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Lyon Courses – 2026 Summer Sessions I & II

Academics

Lyon offers a rich urban landscape that supports immersive learning across disciplines. It is also an ideal city for immersive French language learning, with daily opportunities to practice in a vibrant, student-friendly environment. Its museums, historic districts, and media outlets offer rich cultural and political context that deepens classroom learning. As a major European city with international institutions, diverse communities, and a strong business sector, Lyon gives students real-world opportunities to engage with global issues, intercultural dynamics, and environmental innovation.

In Session I, you may take one or two 3-credit courses taught in English or French. Language study is not required; however, all students must take a 1-credit French conversation course appropriate to their level. A total 4 to 7 semester credits are possible in Session I.

In Session II, you may take either intensive French language course through the Catholic University of Lyon's Institute of French Language and Culture or a 3-credit USAC elective taught in English or French. All students are required to take a 1-credit French conversation course appropriate to their level. A total 4 or 5 semester credits are possible in Session II.

Summer Session I Courses Summer Session II Courses

Courses Offered

Course availability is contingent upon scheduling constraints, meeting enrollment minimums, and is subject to change. View course details and descriptions.

Courses marked with an asterisk* are taught in French

Summer Session I

French Language Courses

  • Second Year French I*
  • Second Year French II*
  • Third Year French I*
  • Third Year French II*
  • Fourth Year French I*
  • Fourth Year French II*
  • Basic French Conversation for Daily Communication*
  • French Conversation*

International Affairs & French Society

    • Art, City, and Society in Lyon
    • Digital Marketing
    • Exploring French Art and Architecture I: Classical to Beaux Arts
    • Government and Politics in France and Europe
    • Travel Photography

    Non-Credit Workshops

    • French Cuisine

    Summer Session II

    French Language Courses

    • A1: First Year French I*
    • A1: First Year French II*
    • A2: Second Year French I*
    • A2: Second Year French II*
    • B1: Third Year French I*
    • B1: Third Year French II*
    • B2: Fourth Year French I*
    • B2: Fourth Year French II*
    • French Conversation*
    • Basic French Conversation for Daily Communication*

    International Affairs & French Society

    • International Business
    • International Human Rights
    • Travel Writing
    • Words in Motion: Translating France for a Global World*

    Non-Credit Workshop

    • Drawing and Painting in Lyon
    • French Cuisine


    U.S. Visiting Professors

    While most USAC courses are taught by local faculty, the following U.S. professors will also teach in this program:

    Summer Session I, 2026

    Course: Exploring French Art and Architecture I: Classical to Beaux Art

    Allison Myers, Ph.D., Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo

    Allison Meyers is an Assistant Professor of Art history at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Much of her research focuses on the relationships between French and U.S. art and culture. She has travelled extensively throughout France, interviewing artists and conducting archival research. She is currently working on an article examines the cryptographic drawings of LA-based French artist, Guy de Cointet. She is excited to share her passion abroad with students.

    Summer Session II, 2026

    Course: Words in Motion: Translating France for a Global World

    Jodie Barker, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno

    Professor Barker is a Teaching Professor of French where she has been teaching since 2013. She received her BA in French and Women's Studies from Wayne State University, her MA in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and her PhD in French with a certificate in Women's and Gender Studies from Rutger's University. Professor Barker has been recognized for her strength in teaching as she is a recipient of the 2024 UNR Alan Bible Award for Excellence in Teaching which she nominated by students at UNR. She has lived in Lyon for many years and is excited to share this special place with students.

    USAC Course Descriptions

    Click the course title to view course details, description and availability. To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu

    • Summer Session I
      100-level 1 credit Taught in French

      This is a course provides an introduction to basic French conversation, including basic lexical, grammatical, and functional resources to manage in daily situations.

    • Summer Session II
      100-level 4 credits Taught in French

      Introduction to the language through the development of language skills and through structural analysis. The fundamentals of French grammar (all verb tenses), vocabulary and useful expressions are studied. The goals of these courses are to build reading, writing, listening and above all speaking skills and to enable the students to handle basic communicative tasks and social situations.

    • Summer Session II
      100-level 4 credits Taught in French

      This course introduces beginners to the foundational elements of the French language and develops the four core language skills—listening, speaking, reading, and writing in alignment with the CEFR A1 Level. The focus is on practical and familiar contexts such as introducing oneself, asking for directions, shopping, or describing people and places. Emphasis is placed on pronunciation, comprehension of basic instructions, and simple exchanges. Through guided activities, authentic materials, and interactive lessons, students begin to build confidence in using French for everyday tasks. Students will engage in practical exercises that reflect everyday situations, working collaboratively with peers in an immersive French environment.

      Prerequisite: One semester of college-level French, or equivalent

    • Summer Session I
      200-level 1 credit Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      200-level 1 credit Taught in French

      This French Conversation course is designed for learners at the A2 level who want to improve their speaking skills in everyday situations. Through fun and interactive activities, students will practice using simple sentences and common expressions to talk about familiar topics like daily routines, hobbies, food, and travel. The course focuses on building confidence in speaking and listening, helping learners understand and take part in basic conversations. Grammar, vocabulary, and cultural tips are included to support real-life communication in French.

      Prerequisite: two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent

    • Summer Session I
      French 200-level 3 credits Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      French 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

    • Summer Session I
      French 200-level 3 credits Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      French 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

    • Summer Session I
      Art French History 300-level 3 credits Taught in French

      This course explores the artistic, architectural, and urban shapes of Lyon's city and its representations through the historical point of view (from the Middle Ages until the Modern and Contemporary periods). Students will be analyzing public spaces through the ages and then classifying daily life scenes and social and cultural practices. Tours, field trips, field surveys, and visits to museums and galleries are a substantial part of the course.

      Prerequisite: four semesters of college French, or equivalent

    • Summer Session I
      300-level 1 credit Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      300-level 1 credit Taught in French

      This French Conversation course is designed to enhance oral proficiency and deepen cultural understanding through dynamic and interactive activities. With an emphasis on real-world communication, the course develops students' abilities to participate confidently in diverse conversational settings. Tailored to the proficiency levels B1, B2, and C1, this program provides a comprehensive approach to mastering spoken French, addressing grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances for meaningful interaction.

      Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent

    • Summer Session I
      French 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      French 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

    • Summer Session I
      French 300-level 3 credits Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      French 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

    • Summer Session I
      French 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      French 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

    • Summer Session I
      French 400-level 3 credits Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      French 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

    • Summer Session I
      300-level 1 credit Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      300-level 3 credits Taught in French

      This French Conversation course is designed to enhance oral proficiency and deepen cultural understanding through dynamic and interactive activities. With an emphasis on real-world communication, the course develops students' abilities to participate confidently in diverse conversational settings. Tailored to the proficiency levels B1, B2, and C1, this program provides a comprehensive approach to mastering spoken French, addressing grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances for meaningful interaction.

      Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent

    • Summer Session I
      300-level 1 credit Taught in French
      Summer Session II
      300-level 1 credit Taught in French

      This French Conversation course is designed to enhance oral proficiency and deepen cultural understanding through dynamic and interactive activities. With an emphasis on real-world communication, the course develops students' abilities to participate confidently in diverse conversational settings. Tailored to the proficiency levels B1, B2, and C1, this program provides a comprehensive approach to mastering spoken French, addressing grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances for meaningful interaction.

      Prerequisite: four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent

    • Summer Session I
      Marketing 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

      In this course, students will learn the core pillars of digital marketing — content, SEO, email, analytics — and will build hands-on strategy using real AI tools, model campaigns with data analytics, and participate in a simulated marketing environment. We will explore European and global best practices, analyze live case studies, and design adaptive strategies that can survive both Gen AI and widespread market volatility. This course prepares students for digital marketing jobs and focuses on preparing them to avoid the jobs AI will eliminate and succeed in the ones AI will augment.

    • Summer Session II

      Students in this workshop will investigate a variety of approaches, techniques, and processes in the art of painting (watercolor) and drawing. Students will also take advantage of Lyon’s world-famous museums, monuments and public spaces to learn about the city as it is reflected in its architecture, landscape, paintings and sculpture, and its people.

      The workshop has an additional fee.

      This workshop has a minimum enrollment of five students to run.

    • Summer Session I
      Architecture 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

    • Summer Session I
      Summer Session II

      This 15-hour workshop, held over five sessions of three hours each, is designed to guide participants in preparing classic French recipes that are quick and easy to recreate at home, using a minimal number of ingredients.

      With an emphasis on sustainability, the workshop features local and seasonal products and demonstrates how to adapt them to create a variety of both sweet and savory dishes. Participants will also learn techniques for reducing waste in food preparation, from efficient ingredient use to creative ways of repurposing leftovers.

      Hosted in a concept restaurant committed to sustainable practices, this workshop offers a practical and mindful approach to cooking, highlighting eco-friendly choices at every step, and it concludes each day with participants enjoying the meal they've prepared together.

      This workshop has an additional fee.

      This workshop requires a minimum enrollment of five students to run.

    • Summer Session I
      Political 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

    • Summer Session II
      International Business Management 400-level 3 credits Taught in English

      This course will cover topics related to the challenges of competing in a global economy. Students will acquire knowledge in strategic management in a global competitive environment and develop the ability to effectively analyze how culture impacts motivation, leadership, communication, negotiation, decision-making, HRM practices, and the management of a multicultural workforce. Additional course topics include differences between international trade – the exchange of goods and services across countries – and international business, which encompasses a broader range of cross-border operations including services, investments, and collaborative ventures; French and European Union customs system and procedures – learning how tariffs, duties, and import/export documentation work in the EU context.

    • Summer Session II
      Political 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.

    • Summer Session I
      Art Journalism 200-level 1 credit Taught in English and French

      This course offers students the chance to develop personal perspectives of the city through photography. They will discover an urban environment, make it their own, and share their vision. Travel photography allows students to create different individual perspectives from shared views. Students will develop observation skills and master photography, both technically and creatively, and produce a collective work.

      This course had an additional fee

    • Summer Session II
      English 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 Bocuse said about France’s other city of lights; “Lyon is a city that makes you hungry.” This course will take on Bocuse’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.

    • Summer Session II
      French 300-level 3 credits Taught in French

      What is translation? What do translators do? What does translation tell us about texts, languages, societies, and ourselves? In this class, we will engage with these questions through an introduction to translation theory and practice. Using resources that range from practical exercises to video clips, songs, literary texts and non-literary documents, we will practice translating (primarily) from French to English, using the craft in its full complexity as both art and science.

      Prerequisite: Two semesters of college-level French, or equivalent

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    Additional Offerings

    Courses

    • Summer Session II
      French Women's Studies / Gender Studies 400-level 3 credits Taught in French

      In this course, students will analyze and interpret a variety of literary texts by Francophone women

      writers across diverse genres including short stories, poetry, film, manifestos and multi-media, while developing critical thinking on the themes of legacy, memory, bodies, spaces, history, politics, migration and identity.

      Prerequisite: Four semesters of college-level French, or equivalent

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