The Aix Center click here for course offerings

Founded in 1957 under the auspices of l'Université d'Aix-Marseille, chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York, The Aix Center is one of the oldest institutes in Europe for study abroad students.

The Aix Center classes are taught in English or in French. The curriculum is broad, offering archeology, art history, studio art, French language, literature, and civilization, European and international studies, social sciences, business, comparative literature, economics, education, government, history, philosophy, political science, and psychology.

Students in the Aix semester program take five 3-credit courses, and summer students take two 3-credit courses. Along with their electives, students are strongly encouraged to take at least one French language class, and many students take two.

The Marchutz School of Art click here for course offerings

The Marchutz program is an intensive and well-rounded studio art program that allows students to also take one French class and one art history elective of your choosing. It is open to students with any level of French and any level of art background. The Marchutz School welcomes students with any level of studio art background - from students who are majoring in art to those who have never picked up a paintbrush.

The fundamental principle of the Marchutz School is simple: the synthesis of sight (a perception of the world) and insight (a perception of art) can be the precursor to fresh, original painting.

Students at the Marchutz School begin on this principle. They draw and paint - every day if possible. They work from models, children, musicians, and dancers. They interrelate figure drawing, portraiture, landscape and still-life with interpretative copies of master works, memory work, and sketch book journals. Painting and drawing, study in museums and reading/writing assignments challenge students to explore the correspondences between natural and artistic forms.

Group and individual critiques are integral aspects of each student's process. Technique is developed in concordance with each student's vision and imagination. Individual projects give students the freedom to explore their unique concerns.

The core of the Marchutz program consists of 6 studio painting and drawing credits, plus a 3-credit seminar all taught at the Marchutz School locale on the outskirts of Aix. Students additionally take two 3-credit elective courses at the The Aix Center to complete an academic load of 15 credits. The elective courses may be chosen from any of the offerings at The Aix Center.

Students who attend the Marchutz semester program take at least 9 credits of core art classes taught at the Marchutz School of Art, plus one French language course and one Art History elective of their choosing, taught at The Aix Center. Marchutz summer students take 2, 3-credit art courses and a French language ?survival course,? which is not for credit.

Excursions are an integral part of the Marchutz program. Students visit small towns and villages of Provence, which in the past have included St. Remy, Arles, Luberon Valley villages of Bonnieux and Lacoste. In addition, the Marchutz program often takes students on a longer painting trip. Students have enjoyed such destinations as Paris, Giverny, and Venice.