Welcome to the New Group of Undergraduate Students

Seven undergraduate students hailing from Arcadia University and a variety of other universities and backgrounds in the US have started the adventure of study abroad in Paris last weekend. They came for a semester or, for some of them, for a full year to study International Relations and French language and culture in the US-accredited program hosted at the American Graduate School in Paris in partnership with Arcadia's College of Global Studies, leading provider of study abroad programs across the globe.

After orientation meetings and a welcome dinner at a traditional French restaurant in the latin quarter, they spent the weekend exploring what is going to be their home city for the next few months. They visited culturally rich sites such as the Musée Rodin with its famous gardens, and the Conciergerie and Sainte Chapelle overlooking the Seine River. They also had the opportunity to get settled in their new housing before starting their classes on Monday, whether they chose the option of the student residence or that of a homestay with a French family for an even fuller immersion.

The students had already had a good introduction to Paris when they started their classes this week. Mornings are busy with French classes at the AGS's partner institution Alliance Française Paris-Ile de France, and afternoons are devoted to the classes at AGS to study a range of International Relations topics such as the History, Politics and Diplomacy of the European Union; Politics in Francophone Africa; Current Issues in International Relations and Diplomacy; and International Public Law. Throughout the program, the students will do site visits and excursions to support the classroom learning and enhance their cultural experience in Paris. They also have two trips scheduled this semester: they will also travel to Nice to explore the picturesque French riviera, and to Brussels to visit the European Union institution studied in class.