Offering both a summer program and fall semester option, this program attracts students interested in how sustainability, ecology and agriculture intersect in a European context.
More photos from this program can be found here.
The focus of the 5-week summer program is agroecology. Students take a technical course offered by ISARA Lyon (an agricultural engineering school) with an emphasis on field studies and project work. The program provides hands-on opportunities for students to explore applying agroecology practices, managing biodiversity and diversifying food systems and is open to students in agriculture or sustainability-related majors or minors. In addition to the technical course, students take a French language course and participate in cultural visits and industry outings.
For the fall program, students join one of two programs at ISARA Lyon; Agroecology or Sustainable Food Systems. Courses are taught in English to an international cohort of students and feature hand’s on, applied learning.
Summer & Fall: March 31
- Sophomore or higher
- GPA of 2.75 or above
- Minimum of one year of college-level French or equivalent for the fall semester program, no French language prerequisite for the summer program
Details about the academic content of the agroecology summer program course in the summer school syllabus. Students in the program join with other students for a French course taught at the beginning, intermediate and advance level. For participation in this program, students will earn 2 credits for the French language course, and 5 credits for the course in agroecology. For an idea of the excursions and activities that are part of the summer program, watch this video.
For the fall semester program, students take classes as part of the MSc Agroecology or MSc Sustainable Foods programs. In both programs, students pair theoretical knowledge with real-world situations and apply their learning by working with other students in groups. Students will learn project management and apply agroecological science in real-world situations and drawn on past experiences as they work with farming and food systems.
Minimum of one year of college-level French or equivalent for the fall semester program, no French language prerequisite for the summer program.
Summer students live in residence halls will other summer school participants.
Fall semester students will live with a host family for the duration of the program, giving students the opportunity to immerse themselves in the French language and culture. Each participant is placed with a family that has been carefully selected and is ready to welcome a visiting student.
The experienced staff of the Centre Oregon Lyon support students during their study program. Resident Director Laurie Wilson and Program Assistant Rémédios Hernandez will help you to arrange housing, coordinate your orientation, introduce you to the city, give you guidance regarding the French educational system, and provide other logistical and personal support as needed. The Centre Oregon is located at Lyon 2 in a suite of offices shared by other Lyon 2 partner institutions.
About Resident Director, Laurie WilsonLaurie grew up in Northern California and completed her BA in Language Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, during which time she spent her junior year abroad in Poitiers, France. She then moved to Oregon for graduate school and earned both a Master of Arts in French and a PhD in Romance Languages from the University of Oregon. During her doctoral program, Laurie spent a year working as a graduate assistant for the IE3 Global program in Lyon, France. She returned to Lyon to live after completing her PhD, and was hired to be the Resident Director of the IE3 Global Lyon program in 2003. She enjoys helping the IE3 Global students learn and thrive during their time in Lyon, and working with the French exchange students as they prepare for their time in Oregon universities.
For detailed information regarding the program budget (both the program fee and an estimate of personal expenses), please click on the following:
The program fee includes academic and administrative fees, housing, orientation expenses, group activities (including some meals), and health and accident insurance. The program fee does not include airfare, most meals, campus-based fees and personal expenses such as local transportation, textbooks, laundry, recreation (including continental travel), personal supplies and incidental expenses.
Summer & Fall: March 31
- Sophomore or higher
- GPA of 2.75 or above
- Minimum of one year of college-level French or equivalent for the fall semester program, no French language prerequisite for the summer program