The Mediterranean Viewed from Provence
Aix-en-Provence, France
Why you should go
The Mediterranean, Viewed from Provence, offers students an extraordinary immersion into the historical and modern Mediterranean world through two classes that focus on the region’s environmental history, and on the region’s cities and islands as nodes in processes of connectivity and migration. The Global Seminar will be based in Aix-en-Provence, a historic city with a picturesque and walkable medieval core. Nearby Marseille (30 minutes by bus) is a dynamic, bustling port city with one of Europe’s most diverse populations. The surrounding Provençal countryside is striking, with mountainous peaks that drop down to the shores of the Mediterranean, not to mention the tangible remains of millennia of historical sites. It is no wonder painters have flocked here for centuries in search of inspiration. Together, Aix and Marseille will constitute an outdoor classroom, as course readings will dovetail with planned outings to a variety of sites.
Courses
- HIEU 155GS: Mediterranean Cities and Islands (draft PDF)
- HIEU 166GS: Environmental History of the Mediterranean (draft PDF)
Faculty Leader
Andrew Devereuxadevereux@ucsd.edu
Andrew Devereux, Associate Professor in the Department of History at UC San Diego, is an historian of the Mediterranean world. He is the author of The Other Side of Empire: Just War in the Mediterranean and the Rise of Early Modern Spain (Cornell University Press, 2020). At UCSD, he teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on medieval and early modern Spanish history, Mediterranean history, environmental history, and global history in the early modern era. He has spent over two-and-a-half years living in southern France and is eager to share his knowledge of this region and the wider Mediterranean with students.
Who should go
Anyone is welcome to apply! Neither course has any prerequisites other than curiosity. This Global Seminar is a great fit for Seventh College students, as well as for majors in History, in Urban Studies and Planning, and for those pursuing a certificate in Environmental Studies.
Both classes are history classes that fulfill the department’s upper division major requirements for courses that include a pre-1800 component; for Race, Ethnicity, and Migration; and for a Global/Transnational focus. In addition, both qualify as electives toward fulfilling the major requirements in Urban Studies and Planning. HIEU 166GS has been approved by Seventh College as fulfilling the Humanities requirement for students in Seventh College, and HIEU 166 has been approved as fulfilling the Janes Teranes Climate Change Education Requirement. Seventh College students can also satisfy the “High Impact” requirement by taking either one of these classes abroad. While all classes and assigned readings will be in English, Linguistics majors can enroll in this Global Seminar to pursue a Global Concentration, with this counting as their study abroad component.
Regardless of College or major, students in this Global Seminar will benefit from the exciting setting of Aix-Marseille, where they can engage in experiential learning to study the historical and contemporary topics of urban space, human migration, land use, all within the context of modern climate change. Students from any college are welcome. Consult your college academic advisor to determine how the courses will apply to your graduation requirements.
Information Sessions
- Program "Meet the Professor" session: Wednesday, Oct. 28, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
- Register here for the live Zoom link, and/or to get the post-session recording.
Dates
| Departure from U.S.: | Sat., June 26, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Arrival: | Sun., June 27, 2027 |
| Mandatory Orientation: | Mon., June 28, 2027 |
| First Day of Class: | Mon., June 28, 2027 |
| Last Day of Class: | Fri., July 30, 2027 |
| Departure for the U.S. (or personal travel): |
Sat., July 31, 2027 |
Flight Information
- You will be responsible for purchasing your own airplane tickets, and your program coordinator will provide guidelines and resources during the pre-departure process to help you find an appropriate flight.
- Do not purchase plane tickets until the program is confirmed. All approved applicants will be notified by e-mail when the program has reached minimum enrollment.
Global Seminar Fees
All fees subject to change. See https://summersession.ucsd.edu/tuition/tuition.html for current tuition and campus-based fees.
| UCSD | Other UC | Non-UC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Cost: (includes $500 administrative fee) |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Estimated Tuition and Campus-Based Fees: |
$2,623.24 | $2,673.24 | $3,675.24 |
| Total: (not including airfare or personal expenses) |
TBD | TBD | TBD |
Budget Calculator
- Coming soon!
Funding Options
See the funding options page to learn how financial aid and scholarships can help you pay for this program.
Local
- Walking tour of the city center
- Vineyard tour
- Place des Prêcheurs Local Market
- Jardin de Manon Organic Farm Tour
- Carrières de Bibémus quarry
- Mont Sainte-Victoire
Two Day Trips to Marseille
- Explore Le Panier neighborhood
- The Museum of the Civilizations of Europe and the Mediterranean
- The Friche La Belle de Mai
- Walk along Boulevard National
Overnight Excursion to La Garde-Freinet (3 days/2 nights)
- La Garde-Freinet was the site of a Muslim town (Fraxinetum) from 887-972 C.E., a satellite of Muslim al-Andalus (modern Spain). Today the village is a picturesque hilltop Provençal site, but the visit allows us to explore aspects of Mediterranean connectivity in the pre- modern era and to engage critically with aspects of modern political discourse that construct Europe as an essentially Christian space and the presence of a Muslim population as a recent phenomenon.
Excursions are subject to change without prior notice. No refunds are possible.
Housing
- Apart-hotels or student residence hall walking distance from the classroom.
- 2 students per room
- Air-conditioned
- Shared bathroom
- Shared kitchen area
- Laundry facilities on-site
- Sheets and towels are provided
- Wireless Internet available in rooms and common areas throughout the building
- Housing arrangements are subject to change based on local circumstances without prior notice. No price adjustments are possible.
Included Meals
- Welcome dinner
- Farewell dinner at end of program
Classroom and Computer Access
- Classroom space at at a permanent study center.
- Wireless Internet in the classroom
- Plan to bring a laptop.
- Wireless access may be intermittent due to local conditions. No refunds or price adjustments are possible.
Transportation
- Airport transportation on arrival and departure days is offered.
- Aix-en-Provence is a walkable city, so no local transportation pass is needed.
- Transportation to program activities and excursions is included.
Phones
- Information about how to obtain a local SIM card will be provided at the pre-departure orientation.
- Students will be responsible to purchase their own calling time/minutes.
Insurance, Health, and Safety
- Comprehensive insurance package through the on-site provider is included.
- All program participants will also be enrolled in UC travel insurance.
- An in-depth orientation will be given on the morning after arrival, including health and safety procedures.
- Program partner staff will be available by telephone after hours.
