The Marseille Field Study and Internship Program
 

- IFE -
 

IFE is a European not-for-profit institute founded in 1988 committed to trans-Atlantic understanding through exploration of European perspectives. IFE provides language-based, credit-bearing education abroad programming to US colleges and universities.

Field Study and Internship programs in Asturias, Marseille, Paris, and Strasbourg are built around in-depth field experience and guided research, for which students prepare through classroom instruction and inter-cultural training.
 

- The City -
 

Marseille is a Mediterranean “capital”, comparable to Barcelona, Algiers, Naples or Genoa. The metropolis and its region offer an ideal place for understanding not only France and Europe, but also the dynamics of a region that brings together the global north and south, terms which demand critical analysis in this context. In addition to its geopolitical and historical importance, Marseille’s position as a coastal city expands the French-language possibilities for a range of new fields.

A vibrant city on the beautiful Mediterranean coast, Marseille also enjoys a distinctive identity, nourished by the mix of cultures that have shaped it, as well as a rich lore that feeds its mythos.

- Program Overview -
 

The Marseille Field Study and Internship program takes place in both the fall and spring, over the course of an 18 week semester. The first 6 weeks are spent in intensive interdisciplinary courses taught by local university professors at the IFE center, followed by a 12-week full-time internship in the student’s field. As part of the internship, students conduct field research, delving into an issue and producing a 30-page independent study. Placements can be found for any discipline.
 

- Program in Detail -
 

Weeks 1-6: Preparation

All students take part in 3 interdisciplinary courses covering politics, history, culture, and the urban development of the city. There are also site visits around the city, and a discussion-based course focused on oral expression. During this period students become comfortable navigating the city, the culture, and especially the language.

Courses:
I. Marseille and Provence in the Modern Age (19th-21st centuries)
II. Marseille, from Global to Provincial:The transformation of a Mediterranean port city in the post-industrial era
III. Cultural and Artistic Dynamics in MarseilleToday: Cultural policies, artistic scenes, actors and audiences

Weeks 7-18: The Internship

The Internship Placement
The core of the semester is a full-time internship where students improve their language skills and cultural expertise while gaining insight into French and European society. IFE works closely with each student – and with a broad variety of organization types -- to ensure a productive fit between the intern’s objectives, the work environment, and the subject matter of the internship.
 

The independent field research project
IFE students engage even further with their individually-tailored internship through a guided research project using primary sources to examine an important issue in the work of their host organization. Individual advising and instruction in methodology are an integral part of this project.

Course IV:
The Mediterranean in the Modern World (19th-20th centuries)
One day a week (usually Thursdays), students don't go to their placements and attend a seminar on contemporary Mediterranean issues to better understand Marseille and the South of France in their Mediterranean context.
 

- Practical Information -
 

Housing: IFE finds French-speaking housing for students, either with host families (partial meal plan), or residences for student and young professional called foyers (no meals, with kitchen access). Housing options are priced accordingly.

Language Level: The program is entirely French-speaking. Students should have taken 5 semesters of college-level French, or the equivalent. They should be comfortable taking a topical course taught in French.

Suggested Academic Credit:

I. Marseille and Provence in the Modern Age (19th-21st centuries)..................................................................................3
II. Marseille, from Global to Provincial: The transformation of a Mediterranean port city in the post-industrial era...............3
III. Cultural and Artistic Dynamics in MarseilleToday: Cultural policies, artistic scenes, actors and audiences.......................3
IV. The Mediterranean in the Modern World (19th-20th centuries)...................................................................................2
V. Independent Study / Guided Field Research...............................................................................................................7

IFE linktr.ee