To help them appreciate the importance of cultural differences, Scholars travel to France after their sophomore year for a month-long immersion experience designed to introduce them to the structure and functioning of French society. France offers an excellent location because of its rich cultural patrimony and its importance as a major influence in the developing European Union. At the same time, the culture, and the governmental and social institutions of France differ markedly from those of the United States, providing Scholars with a graphic illustration of the many differences between two apparently similar countries.
Scholars study the French language, attend a course of lectures in French history, hear presentations on French achievements and traditions in art, science and religion, all designed to provide a context for later excursions and discussion topics. The organization and functioning of French society are investigated through visits to a premier secondary school from which many French leaders have graduated, a university teaching hospital, a law school, a non-governmental organization working with people living in extreme poverty, discussions on racism, and cultural differences in business. Later in the trip, the scope widens with a seminar weekend devoted to the European Union, and the trip climaxes with conferences at the European Union, the Council of Europe, and the European Court of Human Rights. The summer program also includes nearly thirty formal presentations, along with approximately two hundred pages of readings keyed to the field trips.
