March 16, 2012
Students can experience life and learning in France and North
Africa this fall through a pilot program that adds several days in
historic Morocco to the popular Discover France semester at St.
John’s University’s Paris location.
Based at St. John’s residential academic center in
Paris, Discover France — part of the University’s wide-ranging
Global Studies offerings — immerses students in the city’s
history and culture. They earn up to 15 credits while studying
French art, architecture, language and politics. Students also
engage in service activities and visit other urban and rural
sites.
Adding Morocco to the itinerary exposes students to an ancient
culture with enduring ties to France, said
Tina Chen, Ph.D., Associate Director of the Paris location and
a Professor there. “They are linked by history, culture and
language,” said Dr. Chen. Today, she observed, Muslims from North
Africa are a growing minority in and around many French cities.
Although the program is always in demand, Morocco has
boosted interest, said Matthew Pucciarelli, Associate Vice
President of Global Studies. “Students already are asking about
it,” he said. “So now is the time to apply for this fall.” Students
at other colleges and universities also may
apply.
The increased popularity, he said, was expected. “It’s two
continents at no extra expense,” he said. “What’s also attractive
is that we manage the entire trip.” Students arrive in Paris on
August 23, and classes begin four days later. They spend several
days in Morocco during the autumn break in mid-October. The
semester ends on December 15.
The program’s new dimension is even more appealing, said
Farida Khatchadourian, Assistant Director at the Paris
location. “It’s a chance to see France from another perspective,”
she explained. “Students will gain a better understanding of the
country’s colonial history in North Africa. They’ll also become
more aware of the context for the issues facing ethnic minorities
here.”
Visiting Morocco will be educational and fun, Khatchadourian
added. “We wanted to cap off the semester with an especially
exciting trip,” she said. “Yes, it enhances the academic value of
the semester. But students also will enjoy experiencing Moroccan
art, handcrafts, religion and cuisine.”
To
apply or learn more about this fall’s semester in Paris, visit
our
Office of Global Studies online. Or contact us: (718) 990-6105
(Queens campus); (718) 390-4035 (Staten Island campus). E-mail
globalstudies@stjohns.edu.