Paris, France
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This program is co-sponsored by the Department of Landscape Architecture.
From the 18th century through today, Paris has been at the center of European and global re-visioning of nature and of our human relations with the natural world. Scientific, intellectual and political revolutions that began in the later 18th century gave rise to intense debates about both the “nature” of nature and about human beings’ historical and biological place within it. “Environment” (a translation of the German Umgebung) first began to be used in 1827, a coinage designed to capture the force of this reimagining of the planet we inhabit.
This program offers students a chance to explore the modern “invention of nature” from three different perspectives—environmental history and philosophy; urban design and sustainability; literary and artistic representations of nature. All three classes will include exploration of Paris’s urban-natural landscapes, its gardens, its museums, and its architecture, as well as literary and visual representations of shifting human perspectives on nature.
Classes take place two full days a week at the American Church in Paris, in the very heart of Paris. Excursions, city walks and research days will be scheduled on Wednesdays and during some class times, leaving ample time from Fridays to Mondays for exploring the city and other sites in Europe. Students stay with English-speaking families in Paris (inside the périphérique highway encircling the center city) for the entire duration of the program, with two meals provided on weekdays by the families.
The program will run October 4, 2026 – December 6, 2026 in Paris, France. Remote, on-line class activities will be held through December 13, 2026, to wrap up the program. Students will check out of program housing on December 6 and should arrange for alternate housing if they wish to stay in Paris, or they can travel to other European destinations or return home while they complete final assignments for the program.
- CHID 471A / GLITS 315 / ENGL 365 / FRENCH 390: The (Re-)Invention of Nature (5 credits A&H, SSc, DIV, W)
- CHID 471B / L ARCH 495: Ecologies of Paris: An Interdisciplinary Exploration (5 credits A&H, SSC)
- CHID 471 C / ENGL 336: Modernism and the Modern Environment (5 credits A&H, SSC)
*Note that the fees stated above do not include some additional costs, including, but not limited to: airfare and personal spending money. These costs will differ by program. Be sure to read our Fees, Financing, and Withdrawal information for details about the fee structure and payment schedule.