustrate the major difference between the everlasting gap between “gauche” and “droite”. Time will be spent in the beginning of each class to answer students’ questions.
The objectives of this course are to increase students’ knowledge and understanding of:
1. The political system and how it differs from others (with a focus on the American system)
2. French political parties
3. Major policies enforced since 1958 and the reasons behind them
4. Today’s main political issues
5. The role of France in the building of the EU and today
- FallAnthropology French Speech Communications 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
In recent years there has been a notable resurgence of religious beliefs and practices in Muslim-majority countries, alongside a newfound awareness of the presence of Muslims in Europe. On the other hand, the significant surge in Islamophobia, the relevance of addressing the presence of Islam in Western nations has never been more crucial. The historical presence of Muslims in Europe traces back to the early years following the emergence of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula. Notably, France currently holds the highest percentage of Muslims among European nations. This course syllabus will explore and analyze the dynamics, implications, and cultural intersections arising from these trends.
The first part of the course will cover the socio-historical context of Islam in France by showing how the developments of North African immigration of Muslim culture since the 1970’s have reverberated in French Society. Students will study the sedentarization process of the populations of North African origin and Muslim culture and the repercussion of this process on the “Islam IN France” or “Islam OF France.” This second part will be devoted to the topic of secularism in France, its history and the French debates. Comparative studies on “French Secularism” and “Anglo-Saxon Secularism” will be presented. This third part focuses on the media coverage of Islam in France over the past 30 years. Based on a selection of excerpts of TV news and selected press articles we will analyze how this question has been, and is being dealt with, by the French media. Special attention will be given to the issue of wearing a head cover at school, and address the central role assigned to women in Western representations of Islam.
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- FallFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
France’s colonial conquests worldwide have changed and even, as Algerian writer Assia Djebar evokes, “erased” the voices of the colonized indigenous people as French took over as the dominant language and culture. Yet many writers, thinkers, and artists from these areas found inventive ways to articulate their unique protests, passions, and thoughts in the language of the colonizer, a language that they would eventually make their own. This course will focus on uncovering both the bold strokes and the nuances in Mediterranean Francophone literature and cinema throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
- FallEnglish 300-level 3 credits Taught in EnglishSpringEnglish 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course will focus on the artistic, sensorial experience of Lyon through the genre of travel writing and will helps students produce clear, expressive prose, sharpen their eye for travel detail, and cultivate their individual voice through the lens of art in Lyon.
As celebrity chef Paul Boccuse said about France’s other city of lights; “Lyon is a city that makes you hungry.” This course will take on Boccuse’s concept of hungry in both real and abstract ways. Real in the sense that Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France and the whole city is engineered to coerce the taste buds into sitting down for a lengthy meal. Abstract in the sense that Lyon is not just a feast for the mouth but also for the eyes, ears, nose, skin, and mind. With Gallo-Roman ruins, art museums, sweeping cathedrals, mysterious passages, and hundreds of streets named for WWII resistance fighters, Lyon offers nourishment for a diversity of artistic appetites and sensibilities.
We will take frequent short walking excursions and visits to artistic sites and museums in Lyon and its surroundings for inspiration as well as have guest speakers from the artistic community of Lyon.
- FallArt French 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
This course covers the history and artistry of the French bande dessinée and several related forms: the traditional comic, the graphic novel, sequential art, and editorial/political drawings. We will focus on how BDs reflect cultural constructions of identity and consider the emergence of a variety of forms and genres that have appeared since the beginning of the twentieth century. Themes will range from humor to French national identity, political cartoons, gender studies, war, and crime stories, all while focusing mainly on how the French look at the world and themselves through this medium. Readings will be in French.
Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
Spring Semester
Language and Literature
- FallFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchFallFrench 300-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 300-level 1 credit Taught in French
This course will provide guidance for students who are preparing for the French language placement exam. Students will develop French grammar, vocabulary, listening, and fast reading skills at the intermediate level.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college French, or equivalent
- SpringFrench 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
Le cours de littérature générale est un parcours panoramique et chronologique dans la littérature français moderne. Il s’agit, en effet d’aborder différents genres et courants littéraires qui ont construit la littérature et la pensée modernes françaises, dans un certain nombre de relations étroites avec l’histoire des arts et éclairés en particulier par le contexte littéraire et culturel lyonnais. Le cours initie les étudiants à la lecture de textes du moyen âge au XXIe siècle et aborde leurs problématiques esthétiques synchroniques et diachroniques.
Prerequisite: five semesters of college-level French; students who have completed second-year French with strong grades may be considered with home university approval
French and European Studies
- SpringArchitecture Art History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
The timeline of Western art and architecture will be brought to life through the firsthand exploration of the art and architecture of France via field trips complemented by in-class student-led seminars, consisting of presentations, discussions, debates, and activities. The metropole of Lyon’s rich artistic and architectural history will be our laboratory for exploring movements from Art Deco to Parametric trends. Beyond the ability to identify the works of these eras by appearance, the course aims to help students understand how architecture and art express civilization’s history in the post-industrialized worlds. Tracing Lyon’s architectural history from the beginning of the modern era to the contemporary world will expose how French art, architectural thought, and urban planning have affected how we live in France and far beyond its borders.
Prerequisite: one semester of college level art history
- FallNutrition 200-level 1 credit Taught in English and FrenchSpringNutrition 200-level 1 credit Taught in English and French
This course is designed to teach students how to prepare typical French recipes that are quick and easy to replicate at home with a minimum number of ingredients. The course will use local and seasonal products and show students how to adapt them to different recipes, both sweet and savory.
Taught in French with some English, but appropriate for all.
This course has an additional fee
- FallFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in FrenchSpringFrench 200-level 1 credit Taught in French
This non-traditional course will introduce students to different aspects of French life from a local perspective. Each class lecture will take place at a different location in the city and students will learn about topics including education, politics, history, and social organizations. Students will visit various places throughout the city, meet people, and exchange ideas about their work and their involvement as members of French society. A short list of relevant vocabulary and basic knowledge about the subjects treated will be available prior to or after the visits.
Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent
- SpringHistory Political Science 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
The creation of the European Union will go down in history as one of the most remarkable political achievements of the Twentieth Century. At every stage of European integration, the United States played a key role in promoting policies, favoring certain nations over others, lobbying for specific models of organization and governance and checking European ambitions in other parts of the world.
In 2019, in the wake of Brexit, of Donald Trump’s election in the United States, of Emmanuel Macron’s attempt to seize European leadership, with the rise of anti-European populist movements throughout the continent, Europe and France are faced with the most serious challenge of their history, a challenge that will test the resilience and legitimacy of its institutions and the ability of its leaders to invent a new, more democratic form of governance. To a large degree, the future of Europe is tied to the nature of the new relation it will build with the United States.
- SpringArt Art History 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
Born in late 19th century France, the Impressionist movement marked an important break with the Academic system and thus opened the door to a world of opportunities for future art movements. Concurrently, a group of artists known today as Post-Impressionists pushed Impressionism beyond its initial boundaries and prepared the way for the most influential avant-garde movements in the 20th century.
This course will examine the genesis, development, and the legacy of these two movements. We will focus on a series of prominent artists, art critics, and other art-world players who defined these two movements, as well as the socio-political and historical context of the period that shaped its progress. With the assistance of PowerPoint presentations, videos, documentaries, primary sources, and museum visits, this course provides an interactive approach to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism.
- SpringPolitical Science 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
The aim of the course is to develop an understanding of international human rights, their conceptual and historical foundations, as well as the challenges faced when developing international human rights protection measures.
Throughout the course, concrete case studies and guest speakers will exemplify the international human rights protection system at universal and regional levels with a focus on the European Union. Students will acquire key skills in the application of human rights protection in a variety of areas, including women, children, religion, LGBTQI+, and refugee law.
The role of a range of non-state actors will also be discussed, including international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
- SpringGender, Race, and Identity Sociology 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course will explore historical and contemporary social institutions' influence on various interpretations of sexuality and gender, such as marriage, politics, media, religion, family, and education. Over the past few years, as Pride has attracted supporters and allies across France, poetry, fiction, and theater have been published to articulate these often unheard yet critical cultural voices. Students will develop the skills to evaluate the evolution of French LGBTQ literature throughout history and analyze questions related to its influence on French culture.
Prerequisite: one semester of college-level English composition
- SpringPolitical Science Speech Communications 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
This course will introduce students to the nuances of political communication and the ways political leaders address contemporary and historical issues - international conflict, social and economic conditions, the representation of marginalized groups, among others - in speeches to the nation. Focusing on the French Presidents of the 5th Republic (1958-today) with comparative examples of national leaders in the US, Italy, and Russia, students will analyze how political speeches reflect national and cultural identities; how national political cultures impact political communication; the role of the press and social media in political communication, including foreign election interference, the spread of hate speech, and persuasive political strategies; and the broader implications for the image of political leaders and the ideologies that they represent.
- FallEnglish 300-level 3 credits Taught in EnglishSpringEnglish 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course will focus on the artistic, sensorial experience of Lyon through the genre of travel writing and will helps students produce clear, expressive prose, sharpen their eye for travel detail, and cultivate their individual voice through the lens of art in Lyon.
As celebrity chef Paul Boccuse said about France’s other city of lights; “Lyon is a city that makes you hungry.” This course will take on Boccuse’s concept of hungry in both real and abstract ways. Real in the sense that Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France and the whole city is engineered to coerce the taste buds into sitting down for a lengthy meal. Abstract in the sense that Lyon is not just a feast for the mouth but also for the eyes, ears, nose, skin, and mind. With Gallo-Roman ruins, art museums, sweeping cathedrals, mysterious passages, and hundreds of streets named for WWII resistance fighters, Lyon offers nourishment for a diversity of artistic appetites and sensibilities.
We will take frequent short walking excursions and visits to artistic sites and museums in Lyon and its surroundings for inspiration as well as have guest speakers from the artistic community of Lyon.
As an official examination center, the ILCF (Institut de Langue et Culture Françaises) of Université Catholique de Lyon offers French proficiency exams at all levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. All students take the Diplôme Universitaire d'Etudes Françaises (DUEF) examination at the end of the program; the exam fee is included in the program fee.