The Strasbourg 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.

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

-The City-

Lining one side of the River Rhine, at the intersection of the EU’s two most powerful member-States, Strasbourg's Franco-German heritage is alive and well. Boasting the seat of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, it is at once very European, and very French. A green city, crisscrossed with waterways and bike paths, a leader for urban innovation, a center for the arts, it is a perfect representative canvas of contemporary France, at the local level. Its rich history and culture, ethnic diversity, and large student population make it an ideal location to integrate into contemporary France and Europe society.
                                                                             

-Program Overview-

The Strasbourg Field Study and Internship program takes place in both the fall and spring, over the course of an 18 week semester. The first 5 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 1-5 : Preparation
All students take part in 3 interdisciplinary courses covering the politics, history, culture, and the sociology of France. 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. A Political History of France: Transformations in the state and political life since Napoleon 
II. France in Europe and the World 
III.  French Society: Problems and prospects 

Week 6 : Travel Break
Students have a week to relax and explore the city, the surrounding countryside, and visit the rest of Europe, which is easily accessible by train, bus, and air travel.

Weeks 7-18 : The Internship Period

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.

The European Seminar
One night a week students leave their internships early to take a seminar at the IFE center entitled: 'Globalization: Myth and reality from a European perspective'
                                                         

-Practical Information-

Housing: IFE finds French-speaking housing for students, either with homestay families, or residences for student and young professional called foyers. Housing options with full, partial, or no meals are available, and are priced accordingly.

IFE Center: IFE's new center in Strasbourg is located in the up-and-coming Esplanade district next to the University of Strasbourg, diverse, central, and well-served by tramlines.

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. A Political History of France: Transformations in the state and political life since Napoleon..........3

II. France in Europe and the World ...................................................................................................3

III. French Society: Problems and prospects  ...................................................................................3

IV. Globalization: Myth and reality from a European perspective......................................................2

V. Independent Study / Guided Field Research............................................................................... 7