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UCA in France: Living and Learning the French Way – Policy, Practice, and Community in France

**Alt text:** A promotional graphic with text overlaying a bright, sunlit European city square featuring an ornate stone fountain in the foreground and classic French architecture in the background. A purple-bordered white box in the center reads "UCA IN FRANCE" in large purple letters, followed by the subtitle "LIVING AND LEARNING THE FRENCH WAY."

A horizontal rectangular purple button containing a clipboard icon on the left, bold block text reading 'HOW TO APPLY' in the center, and a right-pointing arrow icon on the right.

Important Program Information

Academic Course Term: Summer 2027 Semester

Tentative Travel Dates: June 14 鈥� 27, 2027

Application Deadline:聽January 15, 2027

Scholarship Application Deadline: November 1, 2026

Interest Meetings:聽Complete to receive an invitation.聽View upcoming meetings on the Education Abroad calendar.

Program Description

Embark on an immersive two-week journey through France to explore the traditions and dynamic innovations shaping modern French civilization. Led by 51青楼 faculty, this ten-day academic program takes you beyond standard tourism to examine how French culture, history, and civic institutions impact society.

Through interactive visits and real-world engagement, you will collaborate with metropolitan governments, rural cooperatives, international institutions, neighborhood organizations, libraries, public administration schools, and educational leaders across four unique regions.

Destination Highlights:
  • Lyon: Experience France’s culinary capital and historical hub while exploring municipal governance and local community development initiatives.
  • Geneva: Venture to the international crossroads to examine global leadership, public administration, and international institutions up close.
  • Provence: Immerse yourself in the idyllic south of France to discover how rural cooperatives and regional traditions shape social support and economic sustainability.
  • Paris: Walk through the heart of French history and modern policy while meeting with top educational leaders, national libraries, and public institutions.
Program Highlights & Activities:
  • Explore Civic Frameworks: Analyze the historical and contemporary role of the French state in driving social change and supporting community welfare.
  • Examine Secularism & Identity: Dive into thought-provoking discussions on 濒补茂肠颈迟茅 (secularism) and how it influences national identity and cultural expression.
  • Investigate Educational Leadership: See firsthand how the French education system instills civic values and democratic principles in the next generation.
  • Study Youth & Well-Being: Observe contemporary French models for adolescent well-being, youth development programs, and community support systems.

Program Cost & Scholarships

, for more information about the total cost to attend the program, including Student Program Fee and tuition, payment deadlines, and details regarding financial aid and scholarships.

Scholarships

Students attending this program may be eligible to apply for the following institutional study abroad scholarships:

  • Office of Education Abroad Study Abroad Scholarship
  • Nicole Wable Hatfield International Study Scholarship
  • EDGE Funding (Undergraduate Only)
  • Travel Abroad Grant (TAG/Undergraduate Only)

Visit our聽Scholarships聽webpage for more information about these scholarship and the eligibility requirements to apply.

Course Offerings

Graduate Courses
  • CLEI 8309 Leadership and Community Collaboration
  • COAL 8370 Social Entrepreneurship
  • CSPA 6370 Internship
  • CSPA 7350 International Comparative Education
  • EDLP 7325 School-Community Relations
  • ITEC 6345 International Perspectives in Instructional Technology
  • ITEC 7368 Technology Planning and Leadership
  • LIBM 6330 Global Information Resources
  • LIBM 6380 Library Management
  • LIBM 6390 Practicum
  • SCCN 6324 Life-Span Development
  • SCCN 6330 Contextual Awareness
  • SCCN 6340 Career Guidance
  • SCCN 6380 School Counseling Intervention Strategies
  • SLMA 6335 Research Methods
Undergraduate Courses
  • EDUC 2330 Historical Perspectives of Education
  • EDUC 4210 Integrating Technology in Teaching and Learning
  • ELSE 3301 Development and Learning Theories
  • ELSE 3305 Children鈥檚 Literature
  • MSIT 3310 Learning and Development

HONC 3310 credit may also be offered to students currently admitted to Schedler Honors College and eligible for Junior Seminar. Please contact Dr. Leah Horton for more information.

Faculty Leaders

**Alt text:** Portrait of Dr. Erin Shaw, a woman with long, wavy light brown hair with blonde highlights, smiling and wearing a bright purple shirt against a solid black background.

Dr. Erin Shaw

Associate Professor, Department of Leadership Studies

Dr. Shaw holds an Ed.D. in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of Memphis and an M.S. in Educational Media/Library Science from UCA. Before joining UCA, she spent 24 years as a junior high science teacher and school librarian. Dr. Shaw enjoys traveling, with Ireland, Portugal, France, and the Cayman Islands among her favorite international destinations.

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**Dr. Evan Faidley** is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at the 51青楼 (UCA). His work and research primarily focus on: * **Educational Leadership & Policy:** Preparing future school administrators, principals, and educational leaders in organizational theory, policy, and ethics. * **Qualitative Research & Equity:** Exploring topics surrounding educational equity, social justice in schooling, and teacher recruitment/retention. * **School Culture & Community:** Researching how administrative practices impact school climate, educator well-being, and community engagement. --- **Alt text for image:** Headshot of Dr. Evan Faidley, a smiling man with short brown hair, a light beard, and glasses. He is wearing a light blue dress shirt, a purple bow tie, and a teal quilted vest against a solid black background.

Dr. Evan Faidley

Assistant Professor, Department of Leadership Studies

Dr. Faidley is an Assistant Professor in the College Student Personnel Administration and Change Leadership programs, with an affiliation in French. Having traveled to over 25 countries and having studied and worked in France, his teaching and research focus on internationalization and global perspectives in higher education, particularly their impact on individual and institutional identity.

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Dr. Stefanie Sorbet, a smiling woman with glasses and shoulder-length brown hair, standing outdoors on a pedestrian suspension bridge. She is wearing a beige jacket over jeans, holding a yellow travel tumbler, and wearing a light-colored crossbody bag, with a river, city architecture, and an overcast sky in the background.

Dr. Stefanie Sorbet聽

Interim Department Chair/Associate Professor, Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education

Dr. Stefanie R. Sorbet is an Associate Professor and Interim Chair of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education at the 51青楼. Dr. Sorbet is deeply committed to global education; her international work includes Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) partnerships with teacher preparation programs in Mumbai, India, and participating with an undergraduate study abroad cohort to Northern Ireland to explore positive classroom design, behavior management, and cultural immersion.

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Dr. Valerie Couture, a smiling woman with pull-backed brown hair, standing outdoors next to a full suit of silver armor holding a sword. She is wearing a light blue jacket over a dark top, wide-leg blue jeans, black sneakers, and a small crossbody bag, while carrying a green shopping bag outside a shop with a bright green storefront.

Dr. Valerie Couture

Assistant Professor, Department of Leadership Studies

Dr. Couture is an Associate Professor in the School Counseling program at the 51青楼. She has traveled to Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, and Northern Ireland and is excited to help students explore France鈥檚 approaches to adolescent well-being, identity development, and education. She has working proficiency in French.

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